Keeping Chickens Free Range

[Papagena]

@Debby27

I'll try letting them out for a day without the roo (while I'm home). We are lucky not to have foxes here but we do have hawks and they're our main predator. Fortunately, the hawks seem to prefer the many cottontail rabbits that live around here. Fingers crossed!

 

[Debby27]

@Debby27

I'll try letting them out for a day without the roo (while I'm home). We are lucky not to have foxes here but we do have hawks and they're our main predator. Fortunately, the hawks seem to prefer the many cottontail rabbits that live around here. Fingers crossed!

That's good.....I wish I didn't have foxes! We have a zillion red tailed hawks here and never once has one tried to take a hen...we think the fox ate all the rabbits, cause we had a yard full and then poof! they were gone too....I hope you have continued luck with no losses!

 

[JessicaThistle]

Can I successfully free range hens during the day without a rooster? We have been doing it fine with a rooster, but he's become terribly aggressive with me so he's about to go to freezer camp. Will my hens be safe? Or do I need a new roo?

I have a rooster pushing his luck too. He does a good job of protecting the hens at home though. I recommend becoming the aggressor with him. Take a stick, 2 X 2 or, my fave, a tennis racket and go after him with it. Poke him a bunch with it until he runs off. Do it even when he's not up to anything for one day. He may spur it but just keep going at him. I did this with mine and for several weeks, he takes a really wide trip around me. His hackles go up and he talks a lot about it but under no circumstances does he goes after me.

After awhile he runs at me again and I go after him with whatever long thing that I have quick access to. Chickens are aggressive with eachother, so they understand some healthy aggressiveness back.

But, if you decide to freezer camp him another option that I found helpful is an eagle kite that goes on a pole in your yard. The chickens will be afraid of it at first but will learn it's ok. The predators don't like it. I haven't had a hawk attack since mine went up.

 

[lynnehd]

@Debby27

I'll try letting them out for a day without the roo (while I'm home). We are lucky not to have foxes here but we do have hawks and they're our main predator. Fortunately, the hawks seem to prefer the many cottontail rabbits that live around here. Fingers crossed!

Sounds like a good plan.

Just remember hawks get a lot more desperate in the Fall/Winter when rabbits and other juicy tidbits are holed up underground. That's the really scary time.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Hi, Hope I can rcv some suggestions for my reversal situation to what is Usually posted.
I was gifted with 2 RIRs, y-day. They replace 2 older PRs a fox, coyote, made off with.
The RIRs were penned, 2 each, in a cage about 2.5 X 3. I have them in a 3 hen hutch FOR NOW, keeping water, scratch and extras with them. The door has been opened, in the day, FOR NOW. I have 2 hens that are Completely FREE RANGE; they roost in a tree, when we get below 30, they tuck under a table on my back porch, while i keep the water defrosted. YES, been doing it 5 yrs now, No Catastrophes...
How long or will it happen, that the RIR girls will free range as the others? Is there anyway, aside from bringing them outside a little each day, that I can do to introduce them to New Freedom? ALSO help repair damage from such small pens? (pictured) I'm on a TIGHT budget so Homemade things, ideas, are WONDERFUL.
I WOULD appreciate any Further suggestions!

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

ALL RIGHT! Another one that let's them roost in HIGH places! I do too and have always felt left out, an outcast! Good job!

 

[katatonic123]

Ok I have an amazing free range good stuff like this never happens to me type story. Saturday I let the babies out to range. I knew we'd have to put them up early because we were leaving for vacation that evening but knew it would be easier to prep coops without them in there. Fast forward to 3 p.m. start to put them away. 4 in the small coop easy peasy. Get 6 in the other coop. Catch scarlett, catch oj, 4 left to go. Grab hubby and son to help wrangle. Get 3 of the 4. Last one is not having it. She ended up on top of the shed, flew off that and into the blackberry bushes just into the field. I almost had her out of that and she flew way into the field where we couldn't find her at all. Went back in for a bit hoping she would come back. Was almost time to leave and she still hadn't come back but I found some feathers just out of the field. I feared the worst but went ahead and put out food and water and put bedding in a dog house by the coops. We left and I've done nothing but worry about her since we've been gone. Planned on getting home fairly early in the evening so I'd have time to check things out but ended up stuck on the interstate behind a wreck for 2 hrs. Didn't get home til after dark. Fearing what I'd find, or wouldn't find as the case would be, I took off with the flashlight. I was greeted with the best little buff face looking at me from the inside of the dog house! She is fine. Not a scratch on her. I was ecstatic!

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Ok I have an amazing free range good stuff like this never happens to me type story. Saturday I let the babies out to range. I knew we'd have to put them up early because we were leaving for vacation that evening but knew it would be easier to prep coops without them in there. Fast forward to 3 p.m. start to put them away. 4 in the small coop easy peasy. Get 6 in the other coop. Catch scarlett, catch oj, 4 left to go. Grab hubby and son to help wrangle. Get 3 of the 4. Last one is not having it. She ended up on top of the shed, flew off that and into the blackberry bushes just into the field. I almost had her out of that and she flew way into the field where we couldn't find her at all. Went back in for a bit hoping she would come back. Was almost time to leave and she still hadn't come back but I found some feathers just out of the field. I feared the worst but went ahead and put out food and water and put bedding in a dog house by the coops. We left and I've done nothing but worry about her since we've been gone. Planned on getting home fairly early in the evening so I'd have time to check things out but ended up stuck on the interstate behind a wreck for 2 hrs. Didn't get home til after dark. Fearing what I'd find, or wouldn't find as the case would be, I took off with the flashlight. I was greeted with the best little buff face looking at me from the inside of the dog house! She is fine. Not a scratch on her. I was ecstatic!

Congrats Kat.
I've left mine out and about, came home to them fine, but I have dogs. Great that she KNEW? (DID YOU TRAIN her to go INTO the dog house?)
C.~

 

[Elaine Wright]

Sunday I found out that a pair of dogs came miles, killed and ate my neighbors goats. The chickens have been free ranging for 3 months. We were planning on a six foot fence in the back yard. Now it's urgent. My 9 pound dog is afraid of the gold laced wyandotte rooster. The closest neighbors dog is only 18 months. I don't think he has the same respect for roosters. I have a houdan rooster with a cross beak. The run is too small (5x23) for 2 roosters, one with special needs. I open the chicken door early in the morning & everyone comes into the coop just before dark. I have found a few eggs scattered around the yard. Someone usually points them out to me. I live on one acre. They'll have about 1/3 when the fence goes up. Until the fence goes up,we're gambling. We have to get the yard surveyed first.

 

[Elaine Wright]

I should have mentioned that I kept the food & waters in the coop to encourage return journey to the coop.