Keeping Chickens Free Range

[vpatt]

If I let one of my hens raise chicks in the spring the rest of the flock will accept them won't they?

I also wondered........ if one of my pullets is really a rooster then at what age will he begin acting like a rooster?

Thanks!

 

[hennible]

I had a hen brood out in the middle of summer, at about three weeks old (there was only one chick) I introduce the mom and the chick back to the flock in a couple days later the flock killed the chick... You never know it's best to do it slow and with some separation or wait until the chick are adult size and even that can have some backlashes

 

[duluthralphie]

What I found most astounding was the CX's and the rest have been together as one flock, except for nighttime.

I have 35 hens and 4 roosters.

If I remove the roosters until I need them in the spring will things go better? I have a small coop the 4 of them could turn into a man-cave bachelor pad.

 

[hennible]

Yeah its weird... I just combined 2 flocks with no problems, same as yours, day time free ranging together night in separate coops...
With so many hens I wonder what set your Roos off...
Lots of people keep bachelor coops with no problems, personally I'd try it out and see. Just my opinions of course.

 

[K Epp]

I'd put the CX roo in with the hens and move the other roos. Or keep the CX separated to themselves since you will be srpersting them in the spring by breeds anyways I'd just keep them apart now.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

What I found most astounding was the CX's and the rest have been together as one flock, except for nighttime.

I have 35 hens and 4 roosters.

If I remove the roosters until I need them in the spring will things go better? I have a small coop the 4 of them could turn into a man-cave bachelor pad.

'Man Cave',

Now why do i see a pullet sauntering in a lacy outfit holding a tray of sandwiches and beers above her head, in the dead of winter?

FYI: I finally, noticed the other day, that while all the girls were foraging @ various levels of the slope, front of the house, Oldest Roo stood erect, on lookout. Don't know why it has taken me THIS long to note or IF the memory ONLY noted now……Good view of aerial predators.
NO EGGS from anyone in last 6-7 days. Asked LOCAL folks well exper. in chickens; told when it gets cool, 30-60's days and nights, girls will slow/quit. course, can buy from these folks, NON free range eggs…LOL. Have hutch door open, will further insulate. Kind of cute when I work in an area they FIND reason to scrounge in nearby area.
Oh, Ply rocks came HOME TOGETHER *originally* yet, still will separate to roost and are none to happy to be put in together. Birds will be birds….

 

[duluthralphie]

I have been getting 4-5 eggs a day, but I am using a light on a timer to increase their daylight....



BTW Do you know where I can get a couple chicken bikinis? I will need an extra large for my CXs.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Ah, the trails and tribulations of solar power… Will see if I can find something to make due but most roost in Tree. Some are near a window but...
NOT TOO SURE I want to let out heat on the off chance they MAY start laying again for me. Have in the past, once the 'climatize' the the cooler temps just not as regularly.
See that that sloped thing in the Upper L corner? the cabin is just above that. Roo was 'standing guard btwn the 2, solar panel and front of cabin. Funny with as much as it is open, I haven't had more aerial predators, At THIS portion of the prop. Previous photo, Behind, NNE of Cabin, backyard….

 

[Belletower]

Hi. I am new here and new to chickens. I got hatchlings at the beginning of June this year and just found our first eggs yesterday!!! I phone my husband who rushed home as soon as he could ... We fried them up and had an early dinner

I have seven hens of varying breeds and one "male opulent" as I guess the hatcheries send out from time to time. His name is Chip and he is an Easter egger and about as handsome as they come. My flock free ranges on our three acres and occasionally wander into the woods one one side or the road on the other ... I leave them alone and they come home

I feed them scratch when they start hanging out by the front door (they beg!) and they get all of our suitable kitchen scraps. They seem like a happy enough bunch and occasionally let my four young children hold them. I just LOVE my chickens. They add a lot of color to my life!

 

[kit carson]

Posting to subscribe:

My last flock free ranged under supervision.  Yes, they would go into the road and for some reason were particularly attracted to it.  Most of the time they stayed together, although occasionally one or two would get on the other side of the fence and couldn't figure out how to get back to the flock.  Yes, I fed them as I would if they didn't free range, although they seemed to eat less.  I waited until I'd had them for about a month before I would let them free range so that they knew where home was, definitely waited until they were laying regularly so that they knew where their nests were.  Mine laid all of their eggs in the coop, the whole flock would go back to the coop area so that the hens could lay and then they would all leave together.  Moving a nest at night is preferable, but doesn't mean that the broody will be more cooperative, just increases your chances that she will be.  Hopefully, this answers all of the questions asked...at least how my experience worked.

Some thoughts of my own....free ranging allows natural selection of the weakest or perhaps the not so smart so that they are not propagating those characteristics.  I haven't ever free ranged any chicks or juveniles, so if you have any of those you need to make sure that the flock is a cohesive unit before starting free ranging if you want them to all stay together.  I don't know how many of you have a cockerel or a cock bird, but the male was the one that always kept everyone poetry close by and moved them back to the coop at night.  It is his job after all to look after the girls in his care.

My two cents worth anyway.  Once I manage to build my flock back up, I'll start free ranging again.  My only concern is that they don't get into the garden...I like my vegetables too much!

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