Keeping Chickens Free Range

[MistyMountain]

I free range also. Sun up to sun down and then locked in the coop at night. They get less free range time in with winter months (afternoons mostly) while the hawk migration highway is in use. My grown up flock of 10 month olds have been free ranging since February and we just opened up the grow out coop to allow the 9 week olds to free range and mingle with the grown ups. I love to watch chickens wander around!

 

[ChickyChickens]

Thank you very much K Epp. Me and my chook and her chicks are chilling on my bed!!!!!

 

[QueenBubbles]

No but with out the beards and the pea comb I doubt they will lay colored eggs. The comb in the picture is what is called a single comb. The comb is said to carry the colored egg gene. Now none of that can be 100% until you get the eggs. This is my EE kinda hard to see the comb, but the best way to describe it is small and knotty looking. This is my black Australourp. She has a single comb. White EE I think the Austrlorps legs are yellow, but cant remember.

Australorp legs are black with pink bottoms.

 

[QueenBubbles]

About the road and other concerns about free ranging - mine head for cover when they hear a car go by. There isn't a lot of traffic, the speed limit is 25 and these chicks are still babies. I have been very impressed with their survival skills. They really do stick together and freak out if they lose sight of each other. Same for my two biggies.
They seem to have territories as well. The biggies "own" the patio and the littles migrate to the front yard when Penny the EE pullet gets tired of chasing Henry the LB cockerel and sets her sights on the littles. She sometimes shares, tho, so the integration plan is going fairly well.
The chicks are Leary of my cats and are good at running for heavy cover and then hiding - very good instincts! I spent a lot of time holding the cats back with the first two, so they got the idea chickens are also my babies. I held the babies and let the cat smell them - which the chicks responded by sending out a curious peck. That ended the desire to get too close to a chicken face! It seems like that sort of introduction would work with dogs, too. A lot depends on how strong the prey drive is, but if the dog is already trained as a bird dog there is a good chance they could also understand the chickens are part of the family. Giving treats to both kinds of animals at the same time (in proximaty) also helps.
Hope that gives some ideas and assurances to work on the worries of danger. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[QueenBubbles]

About black chicks and possible breeds - here are close-ups of combs at 3 weeks: Australorp

And here is my Black Sex Link:

 

[jakmak71]

I just let them free range for about an hour and a half last night, and they went in on their own. I'm just wondering if I can let them out "cold turkey" ? Instead of easing into it like many people say to do. I want to watch them free range for multiple hours whenever I'm home, but I live in the city with no fence and near some coyotes. I don't want them to know that they cant go out of the backyard, how could I train them without a fence ?

 

[Cuccismith]

I have heard of people using sprinklers to train them to stay in a certain area... I haven't done it myself but It's worth asking out THERE..... : )

 

[chicksurreal]

I free range also. Sun up to sun down and then locked in the coop at night. They get less free range time in with winter months (afternoons mostly) while the hawk migration highway is in use. My grown up flock of 10 month olds have been free ranging since February and we just opened up the grow out coop to allow the 9 week olds to free range and mingle with the grown ups. I love to watch chickens wander around!

Me too! They're so cute when they go exploring.

 

[ChickyChickens]

Me too! They're so cute when they go exploring.

X2

 

[ChickyChickens]

My broody and her chicks love to chill out on my bed!!!!Z it is sooo cute