We have started letting our chickens free range all day. The hens haven't bothered the garden like the roosters did. They dig a random dirt bath here and there but they don't eat the establish crops. My daughter has worked out a system of throwing out food and then petting them as they eat it. Which then progressed into throwing out food, grabbing them and hugging them. Its a skill. She is not the only one who has noticed how much more lovable free range chickens can be. They run to the back gate when we get home and follow us around the yard as we work. They seem a lot more like pets now.
One issue though- they should be laying eggs within the next few weeks- but how will we know where they are laying them if they are only in their coop at night? Is there a certain time of day chickens lays eggs? Early morning would be ideal since they would still be in their coop with a nesting box. Its gonna be an Easter egg hunt around here every day.
THose look like very happy chickens! I can't wait until mine are big enough to go out and get all the bugs off of things. Fun stuff!
ReplyDeleteOur chickens actually started laying in their nest boxes. Of course, they aren't free range during the day since we have a dog. I was told to put a fake egg in the nest box and they would follow. And they did.
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