Keeping Chickens Free Range

[ChickenLady2014]

Bug Patrol on duty!

Beautiful, my gang had a blast free ranging today. Normally we would have quiet a bit of snow at this time, but this December we dont. Today it was a balmy 49* F. They were out diggin' & scrathin' all day. My flower beds will never be the same, lol.

 

[chicksurreal]

Beautiful, my gang had a blast free ranging today. Normally we would have quiet a bit of snow at this time, but this December we dont. Today it was a balmy 49* F. They were out diggin' & scrathin' all day. My flower beds will never be the same, lol.

Lol!

They certainly know how to seek and destroy, don't they?

Being in the high desert of AZ, we never have lots of snow, but we did have lightning, thunder and hail yesterday, and (barely) below freezing temps last night.

My gang of SS Hamburgs were certainly ready to go to work this morning!

 

[ChickenLady2014]

Lol!

They certainly know how to seek and destroy, don't they?

Being in the high desert of AZ, we never have lots of snow, but we did have lightning, thunder and hail yesterday, and (barely) below freezing temps last night.

My gang of SS Hamburgs were certainly ready to go to work this morning!

They never get tired of scratching & diggin do they.

 

[chicksurreal]

They never get tired of scratching & diggin do they.

Not that I can tell. They're so fun to watch!

 

[katatonic123]

Mine will enjoy the fact that I'll be home all day tomorrow. Have a sick child so they will be out all day. After us being gone all weekend when they normally get to range they need some free time. Hope the weather isn't too yucky for them.

 

[chicksurreal]

Mine will enjoy the fact that I'll be home all day tomorrow. Have a sick child so they will be out all day. After us being gone all weekend when they normally get to range they need some free time. Hope the weather isn't too yucky for them.

Hope your child feels better soon, but I'm sure the chickens will be grateful weather permitting.

 

[katatonic123]

It's cold and gray but not raining at the moment. Hope it warms up a little and doesn't rain.

 

[lazy gardener]

They certainly know how to seek and destroy, don't they?



My gang of SS Hamburgs were certainly ready to go to work this morning!

I can't figure out why my girls have to tear up my irises to make a dust bath, when they have a full 4 acres that they can use. I love your SSH. Very nice coloring. I'm realizing that they would fit into my breeding program very well with that particular feather and comb pattern. They would make nice little sex linked chicks.

 

[hennible]

I wish my birds would tear up the iris's they grow like weeds here... Instead they hit the veggie gardens. Right now though free ranging just sees them all hanging out in the car port... Dust bathing on the dirt floor like they don't have a dust bath in their coop. Lol

 

[Autumn Leaves]

Looking for some input from some experienced free rangers.

I live on 3 acres in Ohio (zone 5). We purchased the property last year and it is very open and I have been planting like crazy. It is currently WAY TOO OPEN to free range, my chickens would be picked off by the neighborhood hawks in seconds but as my trees and shrubs fill in I would like to start free ranging. The final coop will be 8x8. Ideally I would eventually love the property to be fully fenced with a hotwire at the top and bottom (we have some crazy coyotes).

My question is, how many birds per acre is a good number so that they are not crowded, able to forage well and don't turn the yard into a barren wasteland. I am planting many species that will be wonderful food sources (viburnum, winter berry, mulberry, oak, elderberry, hazelnut). I am also trying to get a good mix of summer and winter cover for the birds with evergreens and deciduous plants.

I have been leaning toward large fowl so that they don't jump the fence into my neighbor's dog's jaws. I was also going to have about 4 or 5 Magpie ducks.

I'm just trying to get a good idea of a ballpark number - chicken math is hitting me hard and I LOVE hatching eggs.

So what number do you all find manageable on nice Midwestern property that is green from April to late October. We don't normally keep much of a snow pack, just the month of February (except last winter which was crazy!)