Keeping Chickens Free Range

[duluthralphie]

It could be a nest, or a witches broom.

Or my MIL the WW's house.

 

[islandgirl82]

I've contacted the Maine Ag Extension and am waiting to hear back from them with their opinion of predator type and if it is a BOP what I can do about it and the suspected nest. The photos aren't very clear but it does look like an intentional build and not just debris that's gotten caught there and become as compacted as it is. It would have taken many years for it to be the latter as it's not that far from the top of the tree and there are very few branches above it.

@lazy gardener I will definitely let you know what they say and @Leahs Mom , thank you again for the suggestion of the Bird Bangers. I hadn't seen the hawk in ages until I found it in the run with my female Call duck and a neighbor came by yesterday and asked me if I was missing any birds as they'd seen a hawk fly off with something small and white a couple of weeks ago but wasn't sure what it was (my Call drake). I'd have to fire the bangers off at random and hope that I'm scaring it off. Until then, they'll be confined, unfortunately.

 

[Leahs Mom]

And....it's always fun to fire the bangers...even if you don't see anything.

I'll bet your son would enjoy them if properly instructed

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

I've contacted the Maine Ag Extension and am waiting to hear back from them with their opinion of predator type and if it is a BOP what I can do about it and the suspected nest. The photos aren't very clear but it does look like an intentional build and not just debris that's gotten caught there and become as compacted as it is. It would have taken many years for it to be the latter as it's not that far from the top of the tree and there are very few branches above it.

@lazy gardener I will definitely let you know what they say and @Leahs Mom , thank you again for the suggestion of the Bird Bangers. I hadn't seen the hawk in ages until I found it in the run with my female Call duck and a neighbor came by yesterday and asked me if I was missing any birds as they'd seen a hawk fly off with something small and white a couple of weeks ago but wasn't sure what it was (my Call drake). I'd have to fire the bangers off at random and hope that I'm scaring it off. Until then, they'll be confined, unfortunately.

A shame there isn't one of those pesky Drones nearby. Perhaps the AG people will have one? It looks VERY MUCH like a nest.

I have an off topic question, if I may interrupt?

Two 7 week chicks. Two RIR roos, that can be aggressive, two P. Red hens. Been keeping the chicks inside for a few weeks, but they do have time in an above ground hutch during the day, when weather permits. When I let them loose a couple of weeks ago had to go after Roos with a broom.
@ 7 weeks do they have enough to stay in hutch OVERNIGHT?
The Hutch is ALL I have in a coop. The hen that laid these chicks is laying again in the rocks above the house. The Rest wander all over, roost atop feed sacks on back porch.
Hopeful hen in the rocks brings down chicks but worried since the poor kids may have to contend with snow when they do.
Thanks ahead of time-

C.~

 

[dekel18042]

A shame there isn't one of those pesky Drones nearby. Perhaps the AG people will have one? It looks VERY MUCH like a nest.

I have an off topic question, if I may interrupt?

Two 7 week chicks. Two RIR roos, that can be aggressive, two P. Red hens. Been keeping the chicks inside for a few weeks, but they do have time in an above ground hutch during the day, when weather permits. When I let them loose a couple of weeks ago had to go after Roos with a broom.
@ 7 weeks do they have enough to stay in hutch OVERNIGHT?
The Hutch is ALL I have in a coop. The hen that laid these chicks is laying again in the rocks above the house. The Rest wander all over, roost atop feed sacks on back porch.
Hopeful hen in the rocks brings down chicks but worried since the poor kids may have to contend with snow when they do.
Thanks ahead of time-

C.~

I'm not sure where you are located., but at seven weeks most chicks are pretty well feathered and if they can huddle together they can with bedding keep warm. I would start by leaving them out every day then after a few days leave them overnight. You might be able to booster the hutch by surrounding it with a tarp on three, maybe even three and a half sides.

 

[Beekissed]

It just might be time to build a coop so you can better regulate when and where your chickens hatch chicks, who lives where and where your chickens might lay.

And the hen that hatched the original chicks should have been able to mother them and teach them how to live outdoors and with the flock by that age....don't know why they were ever in the house? Did she abandon them? If so, I'd be killing that hen and not allowing her to hatch any others....no good mothering skills means no more attempts to mother, in my book.

Unless you need those roosters for some reason, they could also be repurposed into supper.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

I'm not sure where you are located., but at seven weeks most chicks are pretty well feathered and if they can huddle together they can with bedding keep warm. I would start by leaving them out every day then after a few days leave them overnight. You might be able to booster the hutch by surrounding it with a tarp on three, maybe even three and a half sides.

Thank You so much, for your reply. I'm in S Central Montana. The hutch has 3 covered sides, although sides do not cover completely. Pallets lean against it also. Today will be consecutive day 2. By 3, hope they can hunker down, Roosters won't give them such a hard time...
Thank You, again...

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

It just might be time to build a coop so you can better regulate when and where your chickens hatch chicks, who lives where and where your chickens might lay.

And the hen that hatched the original chicks should have been able to mother them and teach them how to live outdoors and with the flock by that age....don't know why they were ever in the house? Did she abandon them? If so, I'd be killing that hen and not allowing her to hatch any others....no good mothering skills means no more attempts to mother, in my book.

Unless you need those roosters for some reason, they could also be repurposed into supper.

Due to a cold snap, I mistakenly brought the chicks inside, Into an old trough, long enough she no longer recognizes them. Not unusual for hens to do so, when they don't see, mother their own for more then a couple of days. The old trough, with windows laying atop, has worked great, the last 2-3 years, keeping chicks warm. I do have a new extension for the hutch, all wire. May put it together since 40-60's for a bit, give the chicks more time to recognize their elders..
Thank you for your suggestions,
C.~

 

[Beekissed]

I feel your pain on the broody....I've got two old hens wanting to go broody right now.

Not gonna let that happen. Wrong time of the year for chicks, especially on free range.....I learned that painful lesson one fall hatch when the migratory hawks came through and there wasn't enough cover for the birds out on range to effectively evade them~never again. I've been cutting off all broody activity by the end of May so that any chicks produced will be big enough to sort into keep or cull by fall.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

I feel your pain on the broody....I've got two old hens wanting to go broody right now.

Not gonna let that happen. Wrong time of the year for chicks, especially on free range.....I learned that painful lesson one fall hatch when the migratory hawks came through and there wasn't enough cover for the birds out on range to effectively evade them~never again. I've been cutting off all broody activity by the end of May so that any chicks produced will be big enough to sort into keep or cull by fall.

Well, the 7 week old chicks ARE from that same hen, born last day of August. Looking at these eggs, think they Are fertilized. RIR Roos from TSC, last March do Quick work...
Lots of sandstone up here, she's tucked them under a large boulder. It's been the hideaway for eggs on & off for a couple of years now. If can get her & newer chicks into the Hutch, think they'll be okay. Have a chicken friend in town that can take chicks, as need be, UNLESS one is a Roo. THEN it comes back here!
Really NEED to get knives sharpened, Supper at least one of the RIR!

One has gone after too many not to!
I've posted pictures of my hound dog's concern over the chicks. She's thin coated & I sleep in the loft in winter. Just HOPE she can protect any late Blooms!