Keeping Chickens Free Range

[Tikkijane]

It's funny to watch them all trying to get in the one box. I have a removable divider in the boxes so I pulled out one divider to give them more room.

It's funny until someone is broody and then it can get bad.

These aren't broody, but there's some sharing going on in my first flock....

 

[Tikkijane]

I'm not currently free ranging, just because I'm adding so many chickens right now that I feel like I need to wait until everyone is a little settled to start up again.

My set up is that the coop has 4 apartments, with automatic doors that open when the sun comes up.  The chickens can choose which apartment they want to sleep in, right now they all open into one big run.  The run will eventually be split up so that I have separate runs to use as breeding pens, but that will probably wait until October when I hope I can begin breeding again.  That is probably when I will begin a rotational free range program again.  The recommendation is 10 square feet per bird for the run, 4 square feet for the coop.  With the number of chickens that I currently have, I'm running about 30 square feet of run and 8 square feet of coop.  I've got big breed birds (brahmas) so I prefer to err on the side of more room per bird.  It will be nice when I can start letting them out again.

That will totally depend on the dog. I have 3.5 dogs that leave the chickens alone. One is putside all day every day with them. Another likes to eat eggs andcam go right through the pop door. My bigger issue is stray dogs, which is how we got the last two dogs.

There are hunting dogs that come and wander up to the house. I cable them and call the number on theor collars. Not a one of them has gone after the chickens.

The key, imo, is to have lots of area to take cover and get away from predators (trees, etc.) I have never had any of the chickens get into the road, but we're off the road a bit and in the country.

It depends on how many you have. Mine go off together in groups.

And yes, they absolutely know where home nis and put themselves to bed at night.

 

[cheeka]

I've not calculated run square footage, 6' - 8' per bird is just coops. the runs are huge. for one pen that I have 11 birds in, 4 of whom are bantams, it's 10' x 30' x 6', and the dome is larger although not as tall, only 5' 8", 15' wide by 40' long... there are as many as 28 chickens in there, also a mix of standard and bantam. and then there is a broody pen. the smallest at 8' x 8' x 4' with a peaked roof. so I still stoop inside, but normally there is only one broody mama inside... currently, I have 2 broody's in, both bantam. I also use the broody pen as a quarantine if needed. the only time I wish the runs were smaller is Winter. it's so harsh and long, it's hard to keep all that space from being bitter. I found some marine vinyl that I was able to use to cover the sides with and it made a huge difference, that and hay bales lining the outside base of the walls... I have no way to run power to all those pens, so they have to get by, and I have to change waterers as often as 3 times a day because it freezes. and they do free range all winter - their space is more confined... to where I plow the snow. but I plow down to grass, and while it's pretty sparse, they happily peck and scratch to get at it.

we didn't get the storm they promised, so the flock got out for a hot and humid afternoon.

 

[K Epp]

I want to share my #1 tip for free ranging. At the present time I have 3 ND/Pygmy goats, 4 turkeys, 10 ducks, 59-60? chickens. With all the chicks I've lost count. 12 quail. The quail will be 4 after this weekend. Oh might as well add the 10ish cats, 3 dogs, and 2 human kids. The Hubby is a fireman and as luck would have it always on 24 hour shift when something goes on. So I have to be able to handle what ever comes up. Now the kids 13 & 10 are getting big enough to help.


Back to my #1 tip...

I have 3 acres with a 4 ft chain link fence around it. We gave a long concrete walk and drive. With all those animals there is a lot of poop on the concrete and porches. Here it is ..... Drum roll.... LEAF BLOWER! It blows the poop right off. After shoveling and that taking for ever I discovered the leaf blower works wonders. Now it blows more poop than leaves or grass.

Everyone else share your tips. I'm sure we care sllblooking for ways to make things a little easier.

