Keeping Chickens Free Range

[SmColorInDaPan]

That's not even half of the flock there, I don't think. Of course, will be knocking those numbers down as the days go by until there's only about 16 or so....you mean you wouldn't eat this delicious chicken????




Until you've had free ranged, home grown, retired old layer hen fed on fermented feed, you haven't tasted chicken....all that other stuff is pretty much tasteless compared to this chicken.

Heck I haven't canned in all my life. 1st time I butchered, The Mean Old ROO was tough! & 7 dos old? Have an old girl i need to make chicken soup of, but with NUT case Neighbor & Wood to be cut, other things. Down to 3 now...Not enough room to get loads of chicks..

 

[lcertuche]

I love the taste of canned meat. It naturally tenderizes too.

 

[Birdy Buddy]

I couldn't resist. We're free range now.
Here in northern California, it has been a rainy season so far and my lot has greened up nicely. I have been keeping my little flock cooped up and was not planning to free range but now I changed my mind. I protected what little I have of a winter garden and let the birds forage the rest. They have about 8000 SQ FT to roam inside a 6FT wire fence like the one my bird dog is behind. Dogs are my worst predators with a few raccoons and possums to round out the list. I set my phone alarm to go off at sunset to remind me to close the coop.
The tractor coop was hard to move when the clay soil got muddy. So I will leave it in place for a while. I mucked out the coop and made a compost pile with the used bedding. I put fresh straw in the coop. The front panel of the run comes off easily for me to rake out the coop. I have lay mash always available and they do eat it but they prefer to run loose all day. The compost is heating up nicely on the second day.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I couldn't resist. We're free range now. Here in northern California, it has been a rainy season so far and my lot has greened up nicely. I have been keeping my little flock cooped up and was not planning to free range but now I changed my mind. I protected what little I have of a winter garden and let the birds forage the rest. They have about 8000 SQ FT to roam inside a 6FT wire fence like the one my bird dog is behind. Dogs are my worst predators with a few raccoons and possums to round out the list. I set my phone alarm to go off at sunset to remind me to close the coop. The tractor coop was hard to move when the clay soil got muddy. So I will leave it in place for a while. I mucked out the coop and made a compost pile with the used bedding. I put fresh straw in the coop. The front panel of the run comes off easily for me to rake out the coop. I have lay mash always available and they do eat it but they prefer to run loose all day. The compost is heating up nicely on the second day.

Nice setup!

 

[Beekissed]

So far we've not been the least bit bothered by migratory hawks around here this month, so I hope they have all done their migration and are past my place. Since it's still pretty warm here the chickens are still finding good things out on the range for eating....mostly snails, slugs, beetles and such, along with different grasses.

 

[EmilyP]

We have a coop and pen for our chickens when we are not home to supervise their free ranging. We are just getting our prolly 4th rain since they have been out of the brooder and I noticed that they don't go inside when it rains.... is this because they are just dumb or they don't know better? they look so ridiculous soaking wet! I feel bad for them but their coop is warm and dry and has plenty of food and water.... Do i need to somehow teach them to go inside?

 

[Attila the Hen]

We have a coop and pen for our chickens when we are not home to supervise their free ranging. We are just getting our prolly 4th rain since they have been out of the brooder and I noticed that they don't go inside when it rains.... is this because they are just dumb or they don't know better? they look so ridiculous soaking wet! I feel bad for them but their coop is warm and dry and has plenty of food and water.... Do i need to somehow teach them to go inside?

I've given up on trying to "guide" poultry. They know what's best--I hope. At least it's not cold out at the moment.

 

[Beekissed]

We have a coop and pen for our chickens when we are not home to supervise their free ranging. We are just getting our prolly 4th rain since they have been out of the brooder and I noticed that they don't go inside when it rains.... is this because they are just dumb or they don't know better? they look so ridiculous soaking wet! I feel bad for them but their coop is warm and dry and has plenty of food and water.... Do i need to somehow teach them to go inside?

Nah....they will go in if they feel the need for it. My chickens will stay out in the rain if it's going to rain all day but will come in out of the rain if it's just going to be a shower. I'm guessing their instinct is that, if it's going to rain all day then we might as well get wet, as we will forage whether it rains or not~but, if it's only going to rain for a bit, why get wet when we don't need to...if we wait a bit, the rain will stop. They seem to know the difference. Now, if it comes to a horrible, hard downpour, they will run for shelter no matter if it's going to rain all day or not.

They are smart enough to come in out of the rain if they feel the need, so just let them go at it.

 

[lazy gardener]

We have a coop and pen for our chickens when we are not home to supervise their free ranging. We are just getting our prolly 4th rain since they have been out of the brooder and I noticed that they don't go inside when it rains.... is this because they are just dumb or they don't know better? they look so ridiculous soaking wet! I feel bad for them but their coop is warm and dry and has plenty of food and water.... Do i need to somehow teach them to go inside?

I think they actually love to be out foraging in the rain. More insects to be had. I know my dog just LOVES to go out when it's misting so she can chase worms. She hates the rain, but loves a misty evening when the worms are out doing wormy things.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think they actually love to be out foraging in the rain.  More insects to be had.  I know my dog just LOVES to go out when it's misting so she can chase worms.  She hates the rain, but loves a misty evening when the worms are out doing wormy things.

Your dog likes worms!? Mine hates rain and doesn't like to be out, practically has to be forced. And then he just goes to the bathroom and is right back at the door begging to be let in and/or barking/crying LOL huge baby. This is abnormal because normally he lays in the yard and watches the property/wildlife for a long time until he either determines it's time to come in or he barks so much we force him to come in or he gets stuck somewhere haha

In the rain, he melts

Yet sometimes he likes to stay outside in it but not often.

Same for the heat.

Snow and cold though? He neeeeeeverrrrrr wants to come in. He will just lay in snow drifts for hours in we let him lol