How To Begin Free Ranging??

[bwebster]

Hello everyone. First time flock owner with 4 Barred Rocks and one mystery hen about 8 weeks old. They will primarily be in the enclosed and covered run, but I would like to give them yard time hopefully once a day. I'm looking for any tips or experienced advice for starting to let them free range here and there.

Woods border my property with lots of hawks and critters, and I have a bird dog who would love to put one in her mouth and deliver the gift to me. She'll be inside during free ranging, though.


Thanks for any info!

 

[centrarchid]

I would do first release an hour or so before they go to roost. They will explore immediate vicinity then retreat to coop assuming they find the entrance. Then let them out earlier the next day. They need to be able to find coop and entrance when they want, otherwise they will get into roosting elsewhere.

Get that bird dog of regarding the chickens as prey. Chickens are trash for a well trained bird dog, even one used on pheasants and quail, so the chickens should be ignored. That dog could make things much safer for the chickens if you get dog to leave the chickens alone.

 

[bwebster]

Get that bird dog of regarding the chickens as prey. Chickens are trash for a well trained bird dog, even one used on pheasants and quail, so the chickens should be ignored. That dog could make things much safer for the chickens if you get dog to leave the chickens alone.

Working on it. She has shown interest in the chickens since we moved them outside, but not much. Excitement then indifference. We have an invisible fence that keeps her a good 12 feet from the coop and run, and that whole section of property. She has a lot to learn about being a bird dog still haha. Her first waterfowl season will be this fall/winter.

When they chickens were still inside she had face time with them while we held a bird and she responded well.

 

[centrarchid]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/planned-poultry-guarding-dog.426408/