What did you do with your flock today?

[Smokerbill]

Why would you block them from their food? I wouldn't do that. They probably wouldn't go in there for it when they can have so much fun outdoors, but I sure wouldn't keep a hungry chicken away from healthy food. Are you trying to change them into free ranging chickens? I do know someone who never feeds her chickens at all and they do just fine. but they free range every day all day. They have no pen at all. They sleep in the barn and leave it in the morning at will. Yes, she loses some to predators, but she keeps a lot of chickens and doesn't even really keep a head count. Different strokes I guess.

I just blocked them from their food temporarily. They had all the food they wanted in the run up until the time I let them out in the afternoon at 1:30. That's when I cut them off from their commercial feed, so they'd get hungry and hopefully become better at searching out food from the lawn and the woods. That's my theory, anyway.

I could tell when they got really hungry because they all started hanging around the run, looking inside at the feeder. LOL.
And that's when I opened it back up so they could get their fill of layer feed. That was about 7PM, so it was less than 6 hours that they didn't have access to feed.

If I had the kind of land that chickens can eat well off of, I'd definitely encourage them to learn to forage. Healthier birds that way I believe .... especially if every evening they can come home and eat all the processed food they want. Keeps them highly active which leads to less laying problems and longer lives.

Yep, I'm letting the chickens be chickens. Being more active makes their bodies healthier, and exploring new places makes their little birdbrains healthier too.

I think free ranging chickens is terrific, if a person can. Thinking your chooks are lucky. I am curious as to why you are locking them out of their run and away from food and security and nest boxes ....?
I personally leave my run doors open, so even though majority of flock is out and about they have choice to come back and lay, snack or if there is danger, they can go back to where they feel safe. I free range for their exercise and feed supplement. Big difference on my feed bill . That, and the right feeders and feed.
Feed stores were out of the pellets I love so I bought crumble and watched my feed bill double. Had to quit using my main feeder . Used other, bigger pellets and that was better for me, but they don't seem to like it much and well, there was my savings.

It is nice when we find our happy ♡ Good on you for working on it.

They've been laying all their eggs in the morning, but if I lose on or two in the woods, no big loss. I have too many as it is. The run wouldn't be secure if I left the residential size door open all day. That's the only way in or out of the run- there's no small chicke pop door.

They have a few places to shelter around the house, too. Under the back deck or front porch are a couple favorite hang outs for them.

 

[ValerieJ]

I just blocked them from their food temporarily. They had all the food they wanted in the run up until the time I let them out in the afternoon at 1:30. That's when I cut them off from their commercial feed, so they'd get hungry and hopefully become better at searching out food from the lawn and the woods. That's my theory, anyway.

I could tell when they got really hungry because they all started hanging around the run, looking inside at the feeder. LOL.
And that's when I opened it back up so they could get their fill of layer feed. That was about 7PM, so it was less than 6 hours that they didn't have access to feed.



Yep, I'm letting the chickens be chickens. Being more active makes their bodies healthier, and exploring new places makes their little birdbrains healthier too.



They've been laying all their eggs in the morning, but if I lose on or two in the woods, no big loss. I have too many as it is. The run wouldn't be secure if I left the residential size door open all day. That's the only way in or out of the run- there's no small chicke pop door.

They have a few places to shelter around the house, too. Under the back deck or front porch are a couple favorite hang outs for them.

sounds like you have thought this through

 

[PopoMyers]

Sorry, been trying to catch up on all that's needed around here. Now that the bandage is off, I still cannot use my thumb at least until the end of the month. and it's in a splint. Did manage to clean out coop, and raked up all the accumulated poo in the small run, which hasn't been done for over a year. Dry dirt floors, shavings, and much more piles under where they've been roosting outside of the coop. Had a couple loads in my garden cart. The garden will be happy next year. Yes, I'm bad when it comes to sitting still. Rotten, as my friend says.
Treated the chooks to some grapes today, which is one of their favorites. Now just enjoying this pretty day sitting under the shade and watching them preen, dirt/sun bathe, and nap. Nice and peaceful.

 

[PopoMyers]

Stanley is officially a cock! He's one year old today. I can't believe it's a year since he hatched! It doesn't feel like two minutes and at the same time, it feels like he's been with us forever.
I'm going to try to get a decent photo later but we're just off out for the day. I say 'decent as he had a fight with dad 2 days ago and they both have scabby faces.

🕯Happy Birthday, Stanley!

