Keeping Chickens Free Range

[dpenning]

I was fine for my first time except for when the chicken squawked at me when I reached in to pull out the entrails.

Excuse me?! I understand some involuntary movements when you first cut off the head or whatever but by the time they bleed out and you are processing I would not expect anything, much less a squawk!

 

[mossyroo]

Sometimes when you reach in the back end you push air out the front which sounds like the are complaining loudly about the violation.

 

[dpenning]

Sometimes when you reach in the back end you push air out the front which sounds like the are complaining loudly about the violation.

Lol! Thanks for the warning. I would likely complain about the violation too. :/

 

[lifeteacher]

I was wondering if you can scatter seed of various healthy grains for the chickens to eat as they free range rather than mix expensive feed. I realize I would have to manipulate where they go to allow the plants to grow, or they would just eat the seedlings.

 

[duluthralphie]

I was wondering if you can scatter seed of various healthy grains for the chickens to eat as they free range rather than mix expensive feed. I realize I would have to manipulate where they go to allow the plants to grow, or they would just eat the seedlings.

I am guessing both.

Mine do not always eat all the oats in my mixture,. but they love them when they sprout.

 

[slordaz]

I don't use an expensive mixture, just lacto ferment 3 in 1 grains without molassass add in a clove of garlic and half tsp of cayenne pepper to a 5 gallon bucket, harder to keep it unfroze up north though in the winter, and they get the rest from free ranging. Even my leghorns are still laying with not getting up to freezing some days.

and no they are not getting heaters or anything extrordinary, we did nestle the nesting box in between bales of hay though

 

[lifeteacher]

I don't use an expensive mixture, just lacto ferment 3 in 1 grains without molassass add in a clove of garlic and half tsp of cayenne pepper to a 5 gallon bucket, harder to keep it unfroze up north though in the winter, and they get the rest from free ranging. Even my leghorns are still laying with not getting up to freezing some days.

 

[dpenning]

I went out to watch the sunrise and caught on of my girls doing the walk of shame. It was 39 degrees out and she had frost on her back. She must have missed the pop door last night.

 

[blkjak]

I had that happen Thursday night. 1 of my young JG pullets must have decided not to go in. Thank God the December weather is mild right now!

 

[dpenning]

I had that happen Thursday night. 1 of my young JG pullets must have decided not to go in. Thank God the December weather is mild right now!

LOL! Yes, it is significantly different for you up there than it is for us in TX. For us we just chuckled and wondered if her panties were tucked under her wing and if she found her rooster.