Keeping Chickens Free Range

[Peeps61]

I'm with you FL Chickens. I made the same mistake of handling my first roo (EE) and he was Satan incarnate. Every roo that came after him was raised with a hands off approach, and all of them have been well behaved. The roo I have now hasn't tried to attack me, my spouse and grown children or any small visitors to our place. Same scenario - mine free range and have plenty of space to work things out or get away from each other if necessary. Right now I have one roo, but I suspect one of his chicks that I hatched in the incubator may be a roo as well, so two won't hurt (I have 35 hens) but if he turns out to be aggressive, out he'll go.

 

[FLChickens]

I'm with you FL Chickens. I made the same mistake of handling my first roo (EE) and he was Satan incarnate. Every roo that came after him was raised with a hands off approach, and all of them have been well behaved. The roo I have now hasn't tried to attack me, my spouse and grown children or any small visitors to our place. Same scenario - mine free range and have plenty of space to work things out or get away from each other if necessary. Right now I have one roo, but I suspect one of his chicks that I hatched in the incubator may be a roo as well, so two won't hurt (I have 35 hens) but if he turns out to be aggressive, out he'll go.

Hey, maybe we are close to each other.

I agree, just acting like the boss trains them up well. Though I'm trying to think how that's going to work now. My current setup is a very small flock (not having more than one roo) and they are in a coop with very secure run - that I can't quite stand up in. I'm not going to be able to use the same method, since I can't get in there with them quickly or maneuver well. We have ruthless hawks that catch and kill songbirds, doves, and squirrels right in the yard, not much afraid of us, so I can't let the chickens out at all.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Change of subject & Bragging: Baby Chicks I brought home March 23-24, are laying eggs!! My math is Poor but that IS Early! They've been free range since about Mid-late May. Something to be SAID for Free range!

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Awwww, our senior roo on the farm (once a coyote got Dumpling ) was Red. Beautiful, large RIR, and perfectly behaved. He kept the junior Roos in their place but never even thought to challenge me, my husband, or any visitor we had, including children.

My first flock I had a little jap bantam roo I raised (silly me) as a pet, and he did decide he was going to attack me, but I was very fond of him so we had a little "reeducation" and it worked splendidly. He was only a pound anyway, and tiny.

Since then I have had many Roos - brahma, RIR, BR, BO, Marans, silkie, and various mixed-breeds. Every single one of them has been well-behaved toward people and never a problem. I always free-ranged, with plenty of space for the birds to sort themselves into little flocks, with a roo in each general area and girls staying near him.

I simply trained them by walking at them as if I was going to walk through/over them, from the time I could identify cockerels. If they crowed or mounted a hen when I was close, I'd chase them away. I fed the girls tidbits but ran Roos away. Never any trouble from any of them, including the reds. They made very nice roosters, in fact, though one barred Rock and a few mixed breeds were my favorites. It's certainly possible to have nice RIR Roos though.

Thank you for the info, BTW. The Aust/E Egger cross Roos are doing well. I've done as you said, walk after them, keep them aware of who's the boss. The head one takes care of my 2 adult hens, while the 2nd one tries to take care of whatever older chicks follow him.
I've lost 3 out of 4 of the Leghorns I brought home from TSC. 2 were nabbed by predators, 1 dead in the yard. Whomever TSC bought them from, GGGRRRRRR. For whatever reason, the leghorn stays to herself. Was hoping she, like the last one I had, would be a good mother..Time will tell.
Thank you Again for the advice, it helped.

 

[FLChickens]

Wow, that does sound quick, if you bought them as babies! The last time I actually kept up with it, the earliest layers I had were about 15 weeks old, iirc - Red Stars I think? I've had all free range until now and it's by far my preference.

Sorry to hear about your losses. I was never partial to Leghorns (though my grandma raised them) but they are good layers. You had one that was a good mother? That's really cool.

I like the idea of a junior roo taking responsibility for older chicks. My Roos didn't pay a great deal of attention to chicks normally, but they would protect them as part of the flock.

