Trying to figure out what setup I want!! Help?

[DebB11]

We have 6 chicks...not sure how many are going to be hens though.

I want chickens to be free range as much as possible but with our yard we cannot really do that...no fence...no way to contain them. So they will essentially be in a run all the time...either stationary one or portable one.

Wanting to build the coop in the small strip of woods in our backyard..... build the henhouse and a run there but I also want to have a portable run for them out in the yard.

I also want my kids to be able to interact with them but not sure how to work it all out???

Also, how will I get the chickens from the hen house run in the woods to the portable run? Guess carry them?

Thanks
Deb

 

[midget_farms]

HI - Chickens dont read maps or road signs so if you free range them they don't leave. Now if you have close neighbors with bird feeders they may hang out over there & that would not be good.

Just carry them from the coop to the tractor.

Expect 3 of your 6 chicks to be hens. But don't be surprised if its only 2. randomness being what it is.

Be careful with a coop/run in the woods. Mine is on the edge of the woods & I have every predator in the state watching them all day. Make the coop secure. The birds will put themselves to bed at night but you need to close the door!

 

[elmo]

Welcome to the forum!

Actually, I have been doing what you're thinking of for two years now. It works great. I have several stationary coops and runs, as well as two day tractors. I herd the chickens out of their stationary coop and into a day tractor every day in the spring, summer and fall. At the end of the day, I herd them back into their safe and secure stationary coop. I use two long handled tools (the poop scoop and pan) to help guide the chickens where I want them to go, but they catch onto the routine pretty quickly. In the morning, they're very eager to get grazing and scratching so they usually run straight for the tractor. At the end of the day, sometimes they try to head for the garden instead of going back to the coop, but usually getting them all in is pretty easy. We do have one chicken (Wrong Way Scooter) that tends to head off on her own, goofy girl that she is.

If you like, take a look at my BYC page to see my set ups.

We handled all of our chickens daily when they were chicks, picking each one up and holding it briefly every day. Now as adults they're all quite tame. My daughter is even teaching them to do tricks. Hermione rings a bell, and Flash, Scooter and Billina will fly up to my daughter's arm when she holds it out to them. The whole flock usually comes when called, too ...if we have a treat pan in our hand.