Keeping Chickens Free Range

[SmColorInDaPan]

Mine have the option to go out, unless the snow is really deep and I'm afraid they'll get stuck. We had a couple inches of snow last week. The first morning of it, I opened the doors and chickens and ducks came with their usual crazed scramble, only to freeze completely immobile and staring as soon as they saw the snow. After a few moments of staring, they did an about face and marched right back in the coop.

I left the doors open and some of the big girls ventured a couple feet out the door, but no further. The next day I let them out (still snow on the ground) and they charged right out into it and stayed out all day long.

Yeah, mine do the same although i don't have a coop. when we dropped at/below Freeze they stayed on or under the porch. If it's more than 2 in of snow, they aren't into it. Also, I noticed then when it is cold, below 30, they hold 1 claw/foot whatever, up to their bodies. To keep warm I imagine.

 

[Aphrael]

PILLOW factory explosion, FUNNY! Yeah, i have feathers all over now too. Even found some in the house while I vacuuming today.
Next time I am in town, may get some of the stuff they say to use for pecking, since they have some bald spots. Don't see them pecking/picking on each much BUT DO Hear them fuss now and then. Better Safe than Sorry. May pen up the one that seems to bully most. but still thinking it's molting.
Oh, question: If my older ones start molting, will the younger ones follow suit?

OH, yeah! I have a digital camera now! Can post more pixs, oh, boy, oh, boy, oh boy…..

Woohoo! More pics is always good!

From what I have read, and my experience so far, young pullets won't molt in their first year. Or they will do a very minor partial molt, just exchanging a few feathers. It is typically their second year when they do their first full molt.

Yeah, mine do the same although i don't have a coop. when we dropped at/below Freeze they stayed on or under the porch. If it's more than 2 in of snow, they aren't into it. Also, I noticed then when it is cold, below 30, they hold 1 claw/foot whatever, up to their bodies. To keep warm I imagine.

Mine do that as well. I agree, I believe they are warming their feet, since they only do that when it is cold.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Cloudy, windy. Kids have been all over the area foraging. When they take cover, I know the rain will start.

they have been under the front porch quite a bit lately. Anytime I've searched there, no eggs, hardly anything to nest IN down there, Poo.
No one here is Pullet age. The youngest in hens are about 2. yrs.
Photos will come when Not so busy with weather and….NEED TO Keep camera ready for Nutso ngbr. She has a cop 'friend' (plays folks like an Organ on Sunday) so 'okay' TO trespass across ACRES, peek in windows when I leave even momentarially, etc.
Hope to have it ready & REMEMBER when nice out, they are out and about…Surprised the wInd hasn't sent them flying around more...

OH, I keep forgetting! I read somewhere, one of those live off the land only things, that with a Big holed screen set inside a metal tube, .22 to shoot rabbits and the like, one can create a 'natural feeder for chickens. As the body rots, the…shoot what to they call those worm like things…fall thru the screen to the ground, where chickens get mounds of Protein. Total cost? A Bullet. Something about a filter on top for the smell…..

 

[vpatt]

I haven't had any snow yet so I don't know how they are going to act since I have only had them a couple of months.

I sure hope more of them begin laying soon. ....I have to buy eggs tomorrow.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

I haven't had any snow yet so I don't know how they are going to act since I have only had them a couple of months.

I sure hope more of them begin laying soon. ....I have to buy eggs tomorrow.

They are, BASICALLY, all alike. Bet yours do about the same thing. The heat gets them before the cold does, short of frozen combs, but they heal well. Have you had rain? how'd they do with that?
I heard it can take up to 8 mo for them to first lay. I've read somewhere here what behaviors to look for…..where…..

Mine know the cold is coming since all but 2 are back in between the banana boxes full of kindling stacked on the back porch! LOL!

 

[vpatt]

  They are, BASICALLY, all alike. Bet yours do about the same thing. The heat gets them before the cold does, short of frozen combs, but they heal well. Have you had rain? how'd they do with that?
 I heard it can take up to 8 mo for them to first lay. I've read somewhere here what behaviors to look for…..where…..
 Mine know the cold is coming since all but 2 are back in between the banana boxes full of kindling stacked on the back porch!  LOL!

They do fine with rain....if it is really hard they stay under the porch.

I am no longer getting email notifications .....not sure why.

 

[Aphrael]

They are, BASICALLY, all alike. Bet yours do about the same thing. The heat gets them before the cold does, short of frozen combs, but they heal well. Have you had rain? how'd they do with that?
I heard it can take up to 8 mo for them to first lay. I've read somewhere here what behaviors to look for…..where…..

Mine know the cold is coming since all but 2 are back in between the banana boxes full of kindling stacked on the back porch! LOL!

Well, mine seem to like the rain. It rained all day long yesterday and they were out in it all day long. They would only step in under the roof or under the coop when it came down really hard. As soon as it slackened they were back out. I was really glad it didn't get cold last night, because they all went to roost bedraggled and wet.

 

[Tikkijane]

Yep bantams are just like large fowl in that there are many, many breeds.  In fact there are many large fowl that have bantam versions, such as cochins, brahmas, orpingtons, etc.
I've got a big molt going on right now too.  Looks like a pillow factory exploded in my yard.     The only reason we aren't buying eggs right now is because I got a lot of spring pullets that are laying really well and aren't molting.

X2. *Most * large fowl have bantam counterparts. D'Uccles are true bantams; only available as bantams.

You'd have to check the breed standards for size. Hamvurgs are large fowl, but are pretty small for lf; although their eggs aee considerably bigger than bantam eggs.

Chooks are endlessly fascinating, imo. When I first started thinking abour chickens, I thought you had brown or white chickens; brown or white eggs. And then somehow, I discovered silkies, and the game was on!

 

[Tikkijane]

 PILLOW factory explosion, FUNNY!  Yeah, i have feathers all over now too. Even found some in the house while I vacuuming today.
Next time I am in town, may get some of the stuff they say to use for pecking, since they have some bald spots.  Don't see them pecking/picking on each much BUT DO Hear them fuss now and then. Better Safe than Sorry. May pen up the one that seems to bully most. but still thinking it's molting.
 Oh, question: If my older ones start molting, will the younger ones follow suit?

OH, yeah! I have a digital camera now! Can post more pixs, oh, boy, oh, boy, oh boy…..

No. Molting isn't a behavior. Juveniles have 2 molts; then they have the "big" molt around 15-18 months in the fall, and then every fall thereafter. New feathers are great!

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

No. Molting isn't a behavior. Juveniles have 2 molts; then they have the "big" molt around 15-18 months in the fall, and then every fall thereafter. New feathers are great!

Sorry Tikki, I was so focused on answering/responding to Aph, Forgot i was on a billboard, public posting, WHATEVER, didn't word myself well..

.. My girls are showing spots of red bare skin, where it 'appears' they're being pecked. They are ALL free range so hard to pinpoint who's doing what. Thought I would use the pecking stuff, for the behavs, since One of my PR can be a bully…
They are ALL molting FOR SURE. NO tail feathers. Why, since the Molting seemed to start with the older PRs, 2-3 yrs, I asked if the yr younger Sexlink and Leghorn seemed to follow…..Gonna starve me, the lil beggers….

Not that big a deal since I can't DO a thing about the molting...
have pixs but Puter & Camera, well, need to kick some butt there...
Cooling down again, storm that was in W heading E. They were having such a good time getting away from the house…I've spoiled them with hard boiled eggs so much, THEY barely notice when i drop the shells amongst them….picky peddlers, they are….LOL

thx for the education! C.~