Info on "free range"

Read back over my post and forgot one item.
Normally the chickens aren't allowed to free range until they are about 4-5 months old as the littler ones are too interesting to the cats. However, we have only lost one week old baby to a suspected cat.
 
i let my chickens free range from when i get up til they make there way back in for bed..as long as i am home with them ..the ones that are laying almost always make there way into the coop to lay and then head back out to free range.only chicken i lost so far was a white rock roo that i brought home and my 2 roosters ran him off the first day i let him free range with the others.haven't seen him since.i keep food and water in both the open run and in the coop,but when they are free ranging they don't pay much attention to it.saves me alot on feed.
 
Quote:
I am going to start with 2 coops for my chicks when they leave the brooder. How did you get them to go to two separate coops? Do you just put them out there and let them decide which coops they like? I don't want them all trying to use the same one. The two coops will be in the same fenced in yard.
 
Hi Doug, I'm in San Antonio, too. I let mine run around all day, and I would keep the feeder inside the coop, but where they can get in and have access to food.

What kind of chickens are you going to be keeping?

I wouldn't clip wings just yet, see what they are capable of first.

Mine jump the fence once in a while, but I think they could even manage that with one wing clipped.
 
Mine free range all day, everyday. I have never had any trouble with their not returning to their coop--however I place their brooder inside after a few weeks. It takes them a while to get brave enough to go outside. They know where home is; i don't put them in the coop one night and expect them to learn from that. They've been in there for a while!

They don't tend to venture off the closest acre or two. We have 45.
 
Question was about how we got them to use 2 different coops. They are slightly different aged chickens so the 1st group had their coop and when the other coop was built then the younger flock was put in it and took it over. If yours are all the same age then you might try keeping them enclosed in their coop for a few days until they know what home feels like and who their coopmates are.
 
Thanks for the info.

Texas Star:
What kind of chickens are you going to be keeping?

I wouldn't clip wings just yet, see what they are capable of first.

My wife wants Buff Orphingtons. and I think I will take your advice on the wing clipping.
Do you know if any of the backyard chicken folks get togeather in the San Antonio area?

I am in the process of building the coop. we will be getting the chicks at the end of October. Based on all the info I got, I am plannng on keeping them in the house for the first week (laundry room - makeshift brooder) then move them into the coop (with necessary food/water/heat). I will block off the back half and then as they get older begin to let them out into a temporary run. this way they will know where safety and home is. by that time I should have the back fence done to keep out any stray dogs. I think I will be reasonably ok to let them out all day. but will keep my eyes open.
Again, Thanks
D​
 
I have no idea, I just know a great place to get them though. There is a great feed store off of Flores called Moore's. They are really great there. I live in Kirby and drive 20 mins to get feed from there.


I wanted buff orps too, they looks so sweet and friendly, but I read that they can't tolerate the heat very well. I have 3 Easter Eggers (called Ameraucanas at the feed store) and they are great foragers and they lay pretty green-blue eggs.

I would love to find a chicken swap meet or just a place people who own chickens meet.

There's, from what I know, one other person on here that is in SA too.

Well, welcome to BYC hope to see you around.
 
Thanks for your input
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We have the usual nighttime predators - raccoons and possums, sometimes a skunk will waft through. Daytime we have hawks, our own cats, also our dogs - mini dachshund and lab mix. Dogs are in a separate area when outside.

When I read this predator list it seems a bit daunting for the chickens to free range
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I started free ranging my chicks when they were a month old. The area was a totally enclosed in run 10 x 20ft. I have always kept their water and food in their coup.When they were 2 months I enlarged their area with chicken netting off their covered run approx 30 x 50 ft. as they have gotten older I have enlarged their area. I have a yard light next to their coup they go in every night on their own. I have the roosts over 1 x 2in wire. Their poop falls through the wire and preditors can't negotiate the wire. I never shut their coup door or the gate from the enclosed run to their open run. I have seen cayotes on my property during the day.and haven't lost a bird yet. I have a neighbor who free ranges her's (no fenced in enclosure), but has lost several birds during the daytime to coyotes. I have never found an egg out of the nest boxes.
 

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