Keeping Chickens Free Range

[MrsFitzDarcy]

As have I. Dogs are much easier to train than chickens.  Especially when you add an electronic brain.

Here is the brain you need for them:

http://www.amazon.com/Dogwidgets%C2%AE-Rechargeable-Training-Individual-Vibration/dp/B00771WQIY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408818778&sr=8-2&keywords=dog+training+collars

just ordered! Bailey, my greyhound is quite the wus about e-collars. Should've thought of this earlier.

 

[LadyBroody]

Hi,
Here is my experience with chicks and free ranging. I live in town and have had two sets of chicks so far. I put them out right away - the first week only a couple hours and stay with to supervise. I check on them several times a day and get them to eat and drink because for the most part they stay hidden and sleep. I would be checking the same if they were inside - 5 times a day is what I read somewhere. As they get older, they spend more time scratching and pecking but checking in conditions them to come when they hear me call.
There are lot of hawks around here and I did lose one baby chick but they really do spend most of their time out of sight, in or under bushes and can disappear quite amazingly. They tend to not stray too far if there is good cover. They don't feel safe out in the open because they aren't safe. I keep trying to get mine on the other side of the drive way for bug control but it isn't long before they are back on their side, behind the Nandina or in the bushes.
In the evening, they want to go to bed. They are not so interested in going to bed in the late afternoon, however. If you try herding them in before before the day is over according to them, it is very frustrating. Especially if they have that excellent cover that foils predators. Sometimes grabbing one or two will get the others to follow, but all too often they escape as you walk.
However, if you can sit (or lie down) with them until the sun goes down enough for them to realize they can't see, they will come much more willingly. They can't see in the dark (no rods), so they want to be safe before it gets dark. The babies don't seen to know that until they experience it. If they have had the heat lamp on at night their whole lives, they don't know much about the dark , but once they do, the night time routine is much easier. When they are feathered out enough to be outside at night and the coop is assessable, they will be happy to put themselves to bed and not have to find you.
Chasing them around doesn't really work because then they start not trusting you when they are outside. Herding with a stick can work but I found they just freak out and run willy nilly.
What has worked for me is luring with treats and using their instincts to your advantage. You want them to come associate you with the best treats (Meal worms, king worms, sunflower seeds, cat food..) so when they hear your voice they come running to see what you have.
Also, bending down and encouraging them to jump on your back is another use of their instincts - mama hens let babies jump on their backs. They are more comfortable jumping on your back than being grabbed with hands. I say "up" and pat my shoulder or back.
I am fortunate to have a fenced yard with plenty of trees and a hedgerow that is a great place for the babies to hide. The hawks do circle but the chickens have lots of places to hide and spend very little time in the open.
My chickens are always happy to see me and I love seeing them frolicking in the yard and not caged up. I do sprout sunflower seeds for them so they don't eat all my landscaping.

Good advice. My chicks also jump onto my back sometimes. Sadly I'm not as blessed as you in regards to letting the chicks free range. Hawks aren't the main problem, more the dogs and cats. Maybe one day though...

 

[Tikkijane]

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/preparing_the_flock_for_winter/

Open air winter coops, etc. ^^^

Chickens *do not* need supplemental heat. Really. They do just fine without it. The key is making sure they have a draft-free coop with wide roosts so they can tuck their whole foot under the body and avoid frostbite. Deep litter works well. Supplemental heat can interfere with their ability to acclimate to the cold. Heat lamps are very dangerous-numerous coops burn down every year due to heat lamps.

Chickens will start to eat more in the fall. They pack on a fat layer for insulation. They seriously can raise coop temp by a good 10-20 degrees- make sure they have the right space so they can heat it sufficiently. If you have a huge coop and just a few birds, find a way to cover their roosts and make a cubby to help trap their heat in.

 

[K Epp]

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/preparing_the_flock_for_winter/

Open air winter coops, etc. ^^^

Thanks. That's a great link.

 

[duluthralphie]

After all my bragging about my dogs here, I have to eat crow....

I lost 6 CX's babies this morning. I went out at 6 am and let them out. (it still gets light here around 5).

I then went to my Mother's house, across the driveway for coffee and see how she was today. At about 7:30 I went back home. I did not let my dogs out of there kennel this morning. I kept them in the house. My dogs are kennel trained, they sleep in their kennel. the kennel is their den.

Normally I take them with me, this morning I did not. Anyways, at 7:30 I went back into the house after feeding chickens and doing morning chores. I still had all my CX's. They were so cute running around playing like big birds. I made myself some bacon and eggs. Watched the depressing news on TV and fed the dogs. At 8:30 I went back outside to see a predator with a chick in its mouth. I actually saw it from my step. I went for a for a gun. I had to decide between my 17 or the 12 ga. I took the 12 gauge.

I opened the door and the predator was looking right at me. That is the last thing the predator saw. It killed 6 chicks in that hour.

Why was I so stupid as to not let my dogs run free like I normally do.

This is not a good day in Minnesota.

 

[hitchyourwagon]

What was the predator?

 

[semcat66]

Oh no! So sorry to hear about your loss.

 

[LesGus5]

Hello! We are first time chicken owners and have had our 7 gals and one accidental roo free ranging since they were about 10 weeks. We have a large fenced area that 4 hens and the roo (they are about 15 weeks old now) stay in, but the 3 smaller gals (now about 12 weeks) squeeze through the iron fence bars and are all over our front yard. I have two feeders in the yard, but I only see them eat it in the moring when I let them out of the coop and in the evening before the go to sleep. We kept them in the coop/run for a week before letting them out on trial "free runs" while supervised. We quickly moved to letting them out all day and have had zero issues with them returning to roost in their coop at night. I think Rosie Roo helps herd them in at night. If I need to coop them up early, I use corn kernals and they follow me in like Hansel and Gretel. They should start laying soon, so I am hoping that they use their next boxes.... time will tell. No losses to predators so far, but they are locked up securely at night. We are sure loving having these chickens. Rosie Roo is starting to change a bit and I fear he might be getting a bit aggressive. I wouldn't care as he does his job, but I have 2 small children who play in the yard. Any experience helping keep a Roo in check without having to grab him and carry him around? That's not happening with Rosie....

 

[duluthralphie]

What was the predator?

I am taking the 5th on that to protect the innocent predators out there.....


Hint: bigger than a robin, smaller than an eagle.

 

[duluthralphie]

Hello! We are first time chicken owners and have had our 7 gals and one accidental roo free ranging since they were about 10 weeks. We have a large fenced area that 4 hens and the roo (they are about 15 weeks old now) stay in, but the 3 smaller gals (now about 12 weeks) squeeze through the iron fence bars and are all over our front yard. I have two feeders in the yard, but I only see them eat it in the moring when I let them out of the coop and in the evening before the go to sleep. We kept them in the coop/run for a week before letting them out on trial "free runs" while supervised. We quickly moved to letting them out all day and have had zero issues with them returning to roost in their coop at night. I think Rosie Roo helps herd them in at night. If I need to coop them up early, I use corn kernals and they follow me in like Hansel and Gretel. They should start laying soon, so I am hoping that they use their next boxes.... time will tell. No losses to predators so far, but they are locked up securely at night. We are sure loving having these chickens. Rosie Roo is starting to change a bit and I fear he might be getting a bit aggressive. I wouldn't care as he does his job, but I have 2 small children who play in the yard. Any experience helping keep a Roo in check without having to grab him and carry him around? That's not happening with Rosie....

Welcome here!!!

I have chickens about the same age as yours. SO I cannot help you on any of your questions. What do you mean by the rooster gets aggressive? Towards you or the hens?