 

[PopoMyers]

I chant "please be a girl, please be a girl" everytime I see them... but know my averages are ehh.
Speaking of.... any thoughts on this one people? View attachment 3630207View attachment 3630211
I'm thinking girl but I have been fooled before... more than a few times.

Not seeing any long pointy hackles or saddle feathers, nor curling tail ones, so possibly pullet ? I don't know this breed.

 

[Smokerbill]

sounds like you have thought this through

I thought about a lot, but I'm still figuring things out. I just locked them all back up in the run a little while ago. I took my camera down to the woods to take picture of their new territory. Looks like a good place to find food to me.



But then I found this...



Looks like a predator got a mouth full of feathers! I looked over the chickens for injuries and found none. Couldn't see where any feathers were pulled out either. But this chicken was acting a little strange, carrying herself in an unusual way. I think this is the one that was attacked.



So I guess from now on, their free ranging will be supervised. Still learning. LOL

 

[NagemTX]

I'm really glad you were able to catch that early b4 any damage. Yeah, meds and crazy dreams, and chicken alarms!!
We don't have raccoons and I know next to nothing about them, but I am sure it attracted to your chickens and would have shown up cat food or not ♡ Hope it is a smooth fix after your 10 hours and I'm sure this needed to be done no matter what. Sure you will sleep better...

I think free ranging chickens is terrific, if a person can. Thinking your chooks are lucky. I am curious as to why you are locking them out of their run and away from food and security and nest boxes ....?
I personally leave my run doors open, so even though majority of flock is out and about they have choice to come back and lay, snack or if there is danger, they can go back to where they feel safe. I free range for their exercise and feed supplement. Big difference on my feed bill . That, and the right feeders and feed.
Feed stores were out of the pellets I love so I bought crumble and watched my feed bill double. Had to quit using my main feeder . Used other, bigger pellets and that was better for me, but they don't seem to like it much and well, there was my savings.

It is nice when we find our happy ♡ Good on you for working on it.

Oh believe me it was for the cat food. They frequent my backdoor and pourch and eat with the cats. They normally leave any of the chickens beyond the small fenced in yard alone unless they present a easy meal like when they pile up against the wire of their pen. I'm still working on taking out the coons tho. I don't all ways feed the cats outside and if the coons get hungry enough they will start targeting the chickens again.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Sorry, been trying to catch up on all that's needed around here. Now that the bandage is off, I still cannot use my thumb at least until the end of the month. and it's in a splint. Did manage to clean out coop, and raked up all the accumulated poo in the small run, which hasn't been done for over a year. Dry dirt floors, shavings, and much more piles under where they've been roosting outside of the coop. Had a couple loads in my garden cart. The garden will be happy next year. Yes, I'm bad when it comes to sitting still. Rotten, as my friend says.
Treated the chooks to some grapes today, which is one of their favorites. Now just enjoying this pretty day sitting under the shade and watching them preen, dirt/sun bathe, and nap. Nice and peaceful.

A month is a long time! Hope this thumb heals well and as fast as possible too. I'm sure you're being careful even with all that activity so good to hear....but gotta say be careful anyway. That sounds like heavy hand use! I know when I'm focused on a job is when I'm most likely to oops and hurt myself.
Lucky chooks at your house!

 

[ChicksnMore]

I thought about a lot, but I'm still figuring things out. I just locked them all back up in the run a little while ago. I took my camera down to the woods to take picture of their new territory. Looks like a good place to find food to me.

View attachment 3631947View attachment 3631948View attachment 3631949View attachment 3631950View attachment 3631951View attachment 3631952

But then I found this...

View attachment 3631953

Looks like a predator got a mouth full of feathers! I looked over the chickens for injuries and found none. Couldn't see where any feathers were pulled out either. But this chicken was acting a little strange, carrying herself in an unusual way. I think this is the one that was attacked.

View attachment 3631955

So I guess from now on, their free ranging will be supervised. Still learning. LOL

What beautiful land! It does look like a great place for both chickens and predators. Do you know what kind of bad guys you have to watch out for there?

 

[Smokerbill]

What beautiful land! It does look like a great place for both chickens and predators. Do you know what kind of bad guys you have to watch out for there?

Thanks! The wooded area isn't my property. It belongs to a logging company, and they don't mind if the locals use it for recreation, which is nice. And yes, there are lots of places for predators to hide in wait!

There are barred owls, coyotes, foxes, opossums, probably racoons, hawks, and probably more. There are mountain lions running around too, but I haven't seen any here. They have been seen a few miles away, though.