 

[Sylviaanne]

1 - we too have dogs - in a chain link back yard off our house/carport. Usually they don't get loose - when they do - they "know" (not taught?) that our chickens and ducks are off limits. HOWEVER, let a bird develop flight and land in the yard - it's a play toy and usually dead of at least shock before I can get to it. Sometimes they will eat it (the aussies did anyway - the Finish Spitz bird dog and pitt mix mutt don't). Pic below - our daughter is against the back of the yard fence & you can see thru to 3 of our pastures. . .








2 - right now, ours roam both together and in 2 to 3 groups. We now have 2 roosters - 1 LF wleghornXameraucana and 1 bantam - maybe OEG?. For a while I saw certain girls running with one and then they seem to swap around and that group will be the other a few days later! The two boys have not fought to our knowledge - no missing feathers, no limping, no injuries. The two "fluffy" bantam hens usually run together on the outskirts of the two other two "groups". Currently, some of the birds roost in the open barn with "Din-Din" (LF) and 3 LF hens are roosting on the dog kennel in the carport with the Bantam - "Roo". The Maran hen has adopted a plastic shelving unit in the barn as her roost. I now clean up around it 1x week or more often if it's really messy...






3 - We lease 10 acres - narrow on the road and extending back quite a distance. Have neighbors on both sides. On the one side, we have a board fence with cattle/stock panel attached and heavy growth of trees, bushes, weeds and neighbors grape vines and on the other have 4 strands of hi-tensile wire. Neither fence keeps chickens on our property - they LIKE going over to the one on the wire side as it often has a "pond" (never dried up last year - our ducks spent some time over there). I noticed this morning that our "new mama" duck took her two ducklings over there, then turned and came right back. Currently "nesting" in our carport in an open large dog crate. The front of our property is open to the road and it is busy since it connect to Hwys and has a fire/rescue center on one end on the Hwy.

We are in the process of purchasing this property. Once it's ours, we plan on fencing with woven wire to 4' and will put up some type of bird wire to keep our guys home - not sure what yet. Didn't want to do that if we weren't staying... So far we haven't had a lot of problems - think the neighbors (an older couple) enjoy watching the ducks and the chickens when they go over there. I do take eggs over now and then.

The 2nd duck "hen" was just "flattened" in the road the other day - not sure why she was in the road - she'd been sitting a nest between the roots of one of our trees well away from the road. I've seen our chickens searching bugs out in the ditch by the road - especially after rain when worms would be out. BUT I've never "seen" ours in the road - but surely they could!! We've lost a few - but never found evidence that they'd been hit in the road. DO have hawks - today they all were out and then "flocked" into the barn on the run and stayed there while I was feeding the ponies. Saw more than 6 turkey vultures flying above...

4 - ROFLOL!!! We don't have a coop at the moment. Don't ask, can't answer the "why"... Sooo ours roost in the carport and the barn. I have to move things around to keep from them from getting buried in "soil" and to clean/compost their gifts. I "deep clean" several times a year and clean individual areas more often as needed. Lately in the carport have been cleaning up almost daily...

Now, I'm working on a coop/chicken tractor and hope to be able to train them to "coop" at night.





You can see the driveway to the main road and the shop to the left in the background and the barn is directly behind the "hoop coop" to the left of the picture... The shadow over the ducks is the barn, the trees are between us and the wire fence separated neighbors and the shop is to the right of the trees...


Currently they have open buckets of water in the barn, a waterer in the carport (mama duck and ducklings) and a waterer just outside the barn on a board. I fill these as needed. I have a kiddy pool from Wal-Mart for the ducks - keeps them happy! They "snack" from the ponies' feed buckets as I set them up individually with feed/water (feed wet) for each pasture. I feed chicken layer pellets (Nutrena) free choice in several containers in the barn - will move that out to the coop when it's finished. Once the first one is done, I will be building more. I hope to have the new chicks in the chicken hoop coop... It's on skids, too, so we can move it. It's 8x10.

