Washingtonians

[Hinotori]

Lost my favorite EE girl today. She was perfectly fine this morning for scratch. Went out at noon and she was in the favorite dust bathing spot dead.

She was the only one who couldn't get enough cuddling, and would fly up on me to snuggle into my neck and tell me about her day.

I know it happens sometimes. Just sucks when it's the favorite.

 

[Breshcandra]

Lost my favorite EE girl today. She was perfectly fine this morning for scratch. Went out at noon and she was in the favorite dust bathing spot dead.

She was the only one who couldn't get enough cuddling, and would fly up on me to snuggle into my neck and tell me about her day.

I know it happens sometimes. Just sucks when it's the favorite.

 

[Breshcandra]

Look what hatched ..... my first serama



it was doing the last push out of egg when I shot this photo.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Oh! So sorry Hinotori! That's awful I hope it's a long time from now before I lose my first.

Breshcandra, those pics are super cool!! How exciting for you!

Dave- If you want to work it into the plans to have a cabinet for those things (read: if you have time) I will happily buy the materials!

 

[FirewifeJess]

For those with free-ranging chickens (in your large backyard)...I plan to keep feed and water in the run, and the chickens will free-range the backyard. Is it typical for pullets/chickens to go several hours in the backyard before returning to the run for "real" food? I'm worried mine won't grow enough or get enough healthy feed in them if they forage all day long, because today they were out of the coop/run from 9:30am-4:45pm! They never went back to get feed, just foraged through the yard near the creek bed all day. They also didn't actively seek out water until I finally brought the waterer out of the run at 2:30! Do I just need to give them less time to free-range and more time confined so they'll eat enough feed to grow healthily, or not worry about it?

 

[RaZ]

For those with free-ranging chickens (in your large backyard)...I plan to keep feed and water in the run, and the chickens will free-range the backyard. Is it typical for pullets/chickens to go several hours in the backyard before returning to the run for "real" food? I'm worried mine won't grow enough or get enough healthy feed in them if they forage all day long, because today they were out of the coop/run from 9:30am-4:45pm! They never went back to get feed, just foraged through the yard near the creek bed all day. They also didn't actively seek out water until I finally brought the waterer out of the run at 2:30! Do I just need to give them less time to free-range and more time confined so they'll eat enough feed to grow healthily, or not worry about it?

I would hazard to guess that they are finding all kinds of good things to eat.
I always have a feeder out and fresh water everyday but they both get ignored in favour of what the chickens forage for themselves.
In my opinion, give them more free range time and less time confined. I think that they will be fine.

 

[Rainwolf]

For those with free-ranging chickens (in your large backyard)...I plan to keep feed and water in the run, and the chickens will free-range the backyard. Is it typical for pullets/chickens to go several hours in the backyard before returning to the run for "real" food? I'm worried mine won't grow enough or get enough healthy feed in them if they forage all day long, because today they were out of the coop/run from 9:30am-4:45pm! They never went back to get feed, just foraged through the yard near the creek bed all day. They also didn't actively seek out water until I finally brought the waterer out of the run at 2:30! Do I just need to give them less time to free-range and more time confined so they'll eat enough feed to grow healthily, or not worry about it?

I would hazard to guess that they are finding all kinds of good things to eat. 
I always have a feeder out and fresh water everyday but they both get ignored in favour of what the chickens forage for themselves. 
In my opinion, give them more free range time and less time confined. I think that they will be fine.

I agree with this. I also use a long trough feeder that I put grains in for them in the morning... they forage and if hungry go to the feeder but its rare except first thing in the morning and just before bed. I also have a large 7 gallon water trough out in the yard. they will go drink every now and then but normally again first thing in the morning and just before bed.

I "free range" my birds in the yard every day from wake up time to dark. Roosters go out after 9:30am so the girls get a hr or 2 of no rooster time
(I crate my roosters every night and toss em inside so they do not bother the neighbors)

I do have a Bantam x Large fowl mixed cockerel that will be meeting the soup pot unless someone wants him. he is a mix of my bantam rooster on a olive egger LF hen.
Hence now why his daddy is separated from the LF's lol the little booger.

One thing I noticed when I started was after a few months of ranging.... I have no more bugs in my garden/fruit trees. and I now get nice big sweet apples from the tree!

 

[RonB]

Lost my favorite EE girl today. She was perfectly fine this morning for scratch. Went out at noon and she was in the favorite dust bathing spot dead.

She was the only one who couldn't get enough cuddling, and would fly up on me to snuggle into my neck and tell me about her day.

I know it happens sometimes. Just sucks when it's the favorite.

Sorry to hear you lost your favorite girl! yes its sucks!.. I had to cull one of my five month old girls today for several months she just had real trouble walking. I was hoping she would grow out of it. she really wasn't a favorite BUT it still is sad when Ya have to do it

FirewifeJess

I think your flock will be fine. they know where the food and water are. My girls will roam for hours without going back to the run to eat. I do have water out in the field for them

 

[FirewifeJess]

Thanks everyone! I was really worried when I realized exactly how little grain they ate today! We are using Scratch and Peck feed (which they LOVE!) and since it's costly, I'm glad to know they will be eating less of it since they'll free-range! Yay! I do plan to keep a watering station on the far side of the yard in case they spend their days over there

ETA: the yard is 1/2 acre, so the watering station is necessary probably, right??

 

[Teva]

Did I mention I had a roo at one point and got rid of him?! Ugh. I am so bummed he's gone and now I really want to replace him! I am going to get Dawn's EE cross 7 week old at the end of next week after Dave builds my run. Oh well about the other roo though, he was kind of a jerk at only 5 weeks old and he was a RIR. I didn't want a roo RIR. This one should suit us well and protect the girls, not to mention he's such handsome eye candy!

I have an EE roo, about 3 months old. He's beauty, white with dark red shoulders. You can have him for free if you want!