Keeping Chickens Free Range

[vpatt]

I have been putting the four housebirds outside during the day and bringing them in at night due to low temps. Tonight will be warmer. I am going to put them into a pet carrier and put them into the coop. The pet carrier will keep them close together for warmth and will keep the big mean chickens from hurting them. Do you think I should keep them in the coop for a couple of days and carrier at night before I let them run with the big birds? They are six weeks old. Or should I keep putting them in their own little pen during the days for a while? Their pen is in the yard so everyone has been seeing each other for a couple or three days now. They seem to love being outside....I don't blame them.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have been putting the four housebirds outside during the day and bringing them in at night due to low temps. Tonight will be warmer. I am going to put them into a pet carrier and put them into the coop. The pet carrier will keep them close together for warmth and will keep the big mean chickens from hurting them. Do you think I should keep them in the coop for a couple of days and carrier at night before I let them run with the big birds? They are six weeks old. Or should I keep putting them in their own little pen during the days for a while? Their pen is in the yard so everyone has been seeing each other for a couple or three days now. They seem to love being outside....I don't blame them.

I would just keep them in a cage in the coop. How cold is it going to get?

Here is a picture of what I use.


I know the picture is not very good, but the cage works well.

I move it inside and outside as needed.

If I have bigger birds or more of them I use a 4ft by 3ft dog kennel (the wire cage type). When I first let them actually touch each other I do that outside and I might put them back in the cage for a couple nights, just to be safe.

 

[vpatt]

I would just keep them in a cage in the coop. How cold is it going to get? Here is a picture of what I use. I know the picture is not very good, but the cage works well. I move it inside and outside as needed. If I have bigger birds or more of them I use a 4ft by 3ft dog kennel (the wire cage type). When I first let them actually touch each other I do that outside and I might put them back in the cage for a couple nights, just to be safe.

The weather channel says fiftyish at night for the next week. I can make their pen a little bit bigger and keep them in it a while longer. I have that little pullet that is sad and lonely and hangs by herself all the time. Maybe in the morning I will try to catch her and put her with the chicks. I can stay with them for a while in case there is trouble. Good idea or bad? I have one of those wire dog crates......not sure it will fit thru the coop door. I can try it.

 

[duluthralphie]

The weather channel says fiftyish at night for the next week. I can make their pen a little bit bigger and keep them in it a while longer. I have that little pullet that is sad and lonely and hangs by herself all the time. Maybe in the morning I will try to catch her and put her with the chicks. I can stay with them for a while in case there is trouble. Good idea or bad?

What is the size difference between the pullet and the chicks?

If there is much I would use a cage there too.

 

[vpatt]

She is three months older.....she is a banty mix.....so she is bigger, but not huge. I have seen her hanging outside their pen at times. While I see it as loneliness I guess she could be contemplating dinner.

 

[duluthralphie]

She is three months older.....she is a banty mix.....so she is bigger, but not huge. I have seen her hanging outside their pen at times. While I see it as loneliness I guess she could be contemplating dinner.

It is hard to tell the difference...

 

[vpatt]

It is hard to tell the difference... 

Lol

 

[fancychick1]

I have seven chicks that are now two months that I did the introduction thing with the dog kennel both day and night at first. Then I just crated them at night in the coop, but now they go in by themselves and choose where they are comfortable to sleep. When running the yard during the day they keep to themselves, the older ones only give them a hard time when it comes to food. I have a big enough yard that they have space to wander all day without bothering each other.

 

[vpatt]

I have seven chicks that are now two months that I did the introduction thing with the dog kennel both day and night at first. Then I just crated them at night in the coop, but now they go in by themselves and choose where they are comfortable to sleep. When running the yard during the day they keep to themselves, the older ones only give them a hard time when it comes to food. I have a big enough yard that they have space to wander all day without bothering each other.

They spent their first night in the coop inside the little cage. No problems. I think I will continue with their pen during the day and their cage in the coop at night for another week. That will put them at seven weeks.....maybe a few more feathers and a week warmer. Then I will see about them mixing with the flock free ranging during the day and maybe still cage them at night for another week. As for the lonely pullet I think I will leave that to them to introduce themselves in the yard.

Ebony's eggs are due to hatch by the end of the week. Jessica began her 3 weeks the day before yesterday. I am hoping Olivia will join in so I can order eggs for the first time. And then there is the bantam cochin frizzle .....I just got her recently. She is over a year old and laying almost every day....so I am thinking she may want to raise chicks soon. Is it likely or is she too young? What age do they usually begin going broody?

Ebony started with 11 eggs. Now she is down to 6 eggs. I found one outside the nest. The others I have no clue what happened to them....not a sign. She is on her own under the porch.....I think it is still too cool for Longfellow (resident black snake) to be on the prowl. Big dog is out there at night. I don't know what to think.

 

[duluthralphie]

Vpatt sounds like a plan..


Good luck on the hatches.