O - currently have 4 Production Reds (can't tell them apart), 1 Cuckoo Maran, 3 EEs, 2 bantam hens (barnyard mix!), and two roosters. Also have 8 blue ameraucana chicks and 9 barnyard "mixes" from ours in a pen with another bantam hen (hatched late may and have not been turned loose to free range yet) and 4 young hens - EEs - in quarantine in a pen. 1 "Drake" and now 1 hen (Rouens?) w/ 2 ducklings...

Hope this isn't too many pictures.

LOL What is: Too many pictures? I could have stood to see more of your hoop coop. I think I could do that almost by myself. Hubby won't do a project unless I start it. I think it embarrasses him that people might see me doing it.

 

[Sylviaanne]

Morning; a few minutes after being let out. And tgere are some already gone out farther. ..

Now, see, mine don't do that. They look like those chickens in the background. But those are coming aren't they? Mine would be going like there was something chasing them. LOL

 

[Sylviaanne]

I want to share my #1 tip for free ranging. At the present time I have 3 ND/Pygmy goats, 4 turkeys, 10 ducks, 59-60? chickens. With all the chicks I've lost count. 12 quail. The quail will be 4 after this weekend. Oh might as well add the 10ish cats, 3 dogs, and 2 human kids. The Hubby is a fireman and as luck would have it always on 24 hour shift when something goes on. So I have to be able to handle what ever comes up. Now the kids 13 & 10 are getting big enough to help.


Back to my #1 tip...

I have 3 acres with a 4 ft chain link fence around it. We gave a long concrete walk and drive. With all those animals there is a lot of poop on the concrete and porches. Here it is ..... Drum roll.... LEAF BLOWER! It blows the poop right off. After shoveling and that taking for ever I discovered the leaf blower works wonders. Now it blows more poop than leaves or grass.

Everyone else share your tips. I'm sure we care sllblooking for ways to make things a little easier.

LOL My husband just bought a leaf blower at the beginning of this month. We have been using the pressure sprayer to clean the poo off the front porch but I don't think the leaf blower would work on that. I think it would still look bad. I have a wooden shed on skis (?) for my coop so a leaf blower will work wonders in there. I had scrape the hay out today with a rake, just the front part where I work and keep the chicks that are graduating from the house to the coop. Next time I will try the leaf blower. Since it is enclosed, I hope I remember to wear some kind of mask. LOL

 

[K Epp]

It works great to spread Devin Dust in all the nooks and crsnys to. Just throw dome at the door and blow it. Make sure you wearxa mask and protective eye wear for that too.

 

[Tikkijane]

Now, see, mine don't do that. They look like those chickens in the background. But those are coming aren't they? Mine would be going like there was something chasing them. LOL

Nope. They are heading out. There's a long trail of them headed to the pasture. From the pssture, they'll go to the side woods and dig around off and on all day. I was standing at the coop looking out. The coop is not on the picture. I'll see if I have one from another angle.

 

[paintedChix]

LOL What is: Too many pictures? I could have stood to see more of your hoop coop. I think I could do that almost by myself. Hubby won't do a project unless I start it. I think it embarrasses him that people might see me doing it.

Go HERE - Maintenance & Pony work All we've gotten done so far is the panels hooked to the wood, set back up, and then the boards secured. On Sunday Afternoon. Worked from 7-5 yesterday and had to stop at feed store on the way home to get pony feed. Picked up dinner as well - but was whipped when got home. Actually got some work done outside but while visiting w/ hubby in house while he getting ready for work - tipped over on couch and passed out. Woke up, made sure water shut off and everyone where they needed to be, in the house and crashed in bed until stomach said - "NOPE"... Would have been a better day off from work today if I hadn't been feeling soooo "yucky"....

The rolls of chicken wire and the tarp to cover it are in my truck. Don't have wood for the top of the back or a door made yet. Will also need to build a roost or two. Want to do a tray under the roost, haven't decided if I want them freestanding or putting them thru the panels for support and then able to stay "up" while it's being moved. Leaning towards that, actually...

and to see more pics of the Chickens