Keeping Chickens Free Range

[Tikkijane]

I have a question. I'm about to move onto five acres of mostly wooded land in the Pacific Northwest (south end of Camano Island - about half as much rain as Seattle but still pretty green). I want chickens only for eggs and I want to free-range as much as possible for two reasons: taste and feed cost. I'm guessing I'll have to feed them in the winter but in the warmer months it'd be great if they could live entirely or nearly entirely off the land. I plan to cull my hens at 2-3 years of age to increase overall production. I'm thinking of trying out Hamburgs, Leghorns, and Easter Eggers to see who can produce the most with the fewest losses to predators (hawks, coyotes, our own cat). I may have to resort to larger hens, not sure. My question is, how many chickens can my five acres support that way? It's just me and my husband but we eat a lot of eggs, therefore I'd like to keep about 20 layers so there's enough eggs even in winter (I plan to put a light in the coop). There won't be any other livestock grazing. Is this realistic?

If it was me- I'd ferment my feed to keep costs down while giving them superior nutrition. I would never rely on foraging for all nutritional needs. {I also don't use supplemental light; plus you'll have molting to think about.}

If you are culling and then processing, I would not have hamburgs. Not only are they flighty {= hunting for eggs all over}, but they are small; not a whole lot bigger. They lay really well, though, and they have a decent size white egg. My .02, fwiw.

 

[Tikkijane]

We have Welsummers to they are great foragers .

I have *never* had a single chicken that didn't forage. That's what they are designed to do. It's like dust bathing- instinctive behavior.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have *never* had a single chicken that didn't forage. That's what they are designed to do. It's like dust bathing- instinctive behavior.

I am already looking and trying to decide which breeds I will buy next year, either as eggs or chicks. I looked at the reviews on the welsummer and I have a couple questions about them:

1) Are they cold hardy?

2) What size do they mature at?

3) how long does it take them to reach that size?

4) If you know, are they larger in the breast or thigh/leg area? ( I do not mean to offend, but I raise for meat and eggs and NOT because I am addicted to chickens like a certain Woman living in my house claims!)

 

[duluthralphie]

My 4 year old grand daughter is here, she spend the night. I showed her the video of the chickens being let out. She laughed so hard, I told her she could help me let the chickens out in the morning.

She was so excited. This is the same granddaughter that loved my bird feeders so much her parents had to get one. The one that I gave a hummingbird feeder to on her birthday and she acts like it is her favorite present. When I go to their house, she has to show me her birds and the feeders. She laughs and gets giddy every time one feeds.


Last night, as we put her to bed she said," Grandpa, I can't wait for morning to let the chickens out".


I am instilling a love for birds her Mother will hate me for someday. I am doing it right!

 

[Tikkijane]

Hello! I have another Free Range question...

One of my neighbors has an ungodly amount of cats - last count was 14. A few days ago, as I was sitting in the run with my chickens just observing and trying to assess their pecking order, I saw one of the cats walk right up to the run (didn't even notice me until I stood up, it was so fixated on the chickens). I believe the cats have also been trying to claw their way into the coop - it is 100% secure (in fact, I think they have given up trying), but it makes me nervous to let them free range. Will chickens (I have 10 hens and 1 rooster) defend themselves ok from cats (normal house cats, not feral cats), or is it best to forget about free ranging?

Chicks would be an issue; big birds not so much. 4 of our cats are outside and don't look twice at the chickens.

 

[Tikkijane]

Our Guineas lay their eggs in the open in high weeds.  I was very worried about it but they did hatch some each time and the mommies stayed on them even through hail storms.  We provide lots of areas for them to lay in but they don't seem to like those. 

Guineas are a whole other ball of wax..... mine are coop trained, but they generally will not lay in the boxes. I don't much care about the eggs as they are seasonal layers, but I've got 2 girls on a community nest I cannot find and it's driving me crazy. Out 6 days; haven't seen in 4. And we have spent serious hours looking. Last time this happened, I lost 3....

 

[holm25]

I am already looking and trying to decide which breeds I will buy next year, either as eggs or chicks. I looked at the reviews on the welsummer and I have a couple questions about them:

1) Are they cold hardy?

2) What size do they mature at?

3) how long does it take them to reach that size?

4) If you know, are they larger in the breast or thigh/leg area? ( I do not mean to offend, but I raise for meat and eggs and NOT because I am addicted to chickens like a certain Woman living in my house claims!)

Very cold hardy, roosters are known to get frostbite . Hens 7-8 pounds roos 9-10 . 20-25 weeks and lay a terra cota colored egg so dark brown and darker brown specks . They are a dual purpose breed but are not to big in the thigh/leg area . I will get pics later!!

 

[Tikkijane]

I free range my chickens during the day. I feed and water them in their run and they always go back to their house to roost at night and to lay their eggs, which makes me very happy. Their egggs have very rich, orange yolks and are delish! They love the freedom and rush out when I open the run gate. I am concerned about hawks and eagles and now I have a new worry - coyotes , my neighbor saw 3 coyotes in the field next to our run. Are coyotes nocturnal predators? Should I keep my girls penned up?.
.

At night, yes. Most everything comes out to hunt at night.

 

[brattima]

I free ranged my 3 hens and rooster always. they came home to roost at night and to lay their eggs. Once in a while they would try the empty dog house. All was fine for 2 years, locking them up at night. Until a fox decided it would get best results in nabbing chicken in the day, early late, mid day, no matter what time.. This fox wiped out 2 of mine, my neighbors 15 hens. so now mine are locked up, keep a light on the outside incase I see that rascal at night. The yolks are not as orange now. Have 2 young hen replacements, just started laying, not letting them out. would like to though. the young hens lay eggs the size of a teaspoon. will they get larger?

 

[duluthralphie]

I free ranged my 3 hens and rooster always. they came home to roost at night and to lay their eggs. Once in a while they would try the empty dog house. All was fine for 2 years, locking them up at night. Until a fox decided it would get best results in nabbing chicken in the day, early late, mid day, no matter what time.. This fox wiped out 2 of mine, my neighbors 15 hens. so now mine are locked up, keep a light on the outside incase I see that rascal at night. The yolks are not as orange now. Have 2 young hen replacements, just started laying, not letting them out. would like to though. the young hens lay eggs the size of a teaspoon. will they get larger?

The eggs will get larger, those are pullet eggs.

I free range, I know I lose birds to predators. I try to limit the losses. As long as the losses are within limits I can handle it. With only 4 birds it would be hard because the loss is so noticeable.

I recently loss a CX, I am not sure when, the last couple times I counted them I only got 22. I was sure I had 23. It bothers me most when I see something take a baby. I have enough birds I do not miss a few. I also have some that never go into a coop at night. I am guessing about a dozen right now. I would think I have lost a few of those stubborn ones. After culling I will be down to a number I can count easier, which will make the losses obvious faster.

That is if I can figure out how to capture the outside roosting birds to put them on the bus to camp.