Keeping Chickens Free Range

[QueenBubbles]

On very huge problem with free ranging your chickens is there are times one or more of the hens goes' missing and after a couple of weeks ya give up then one morning she shows up with some new fluff balls for ya to look at ..... Oh ya 7 new additions and this momma is only 32 weeks old and hatched out over 20 chicks on her own and this is her seconded batch of chicks this summer ..... gander007

Oh, such a problem!! But it must have been sad those weeks she was missing - she is a lovely hen! Does she have a name?

 

[gander007]

Quote:

She got the name Momma as a joke as she was just a great one and I don't think incubator would be so nifty ,,,,,,, And yes I was very upset as I was thinking a Bob-Cat had gotten her or something to that effect .........

 

[LanceTN]

How many of you free rangers keep a rooster around to safeguard the flock?

 

[blkjak]

A rooster and I have 4 geese. They are always watching.

 

[RoosterLew]

I'll see your four Geese and raise you four roosters.
Lol, actually.,. We have a total of at least 10 roosters of 40 birds...and only 2 geese!!
But projects require a lot of fellas
So as far as being "Free Range Flock" protectors. Only a couple, but yes we do keep some for that reason.

 

[earlyredrooster]

How many of you free rangers keep a rooster around to safeguard the flock?

I keep at least one rooster for every breed I keep.

 

[LanceTN]

I hear a lot about free ranging just being a hassle. Chickens all over your house and car pooping all over everything and laying eggs in places you can't find them.

Is this at all like the experiences of you guys here?

If I train the chickens to use their coop as home and I have plenty of good land for them to enjoy should I still expect them to poop on everything I own?

 

[LadyBroody]

I hear a lot about free ranging just being a hassle. Chickens all over your house and car pooping all over everything and laying eggs in places you can't find them.

Is this at all like the experiences of you guys here?

If I train the chickens to use their coop as home and I have plenty of good land for them to enjoy should I still expect them to poop on everything I own?

I haven't had any chickens pooping on things I own (accept the lawn

) and I think if you close them in the coop and show them where the nesting boxes are a few times, they'll get the idea. Only my personal experience.

 

[RoosterLew]

I hear a lot about free ranging just being a hassle. Chickens all over your house and car pooping all over everything and laying eggs in places you can't find them.

Is this at all like the experiences of you guys here?

If I train the chickens to use their coop as home and I have plenty of good land for them to enjoy should I still expect them to poop on everything I own?

When my tractor ran out of gas right outside of their coop and I left it there for a week or three....they got pretty curious of the new Allis Chalmers jungle gym....yeah I had to wash the seat!! Lol.
Other than that, with up to 40 birds at times I have not really had a problem.
Mine go to and from their coop and yard all day. Sometimes I think the whole flock returns to the barn just because one of the senior hens is ready to lay.
Occasionally one will hide eggs, usually only of she's about to go broody though. We do also find an egg here or there from time to time. But really, is every egg critical??
If you get them well trained to the coop and nests, you should have very few problems.
I wouldn't park my car, mower, tractor, motorcycle etc... Next to the coop though!

You can train them to stay out of certain areas as well. Every time you catch them somewhere you don't want them, give them a squirt from the water hose...they will soon avoid the area.

Good luck with them. Free range chickens are happy chickens.

 

[earlyredrooster]

I hear a lot about free ranging just being a hassle. Chickens all over your house and car pooping all over everything and laying eggs in places you can't find them.

Is this at all like the experiences of you guys here?

If I train the chickens to use their coop as home and I have plenty of good land for them to enjoy should I still expect them to poop on everything I own?

Mine poop everywhere but they use their nesting boxes when they lay.