Keeping Chickens Free Range

[Carpenter Coop]

Watching chicken TV is enjoyable and relaxing.
They are like kids exploring everything

 

[duluthralphie]

Watching chicken TV is enjoyable and relaxing.
They are like kids exploring everything

Ain't it the truth!!!

We sit every night and watch the chickens. We throw them scratch..... Last night I was marking chickens with leg bands into keepers and those going to camp for the winter. This made the chickens leery of us and they left sooner than usual.

SO we moved our lawn chairs to the tractor and watched the baby CX's. We live an exciting life,,,,

 

[lethalfire]

Ain't it the truth!!!

We sit every night and watch the chickens. We throw them scratch..... Last night I was marking chickens with leg bands into keepers and those going to camp for the winter. This made the chickens leery of us and they left sooner than usual.

SO we moved our lawn chairs to the tractor and watched the baby CX's. We live an exciting life,,,,

I think "normal" tv is HIGHLY over rated, my actual tv set is turned off more then it is on, I would agree that watching the chickens is a LOT more fun and a lot cleaner then watching the ol tv set. How can you not enjoy something who comes up to your deck to see what is going on (even though the presents left behind are not always needed lol) then the next minute they are on the other side of the house seeing what else they can get into. Their favorite spot is hiding in a TALL weed patch (this weed patch is just as tall if not taller then sunflowers) and we have started calling it the "chicken jungle" lol. Nope we don't live boring lives at all, I'd much rather be a down to earth homebody sitting and watching what God has created then anything created by man on the ol' television.

 

[JessicaThistle]

Ain't it the truth!!!

We sit every night and watch the chickens. We throw them scratch..... Last night I was marking chickens with leg bands into keepers and those going to camp for the winter. This made the chickens leery of us and they left sooner than usual.

SO we moved our lawn chairs to the tractor and watched the baby CX's. We live an exciting life,,,,

This is totally the life! Who needs tv, the internet, cell phones when you have chickens? I am way more entertained and relaxed hanging out with my chickens than I have ever been in front of the tv or computer! I love this life!

 

[Carpenter Coop]

100% in agreement and it's a great way to wind down from work spend time with the family and eventually get some fresh eggs.

Did not know I would become obsessed

Hopefully they like squash as much as they enjoy thrashing my pumpkin leaves

Going to plan out a bigger garden for next year too

Even

 

[Tikkijane]

 Yeah, I had issues with folks in cty a few years ago. Free range, some recently hired to the cty crthouse, from OUT OF STATE, complains she needs to be an exception, horses are pooping her 20 acre place, SHE shouldn't have to fence like the last 10000's of folks have across 1000s of acres, last 100 yrs….. Cty commish's wife works in DA's office, Emailed me 'it would be better to pen my horses up'. IF same wife HADN'T LIKELY INSTIGATED NGBR to ngbr shooting, few years previous, made Nat'l news, and my experience with Manipulation, as a kid, I would've been in a pickle……Steams me to NO END  TO have to drop to a "Pacifier PLACE" in dealing with dirty politics.   Misery (sounds like ?) sounds JUST LIKE LA, Ca, some…20, 30, 40, 50yrs ago.
     Why I like my Critters. Plain and simple. Eat, drink, sleep, poop an egg, fart, no big deal, been there, done that. Catch myself ad libbing them all the time…..
 "Well, mom that's all i trained to do is be a chicken. That gate was open and your tomatoes looked so good and I'm SUPPOSED TO BE looking for my vittles, you know….."
      Due to the elements i try to keep my stuff covered, stacked. Lot of recycling gets hauled out on days into town to do shopping.   Good luck in keeping your stuff for the day/time you need it. Weather is against some of us... 
 BTW, someone mentioned keeping their hens inside during rain. Mine hide when needed, and have been wet due to the light rain. I have more areas for them to run for cover, 2 porches for them to hide under, BUT to EACH HIS OWN! 

Mine are out in the rain. I mean, they can choose to be in or out. They prefer out. They have lots of areas to seek shelter in- necessary predator coverage, too.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Well, of all the irony! We had a brief Gully washer of rain today.
When it's lighter rain, they walk around like it's no big deal, as you describe Tikki. I think it's great that when you leave them alone,
Critters take care of a LOT of things by themselves… Found info on this site about how to get broody girl Broke. THX, folks!

 

[JessicaThistle]

Mine don't mind rain either. They know where to hang out if it is really heavy rain and they know their own way back into their coop. No sense in coddling them. They are animals and have instincts to take care of themselves outside.

 

[kaseythomas86]

We'll one of mine laid her first egg today and she came back to the coop!! I was worries she would lay in the woods. It was a huge egg and I know why!

 

[hitchyourwagon]

I let my 12 week old birds out from their covered run for first time. Within 15 - 20 minutes two Hawks were sizing them up for the kill in a nearby tree. Now I am hesitant to do it again unless I can watch them every minute. Would love for them to free range, any advice?