I regret that I won't get to see ALL of the flock dynamics I'm used to. But I am hoping a roo will clamp down on the girls chasing each other. Since the white/paint silkie got her chicks, she's become something of a terror sometimes, chasing away others and sometimes even pecking at other babies not her own. My black silkie will feed any chick and is very patient, letting any of them climb on her. They both have their strengths. But I'm hoping a roo will enforce peace out there.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

I appreciate your concern. Yes, I had a Leghorn that brought 5 chicks down from a hole, nest in the sandstone above the house, last year. Maybe the year before? She was setting on her 2nd batch when something got hold of her, the eggs. It's the way of the free range world.
The current Roos are about a yr old, Freebies on CL. The hens are Pushing 2 yrs, pullets/hens came home late March, the Leghorn and 2 other chicks came home 3 weeks later. I meant to keep the Roos away from the others but they found a hole, got away from me. My hound gets distracted doesn't always come running when the chickens start their 'Help, predator!' Call but she's a life saver most of the time. I'M rather slow getting her outside, in winter.
This morning, I have 2 tiny eggs in the same box as the older hens set and another older chick/pullet is setting in another fav spot! Going to have to stock up on egg boxes early.... LOL

 

[EvansMeXo]

Hello! I'm going to start working my way through this post to get as much information as possible but with a couple hundred pages to work through I want to ask so I can get my questions answered quicker.
Okay so this is my first flock of chickens! Not sure if she's/gender make a difference so here's what I have: I have 10 in total, 1 is a cockerel, 1 is a strongly suspected cockerel, 4 confirmed pullets, and 4 unknowns. They range from 3 weeks to 11 weeks. Today is day 7 of coop lockdown.
So my questions are:
1) how does everyone feel about the whole 1 week locked up in the coop VS 2 weeks. Since there isn't an established flock for them to learn from should I deff wait the full two weeks?
2) should I leave the 3-5 week olds in the coop when the others go out to free range or are they okay to go out too?
3) when it is time to let them out, do I just go out in the morning and open it up and pray they all come back and stay in my yard? Every night when I lock up the coop (it has a drop down side with fencing over it so they get lots of fresh air while on lockdown) I give them a small tray mixed with grit and scratch so they get excited at night when they see me Coming I'm hoping it'll help them return at night
4) once their used to free ranging say you have to leave for the day do you keep them locked up all day and only let them out when you get back or do you let them range while your gone?? We're going to build a run for these days but it won't be ready for a bit

Any and all advice is appreciated!! Like I said I'm going to try and read this whole thread to gather as much info as possible there's just so many posts!

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

You don't have to read ALL the posts, scan them for what topics you have ? on. People, choices, places, breeds will be different. Many posts Won't fit your circumstances. It's a matter of common sense. Type a few words in Search & you'll come up with info that way Also.
A) I would let them out after a week. They should KNOW home by now. They WILL LIKELY return tot he hutch in the evening. Do you have enough Space for ALL of them in your Hutch?
B) If they are only 3-4 weeks old, an area just for the 3-4 week old one would be better. With THAT much between the ages, there WILL be Pecking order going on. Older ones will peck, chase younger ones so to Establish their seniority. Safer to keep the younger ones separated.
C) It has most certainly helped! Almost 99% certain they will come back to the hutch at about dusk. For that many, I would check the food label to Make Sure they are getting enough. Do you have plenty of water available?
D) It depends on your comfort & predators. With an Old Enough Rooster, Most will be protected BUT, young ones, I would keep in when you are away. Anything from a hawk, a loose dog, a fox, coyote, would LOVE a small chicken to eat. The scent also tells those critters that THERE are Available meals around! I have two that are only 2 1/2 months old but I also have 2 roosters and a hound dog that can pick up a strange scent QUICK, therefore, giving predators 2nd thoughts about coming close.
Hope this helps...C.~

 

[Mrs. K]

I too, would let them out. Try letting them out close to sundown, maybe an hour before.
They will be very vulnerable to predators, as none of them are very old or have much experience.

Do you have a run? A run can be a go between being locked in the coop to being out free range, available as food for predators. Once predators find you, they will be back. I am in total lock down right now, Ugh!

Right now, mine are locked in the coop at night, in the run by day....6 weeks ago I had 17 birds, 6 of the roosters.... down to 6 hens.

 

[Elemes]

Right now, mine are locked in the coop at night, in the run by day....6 weeks ago I had 17 birds, 6 of the roosters.... down to 6 hens.

Are you saying you had 6 roosters -all who were taken/eaten? Where did the other 5 chickens go?