Keeping Chickens Free Range

[Mrs. K]

You will be good until the predators find you. At different times, I have gone months without losing any, to losing one or two a day, even if I only let them out for 15 minutes.

I have had better luck with a mature rooster, and an alternating schedule. A totally enclosed run is a wonderful thing, as they can be outside without being killed. By letting them out at different times, by not letting them out at all on windy or dark days, and by having a year old rooster, I have had fair luck.

However, if you free range long enough, the predators will find you, they think of it as fast and easy food.

Mrs K

 

[vpatt]

I need advice! Jessica started laying again today and went to roost without her 3 babies. Luckily, i was able to catch them and put them in a carrier. I have them in the house. I wasnt sure at only 3 weeks old if they would stay warm outside. It is supposed to be 62 degrees tonight. They have settled in. Do you think they can stay in the coop inside a carrier after tonight? Thanks for any help.

 

[Free Feather]

They should be fine.

 

[vpatt]

They should be fine.

Thank you!

 

[lazy gardener]

My youngest set of chicks have been sleeping without their heating pad for a few nights now, and they are just turning 2 weeks old. Temps have been down to mid 40's. Granted, there are 22 of them, but still.... I'd expect them to be using the heating pad! Just be sure they have plenty of bedding to snuggle down in.

 

[gander007]

I need advice! Jessica started laying again today and went to roost without her 3 babies. Luckily, i was able to catch them and put them in a carrier. I have them in the house. I wasnt sure at only 3 weeks old if they would stay warm outside. It is supposed to be 62 degrees tonight. They have settled in. Do you think they can stay in the coop inside a carrier after tonight? Thanks for any help.

The big concern would really be the wind more then the temp and to help in feather growth some scrambled or hard boiled egg's for the protein to aid in feather growth ...

A towel over the cage in the evening to help then stay warm would be nice just remove it in the morning ...

 

[vpatt]

Thank you all. I will try to keep them warm....a couple more weeks will make a difference in their feathers and the temps. I actually had set out some extra eggs to scramble for the birds.

 

[katatonic123]

OJ 6 weeks

 

[ladyref]

3 chix we have green white and brown eggs and no mosquitoes,bugs,termites,roaches are quickly disappearing my girls love it they are such good weed eaters too

 

[SueT]

I got 4 chicks of different breeds for eggs, intending for them to be free range eventually. They are now 8 weeks old. Their enclosed shed is large, 5'X9'. I kept them locked in until a week ago and made a temporary covered fenced in area which is about 8'X12'. They ate every green thing in it already. But suddenly they seem so small to let out into the big wide world. We live out of sight of any neighbors with many acres of pastures all around, woods, etc. We kept guineas for years, not more than 6 at a time, and they roosted in trees. The only times predators got the guineas was at night and after a few years they all disappeared. I assume that chickens will be different, and go back in at night, so far they do, around 7 pm, well before dark. I can't really make them go in, I've just waited for them to decide. What do y'all think? Also, is it too early to let them free range ?
Thanks,
Sue