Free ranging in winter

[NH Homesteader]

I'm hatching a lot this spring.... Bleh.

Shh...I don't really like chickens...

 

[treerooted]

(I won't tell)

 

[Chic Rustler]

maybe 500 is a little much. I'd have to hatch them non stop and just turn them loose in the yard.

I know a fella that did that. His flock would stretch across 3 properties and roost In the trees. It cured all the tick problems they had. Lol

 

[NH Homesteader]

Mine free ranged all spring/summer and I still had major tick problems. I am not going to get as many as that guy though! Lol! I could use some guinea fowl but.... They're even more obnoxious than chickens...

 

[Chic Rustler]

I'm thinking of getting some ducks. Khaki Campbell's are supposed to be good layers

 

[NH Homesteader]

Love ducks! They're kind of feed hogs. But mine laid better than most of my chickens. They're way fun, and mine came when you called them (they're also easy to herd)... I've been wanting more...

 

[Hinotori]

Havent had any tick issues here. The chickens do more of spider control for me. If they are free ranging I have a lot less get inside.

 

[waretrop]

I have 250 chickens. They have a very large coup and have a very large chain linked area to be out in during the day. They also have an electric fence around the whole thing to protect them from coyote and bear. Plus the fenced in area had a thick netting over it. There is framework to hold the netting up. It's quite elaborate. They have access to 300 pounds of feed at all time. We also clean them every week without fail. Our neighbor has a compost in an out of the way spot for horse and chicken manure. As it begins to decompose he sells it.

If I free ranged our chickens, I would not have one left in a few months...

 

[treerooted]

Love ducks! They're kind of feed hogs. But mine laid better than most of my chickens. They're way fun, and mine came when you called them (they're also easy to herd)... I've been wanting more...

Oh my DH really wants ducks. But we don't have the housing for them yet. Found a fairly local hatchery that does ducks and turkeys, so that might be a project in the near future...

 

[NH Homesteader]

They're awesome. We have chickens and turkeys, and having all three was too much. DH is allergic to duck eggs and the turkeys are his favorites so my ducks lost! We might get some again in the future though.