When I free ranged mine didn't stay in sight of home at all. I second the recommendation for a rooster if you can stand the crowing. My rooster is on guard all the time and gives verbal warnings when there is a hawk, owl or fox around. I don't know that he would be able to successfully fight a predator off, but he'd give the girls a head start.
Ideal Flock Size?
- Thread starter HiddenHills
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When I free ranged mine didn't stay in sight of home at all. I second the recommendation for a rooster if you can stand the crowing. My rooster is on guard all the time and gives verbal warnings when there is a hawk, owl or fox around. I don't know that he would be able to successfully fight a predator off, but he'd give the girls a head start.
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- #12
HiddenHills
In the Brooder
Lots of good stuff on here to think about! I didnt know specifically what black soldier flies were, so mistook them for the fly predators that eat flies to keep them in check. I'm hoping the chickens will help reduce the time I spend shoveling manure, but do appreciate the tip.
keep hoping they'll be like a little chicken army waging a war against poop. Perhaps I need to calibrate expectations!
I'm not opposed to a rooster as long as he's well behaved. Since we have boarders I especially wouldn't want to risk a mean rooster with their young kids.
keep hoping they'll be like a little chicken army waging a war against poop. Perhaps I need to calibrate expectations!
I'm not opposed to a rooster as long as he's well behaved. Since we have boarders I especially wouldn't want to risk a mean rooster with their young kids.
That's exactly what they'll be. My chickens will start digging in horse poop before it even hits the ground. Every.Single.One.Of.Them.
If only we weren't on opposite sides of the country (I'm in Maine), I'd give you my boy. ;-) He's truly a sweetheart. I'm waiting for a neighbor to complain, though, especially as the weather warms up and windows open. Definitely can't risk a mean roo with kids around. I had to cull one that was super nasty... he would attack me for no reason!
As to how far the chickens will roam, it really varies. Each flock has their own dynamics. The landscape and watering places can have an effect too. Most of my flocks tend to stay within 300 to 400 feet of the coop. I have had very few that might roam as much as 1000 feet, but that is pretty rare.
One thing that might help spread them out is if you keep multiple roosters. When you have multiple roosters each one normally stakes out a territory and keeps a harem there. They can stay in the same coop at night or you can have a few different coops if you want to lock them up away from predators but during the day they tend to avoid each other.
I don’t know what your carrying capacity for horses or chickens is in your part of northern California. That’s going to depend on how dry it is and probably time of year. Your horses are probably going to hang out in certain areas, probably shady areas, where they will do most of their pooping. If you can get your chickens to hang in those areas too, maybe with water or set up an independent flock, they will do you the most good. But it will be a trial and error thing. Good luck!
One thing that might help spread them out is if you keep multiple roosters. When you have multiple roosters each one normally stakes out a territory and keeps a harem there. They can stay in the same coop at night or you can have a few different coops if you want to lock them up away from predators but during the day they tend to avoid each other.
I don’t know what your carrying capacity for horses or chickens is in your part of northern California. That’s going to depend on how dry it is and probably time of year. Your horses are probably going to hang out in certain areas, probably shady areas, where they will do most of their pooping. If you can get your chickens to hang in those areas too, maybe with water or set up an independent flock, they will do you the most good. But it will be a trial and error thing. Good luck!
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- #16
HiddenHills
In the Brooder
Thanks so much for all the replies. I'm really looking forwards to how this experimentwill play out. Right now everything is green as can be and growing like bonkers. I suspect the chickens have enough other stuff to chose from they aren't as interested in the poop. In about a month though we'll be in the 90s and dry- I'm hopeful the manure piles will be paid more attention then. Time will tell!
Another question: do you provide water stations for your free range flocks? We obviously have water for the horses- but I'm assuming the chickens won't drink out of the large stock tanks? We also have a seasonal creek and year round pond in the middle of the property. I'm assuming they will figure out their own natural water source like the pond
Another question: do you provide water stations for your free range flocks? We obviously have water for the horses- but I'm assuming the chickens won't drink out of the large stock tanks? We also have a seasonal creek and year round pond in the middle of the property. I'm assuming they will figure out their own natural water source like the pond
I have no experience with stock tanks, but they will drink from ponds and streams. In winter as a kid one of my chores was to break the ice on a farm pond so the horses, cows, and chickens could drink.
I leave 2 gallon plastic buckets out for my chickens to drink from, ice cream pails will do too. They will fall in and drown in stock tanks. I've even had bantams fall in and almost drown in my 5 gallon buckets. I keep a bucket next to my stock tank for the chickens, so they aren't tempted to jump up on the sides of the tank.
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