Planning a Semi-Free range flock

[Drastil]

No, you're using it in the more correct way. I'm in a tiny city backyard and call what I do "yard-ranging."

True free-ranging always implies a certain level of loss to predation. That can be reduced by having "flighty", wary chickens who are quick to react to danger, and lots of places in quick running range. That's why I mentioned shrubs. Those with branches low to the ground are great for cover from hawks, etc. Think forsythia and other raggedy-shaped shrubs, not those clipped into lollipop shapes. Mine like to hang our under a large rhododendron (we're in the east), where they can see out a whole lot easier than I can see in. Other hiding places in open areas like yours might include pallets resting a foot or so above the ground. These sort of things protect against aerial predators; not so much against coyotes, pack dogs, and other predators who are on the ground. The ultimate defense against predators for free-range flocks are those types of chickens mentioned above who are always on the alert and quick to react if anything goes wrong. It's natural selection at work: over time, the smart ones will survive and reproduce, and the others won't survive and won't reproduce. One of my daughter's co-workers grew up on a farm and knows her chickens, but she has lost more than half of her free-range flock (including her rooster, who died protecting his girls) in the last several months to predators.

You might want to call your country extension office to talk to the poultry or small farm specialist for information more specific to your area. Or see if there's a local Facebook group, etc. for chicken keepers in your area. The realities for backyard chickening and true free-range chickening can be very different. Know the risks in your situation, know what you can do to reduce them, and get to a place mentally where you know that this will happen and that you can accept it.

In reference to the coyotes and other larger ground predators, we have that yard fenced all the way around with the 2" x 4" wire fence because of the dogs (almost done getting it affixed along the bottom of the house around the skirting too because we have an escape artist) nature is nature, and I'm aware predators will do their thing. Heck, I already accept that the local rat snakes and racers will get some eggs occasionally, I'm not worried about it. I'm mostly worried about getting started.

 

[Drastil]

oh, and Mother Of Chaos, you just introduced a plant to me that I have fallen in love with. Forsythia, yellow is my favorite color... And my husband just said to find a sapling we can find and plant it it may be a little late for that but I digress.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

In reference to the coyotes and other larger ground predators, we have that yard fenced all the way around with the 2" x 4" wire fence because of the dogs (almost done getting it affixed along the bottom of the house around the skirting too because we have an escape artist) nature is nature, and I'm aware predators will do their thing. Heck, I already accept that the local rat snakes and racers will get some eggs occasionally, I'm not worried about it. I'm mostly worried about getting started.

I should have mentioned this!

Your situation would be great for a chicken tractor, a portable chicken coop (super-heavy though; we’re not talking about a wheelbarrow or garden coop.)

A chicken tractor is essentially a mini-run with shelter that you drag (literally around your fields, allowing grazing on fresh pasture each day. Search here for ‘chicken tractor’ (watch the dates on posts though) for more info.

A classic video on YouTube shows Justin Rhodes and his ChickShaw, which has been revised over and over. (This one has wheels!) You might start here and then branch out:

 

[No Coop No Problem]

Anyway, I suppose my question is at what age could I let the chickens (once I have them) out of their brood kennel?

My broody mothers abandon their young typically between 30 and 50 days of age. So anywhere from 1-2 months is probably reasonable depending on your particular situation

I live in northern Louisiana so summer is pretty hot (we will have kiddy pool out for them and obviously a large water dispenser for them) and winter can occasionally get into freezing temps.

Anywhere in Louisiana is probably perfect for wild, coopless chickens

Your situation would be great for a chicken tractor, a portable chicken coop (super-heavy though; we’re not talking about a wheelbarrow or garden coop.)

Chicken tractors seem inherently silly to me. There's not enough calories in the grass under the tractor to justify moving it around. Even if it was moved 5 times a day, every single day, the chickens would die from starvation unless specifically fed a ton of supplemental food. It's just a pointless exercise

 

[Drastil]

My broody mothers abandon their young typically between 30 and 50 days of age. So anywhere from 1-2 months is probably reasonable depending on your particular situation

Anywhere in Louisiana is probably perfect for wild, coopless chickens

Chicken tractors seem inherently silly to me. There's not enough calories in the grass under the tractor to justify moving it around. Even if it was moved 5 times a day, every single day, the chickens would die from starvation unless specifically fed a ton of supplemental food. It's just a pointless exercise

1) thank you, that's really reasonable actually

2) Perfect!

3) you said it, not me... I always thought it looked like putting a full sized horse in a round-pen and say it's in pasture