MillyJude Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I wondered when everyone else let their chickens out to free range? We are doing the neighbours chickens this week and they are still getting eggs, we have had none since september. it may be just a difference in chickens but we let them out to free range all day, and i wondered if that might be why. They have a 4m2 fenced enclosure, and i have 11 hens and 1 cockerel, would it be ok to keep them in there for a couple of hours each morning so they have to eat their proper food? I don't want to be mean which is why they get let out in the meadow all day, but i now wonder if i am overdoing it? Some eggs would be nice, i love my chooks but shop eggs are still yuk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I think that would be a really good idea. You want them to fill up with lots of pellets. They're probably just off lay due to the time of year, but pellets have all the ingredients they need to make eggs, free ranging is good for them and makes the eggs extra yummy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 At the moment my four girls are really productive, still laying a few eggs every day. I always keep them In the enclosure then let them free range for an hour before bed. They do have treats but not until after 3ish at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Mine never free range, but that's only because I don't really have space in my garden for them to FR without trashing everything I agree, a few hours in the morning so that they tank up on pellets won't harm them, then they can go out to play! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MillyJude Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Yay, i will keep them in tommorrow for a bit then, will be really nice if we start getting eggs again. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoachedPlease Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I can't imagine free ranging them or not makes a difference. ..I think it must be the breed or their overall health. Two out of three of my older girls, are still laying thru the winter one egg a day. The maran isn't but I think that's cos she is obviously moulting. Am feeling pleased the others are laying. I did just worm them for the first time, that might help. But as for free ranging, they get all the school holidays, and an hour at the end of the day, so plenty of time to eat stuff in the garden rather than their pellets! X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I usually let mine out at about 11.30 just to make sure they have eaten their pellets, today they went back in of their own accord about 3.30 but the weather was awful. I'm only getting one or two eggs a day but they are all bantams and usually have time off in the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoachedPlease Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Do you think there is actually much for the chickens to eat at this time of year. There's no insects, just grass is it? X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Do you think there is actually much for the chickens to eat at this time of year. There's no insects, just grass is it?X Oh my girls would beg to differ, they are digging up lots of fat worms at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MillyJude Posted December 31, 2013 Author Share Posted December 31, 2013 Have just let them out into their enclosure, they are pretty cross , I had to avoid eye contact with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Just keep out of their way for a few hours. They will get used to it. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 I don't think free ranging makes the difference. It's breed and/or length of day. My pure breeds free range but there are no eggs at this time of year, as sensibly, they are taking time off. I'm getting the eggs from the hybrids who don't live as long, because they don't have an egg holiday at all. But keeping them in for an hour or two in the morning won't do any harm, and may get those on the brink of laying again going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Totally agree with Patricia W. Their egg laying is governed by breed and daylight hours. I haven't seen an egg since October and dont expect that they will lay again till the day lengthens in February. However they are all nearly 5yrs old and I am more than happy for them to have their winter break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldie Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 I always keep mine in until they've had chance to lay all their eggs in the right place! I always wonder if by letting them out in the morning they'll find somewhere creative in the garden to lay. Currently getting 2 a day so once they're in, I give in to their protesting and let them out. Think this gives them enough time to fill up on pellets, and often during their free ranging time they'll wander back across the garden to the trough to eat some pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MillyJude Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 Its going ok, they seemed used to being shut in today, and its actually nice seeing them go off with full tummies, i used to worry that they were not eating enough before. So even if no eggs result i still think its a good plan, just for a couple of hours each morning. One problem thats resulted though, we have a little araucana who is a bit nervous, and i think she is getting bullied a bit now they are shut in. She was always at the bottom of the pecking order and used to hang about on her own, but as they all had loads of room to roam it never escalated further than that. But one of the others took a beakful of feathers off her this morning, and i feel really sorry for her. She is quite different from the others, very gentle and likes to forage rather than feed. We have room for three more chickens so should i get her another similar chicken friend? Another araucana or something else with a similar character? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 I wouldnt get more chickens, space is usually the reason for bullying and someone has to be the bottom of the pecking order. I would add some height like a branch or perch and another feeding station The amount of hens a run or coop will officially take is irrelevant if there are problems in the group its not going to get better by giving them less space each Just keep an eye on the situation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Have just let them out into their enclosure, they are pretty cross , I had to avoid eye contact with them Sorry but this made me laugh out loud Such is the power of chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I have to avoid eye contact when I am worming them,and they can't have treats they look at me with such expectation, every time my hands go in my pocket they get all excited and when I don't give them anything they look all dejected....poor girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 My girls are capable of manipulating me more than my children ever could Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
