Keeping Chickens Free Range

[vpatt]

Yep the 3 RIR and the Barred Rock roosters are all outside, they can fly and perch up but are really good alarms if something is amiss too as they are very protective of the hens. most times they just go bed down in the calves stall so they are close to the hens but the RIR's seem to patrol a lot to check on the hens more so than the barred rock. When they were little they were kept safe but 4 roosters even the owls stay away as the RIR's can be quite mean, the stray cats won't take on the barred rock let alone along with 3 meaner roosters. There is plenty of shelter for them to get into if needed.

My hens were locked in for 3 days to get them in the habit of laying in the hen house before turning them loose to free range and I have yet had to go out egg hunting, they leave em in the nest box and go back about their stuff. They did change from morning to afternoon now that it is starting to get colder though.

I may try that. They could stay under the porch or in the trees. We are in the woods so there are perches everywhere. Thank you.

 

[vpatt]

Concerning the roosters

I wonder about training them to do that now.....would i just pull them off the roost and put them outside? All but one are less than a year old.

 

[slordaz]

not sure on that, ours are only 6 months old and just maturing been doing this for 3 months.They did learn quick, and go bed down most times with the calves so they get extra warmth there too

 

[sophiaw00]

Is it normal for a rooster to sleep on a perch outside the coop? My guy only sleeps inside when it's raining. Even when it's cold he stays outside in the run, about 4 feet from the coop. I can't train him to go inside for the life of me. Is he just keeping a watch out or does he just not like it inside?

 

[slordaz]

yep quite normal from what my flock has done bought 2 and ended up with 5 of them lol. They can be a little rough with the hens and the hens aren't push overs and get rough right back, he'll learn his manners if that is the case. It's the hens that kicked the roosters out.

 

[duluthralphie]

Is it normal for a rooster to sleep on a perch outside the coop? My guy only sleeps inside when it's raining. Even when it's cold he stays outside in the run, about 4 feet from the coop. I can't train him to go inside for the life of me. Is he just keeping a watch out or does he just not like it inside?

I had one that would chase the hens inside the coop, then position himself in the doorway. just inside the coop. When I closed the door I would push him back into the coop a tad.

 

[sophiaw00]

Daryl is a mature rooster with expirience with hens. He is the first rooster my 30-something week old hens have met and they are pretty dominated by him. He's a gentleman though and treats them well, but he is the boss and what he wants goes, although he usually puts their needs before his own. I just feel bad for him when it's freezing out and he's sleeping outside. Many times, his favorite hen (in my avatar) sleeps next to him. She's a faverolle so she's winter-hardy but I'm still tempted to move her inside. What do you think? Leave her out or put her in?

 

[dpenning]

Daryl is a mature rooster with expirience with hens. He is the first rooster my 30-something week old hens have met and they are pretty dominated by him. He's a gentleman though and treats them well, but he is the boss and what he wants goes, although he usually puts their needs before his own. I just feel bad for him when it's freezing out and he's sleeping outside. Many times, his favorite hen (in my avatar) sleeps next to him. She's a faverolle so she's winter-hardy but I'm still tempted to move her inside. What do you think? Leave her out or put her in?

 

[sophiaw00]

I used to do that every night and he would stay inside for the night but he's very large and hard to handle. He also gets aggressive when handled. Usually, I wouldn't keep people aggressive roosters but he's only mean when handled and he's so good to the hens so I keep him around and try not to touch him.

 

[vpatt]

I had a hen who slept outside. She survived almost a year.