Keeping Chickens Free Range

[Tikkijane]

I can't tell if this is directed at me or agreeing and mad at the people that do that lol

Oh, no, not you. I want to take those collars off the dogs, and put them on the owners and teach THEM some manners!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

I've got at least 20 boys right now, and he'll break them up if he feels like they've been tangling too long. It's really cool to watch.

We have about 15 boys right now we are free ranging. How are you keeping them? I'm just curious as we want ours to all get along long enough to find some homes lol

 

[Tikkijane]

We have about 15 boys right now we are free ranging. How are you keeping them? I'm just curious as we want ours to all get along long enough to find some homes lol

They're just all in together. Spring time brings a little bit of sparring every now and then, but for the most part, they all get along. My biggest issue was the girls. They've pretty much sorted it out. I did send some really obnoxious boys to freezer camp a few years ago, though.

There was one time when the loose bull {not mine} was stomping around the house - those boys collectively got the girls in the middle, formed a perimeter around them, and shuttled them up under the steps to the house. It was *amazing* to watch. I could actually hear them coming. Jumbo {my SLW} led, and the others did their jobs. I'll never forget it.

I love them.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

They're just all in together. Spring time brings a little bit of sparring every now and then, but for the most part, they all get along. My biggest issue was the girls. They've pretty much sorted it out. I did send some really obnoxious boys to freezer camp a few years ago, though.

There was one time when the loose bull {not mine} was stomping around the house - those boys collectively got the girls in the middle, formed a perimeter around them, and shuttled them up under the steps to the house. It was *amazing* to watch. I could actually hear them coming. Jumbo {my SLW} led, and the others did their jobs. I'll never forget it.

I love them.

I'm really happy to hear this. How many girls should I keep realistically. I can't keep 10 per roo but was thinking 3 per roo for now since I don't plan on keeping all of them. So far everyone is getting long well except for the fanatic crower but he has a new home lol.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I've got at least 20 boys right now, and he'll break them up if he feels like they've been tangling too long. It's really cool to watch.

Wow that's awesome!

Oh, no, not you. I want to take those collars off the dogs, and put them on the owners and teach THEM some manners!

Ohhhh okay, I figured that's what it was, that it was directed at them, but wanted to be sure lol and haha I'd like to do the same!

They're just all in together. Spring time brings a little bit of sparring every now and then, but for the most part, they all get along. My biggest issue was the girls. They've pretty much sorted it out. I did send some really obnoxious boys to freezer camp a few years ago, though.

There was one time when the loose bull {not mine} was stomping around the house - those boys collectively got the girls in the middle, formed a perimeter around them, and shuttled them up under the steps to the house. It was *amazing* to watch. I could actually hear them coming. Jumbo {my SLW} led, and the others did their jobs. I'll never forget it.

I love them.

That's amazing! Wow!

I'm really happy to hear this. How many girls should I keep realistically. I can't keep 10 per roo but was thinking 3 per roo for now since I don't plan on keeping all of them. So far everyone is getting long well except for the fanatic crower but he has a new home lol.

I don't know much about roos or space or anything but I'm thinking with only 3 and that many roos they may fight some? Maybe you could up it to 4 or 5 hens? Though with that many roos it does add a bit more birds. You said you're planning to get rid of some though?

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Wow that's awesome!
Ohhhh okay, I figured that's what it was, that it was directed at them, but wanted to be sure lol and haha I'd like to do the same!
That's amazing! Wow!
I don't know much about roos or space or anything but I'm thinking with only 3 and that many roos they may fight some? Maybe you could up it to 4 or 5 hens? Though with that many roos it does add a bit more birds. You said you're planning to get rid of some though?

Yes these are all roosters I've hatched this year and a few grown that I already keep. I don't want to give them a death sentence just for being roosters. So I'm hanging onto them until I can find homes or if they become aggressive they become someone else's dinner. I think it depends on the rooster I have a bantam pen with 2 polish roosters and only 6 hens. My roosters are very sweet and haven't over mated my hens so I know the ratio can be done. My concern is more how many roosters are together. I don't want to have to pen up my hens so hopefully this works. We don't have enough property to add more hens then we already have. It's unfortunate we ended up with so many roosters. I had a few hatches that were all boys. Very frustrating this year.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yes these are all roosters I've hatched this year and a few grown that I already keep. I don't want to give them a death sentence just for being roosters. So I'm hanging onto them until I can find homes or if they become aggressive they become someone else's dinner. I think it depends on the rooster I have a bantam pen with 2 polish roosters and only 6 hens. My roosters are very sweet and haven't over mated my hens so I know the ratio can be done. My concern is more how many roosters are together. I don't want to have to pen up my hens so hopefully this works. We don't have enough property to add more hens then we already have. It's unfortunate we ended up with so many roosters. I had a few hatches that were all boys. Very frustrating this year.

Ahhh okay that makes sense, i was thinking you were adding more but if you already have hens then it makes sense to not add more. Wow that stinks you got so many boys i think it probably definitely depends on the roo and hopefully you don't get any aggressive or possessive ones. I think woth maybe just a few less roosters it would probably be more ideal but for now they're still young enough to get along I would think.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Ahhh okay that makes sense, i was thinking you were adding more but if you already have hens then it makes sense to not add more. Wow that stinks you got so many boys i think it probably definitely depends on the roo and hopefully you don't get any aggressive or possessive ones. I think woth maybe just a few less roosters it would probably be more ideal but for now they're still young enough to get along I would think.

I sure hope so. Hopefully we will find homes soon. I should add a few will be going into seperate coops but we are still working on those.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I sure hope so. Hopefully we will find homes soon. I should add a few will be going into seperate coops but we are still working on those.

I hope you do too! And oh well that should make it easier on everyone then

 

[jenniferlamar70]

I hope you do too! And oh well that should make it easier on everyone then

Found homes for 2 more this morning. So happy lol