Keeping Chickens Free Range

[LadyBroody]

A thread for all those people who keep chickens free range! Post, post, post!!



Rules:

1. No fighting! Everyone has their own opinion about everything.

2. There's nothing wrong with people who keep chickens indoors, and don't allow them to free range. This thread is to encourage those who don't free range their chickens, not drive them away. If you have any questions about converting to free range, you're welcome to ask questions here!

3. Have fun!

 

[Sylviaanne]

Hi! I try to pen my chickens up at night, they don't like it, they want to roost on my front porch and poop there. Good thing we have a pressure sprayer. When I can get them penned up at night, I let them out to forage in the late morning or early afternoon, after I am reasonably sure that their eggs have been laid. I don't want to go hunting all over my property for their nests. They are allowed to forage for the rest of the day and we put feed down in the run to get them to come back in. They seem to love the feed we buy for them and consider foraging as snacking.

We finally have our first broody after 3 years of having chickens, guineas and ducks. She is barely under the eave of our house. If the rain slants in, she gets a little wet but I'm afraid to move her, afraid she will not sit her eggs if I move them.

 

[LadyBroody]

We finally have our first broody after 3 years of having chickens, guineas and ducks. She is barely under the eave of our house. If the rain slants in, she gets a little wet but I'm afraid to move her, afraid she will not sit her eggs if I move them.

That could be a problem...I simply can't think of a solution, but maybe some other more experienced BYC members could help you out.

 

[carolinasculpture]

Hi! I moved my broody's nest, but it was only from a nest box to the open area under the roost. She didn't have any trouble. Maybe you could move it a little at a time at night? Good luck!

 

[latb611]

This is my first time with any sort of flock and I was wondering how long they should be penned up before letting them free range so they no where home is?

 

[LadyBroody]

This is my first time with any sort of flock and I was wondering how long they should be penned up before letting them free range so they no where home is?

Keep them penned up for about a week, and then let them out to roam around a bit. Always feed them in their coop so that you can easily get them back in again.

 

[Sylviaanne]

Hi! I moved my broody's nest, but it was only from a nest box to the open area under the roost. She didn't have any trouble. Maybe you could move it a little at a time at night? Good luck!

Are they more docile at night? She's fiercely protective of her eggs.

 

[LadyBroody]

Are they more docile at night? She's fiercely protective of her eggs.

I know what you mean! My mom's hens were very protective of their eggs also. Especially when they were broody. I think they must be more docile at night, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[Sylviaanne]

I know what you mean! My mom's hens were very protective of their eggs also. Especially when they were broody. I think they must be more docile at night, but I'm not 100% sure.

ROFL So, you want ME to be your guinea pig? I'm not sure I want to try without more reassurances that she's a lot more docile at night. LOL Sylvia

 

[LadyBroody]

ROFL So, you want ME to be your guinea pig? I'm not sure I want to try without more reassurances that she's a lot more docile at night. LOL Sylvia

True!! We need more opinions.