Keeping Chickens Free Range

[K Epp]

...and the babies.


I bought these they are about 4.5 months old now. I think I picked well and got all pullets.





The one with less crest is a little younger and has filled out and got her crest now.



As far as predators that dog killed 6 chickens and 2 ducks. I lost one to a owl, one to a hawk, and one completely disappeared.

 

[Meinertzhagens]

Hello all and thank you chickychickens for suggesting this thread!

I am also new to chicken keeping. I ordered/hatched most of my flock in May with the exception of three EE that I introduced to the flock this Sunday. They are getting picked on mercilessly! I am hoping this stops soon as they spend most of their time in a huddle and very low.
All of mine are right at 6 weeks and still in a kiddie pool in an unfinished bathroom in my house. We are ready for them to go outside! We started building the coop this weekend and really only need to finish the nesting boxes for it to be secure. I would also like to make the removable roosts before we move them out too.
I take the whole flock out each day to a covered building. They are never left unsupervised as we have a hawk family on the edge of our property. They become braver each day and wander into the garden but always come back to the building to nap and dust bathe.

I feed them twice a day but am unsure they are getting enough. They always seem so ravenous! How much do you all feed your free rangers?

 

[LadyBroody]

Hello all and thank you chickychickens for suggesting this thread!

I am also new to chicken keeping. I ordered/hatched most of my flock in May with the exception of three EE that I introduced to the flock this Sunday. They are getting picked on mercilessly! I am hoping this stops soon as they spend most of their time in a huddle and very low.
All of mine are right at 6 weeks and still in a kiddie pool in an unfinished bathroom in my house. We are ready for them to go outside! We started building the coop this weekend and really only need to finish the nesting boxes for it to be secure. I would also like to make the removable roosts before we move them out too.
I take the whole flock out each day to a covered building. They are never left unsupervised as we have a hawk family on the edge of our property. They become braver each day and wander into the garden but always come back to the building to nap and dust bathe.

I feed them twice a day but am unsure they are getting enough. They always seem so ravenous! How much do you all feed your free rangers?

I feed mine a big yoghurt tub of layer mash in the morning and the evening. They are layers though, so you shouldn't feed chickens layer feed when they are only 6 weeks. I have 11 laying hens. This article might help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/feeding-at-different-ages

 

[Meinertzhagens]

I feed mine a big yoghurt tub of layer mash in the morning and the evening. They are layers though, so you shouldn't feed chickens layer feed when they are only 6 weeks. I have 11 laying hens. This article might help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/feeding-at-different-ages

Thank you, that article did help. I was unsure of when to switch feeds. They are eating starter now. I tried fermenting it but DH said it was too stinky for in the house, so I'll try again soon. They loved it, though. I actually took a pic of them after offering both fermented and regular feed. I h ad maybe four of 17 chicks at the regular and I suspect it was because they couldn't fit around the other feeder!

 

[fancychick1]

I free range my flock. I let them out first thing in the morning and feed them and then they roam the rest of the day. In the evening I feed them again and then by dusk they all go in their coop on their own and I close them up for protection. I'm worried that once they start laying eggs I will be crawling under my back deck because that's where they like to hang out. I plan on upgrading their coop so maybe I can encourage them to hang out there. Do they all have to have their own nesting box because right now they have a few but they all try to hang in one?

 

[LadyBroody]

I free range my flock. I let them out first thing in the morning and feed them and then they roam the rest of the day. In the evening I feed them again and then by dusk they all go in their coop on their own and I close them up for protection. I'm worried that once they start laying eggs I will be crawling under my back deck because that's where they like to hang out. I plan on upgrading their coop so maybe I can encourage them to hang out there. Do they all have to have their own nesting box because right now they have a few but they all try to hang in one?

Normally you only need one nesting box per three chickens, but I have the same problem where my chickens all pile on top of one another in one nesting box.

 

[LadyBroody]

It's wonderful to know so many people free range their chickens!! Thank you once again ChickyChickens for spreading the word about this thread!

 

[JessicaThistle]

This is a great thread!

I let my chickens out in the afternoon when I am sure that I won't have to leave. They go to their coop for food and water periodically but otherwise they love hanging out under the bushes and trees in the yard. They are especially loving my raspberry patch right now! They go back to the coop on their own every evening around 8 pm.

My younger silkies and cochin also get to go out at the same time. They tend to stick together in their own little group and poke around. The "big girls" like to go visit their little pen and eat their food too. Sometimes my little cochin roo chases them away and sometimes he gets put in his place. Lol! I am hoping to be able to integrate them all together into the main coop eventually. Right now we are taking it slow and just letting them free range together. I do have to lead these little guys back to their pen most evenings.

Pretty quick here my Cornish X will be moving to the chicken tractor. I plan to give them an open door in the afternoon when everyone else free ranges too. I really look forward to seeing those fat little round chickens foraging around!

 

[LadyBroody]

This is a great thread!

I let my chickens out in the afternoon when I am sure that I won't have to leave. They go to their coop for food and water periodically but otherwise they love hanging out under the bushes and trees in the yard. They are especially loving my raspberry patch right now! They go back to the coop on their own every evening around 8 pm.

My younger silkies and cochin also get to go out at the same time. They tend to stick together in their own little group and poke around. The "big girls" like to go visit their little pen and eat their food too. Sometimes my little cochin roo chases them away and sometimes he gets put in his place. Lol! I am hoping to be able to integrate them all together into the main coop eventually. Right now we are taking it slow and just letting them free range together. I do have to lead these little guys back to their pen most evenings.

Pretty quick here my Cornish X will be moving to the chicken tractor. I plan to give them an open door in the afternoon when everyone else free ranges too. I really look forward to seeing those fat little round chickens foraging around!

So glad you came to join us here! Your flock sounds wonderful!!

 

[Cuccismith]

@fancychick1
Your situation sounds like mine! almost exactly! I have 6 nesting boxes but the 4 laying hens use the same one! they like laying the eggs together, but obviously one chicken at a time : )