Checkin’ in with the Chickens

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This week has been pretty busy with the completion of many projects such as finishing up irrigating the pastures, moving the first set of meat chickens to pasture, and setting up a new pasture for the yearling cattle. The most interesting one for me has been moving the chickens.

The chickens were in a shed that we had been fixed up last week for them because we had gotten a new set of chicks and needed the bigger ones out, but they weren’t ready to be permanently outside because many of them did not have enough feathers. They were slowly being weaned off the heat lamps as well so that their feathers would grow and they would be somewhat adjusted to the night time temperatures. On Thursday night, the bigger chicks were moved from the shed and into their new home because most of the chicks had all of their feathers and it was warm enough for those that didn’t. My host chose night because the chicks are locked up and sleep before being allowed to roam, which is supposed to be less stressful and acclimate them to their new shelter.

We took three trips between the shed and the pasture to get all of the chicks moved. We had to catch the chicks and put them in cages on a 4×4 for transportation, 25 per cage. Then we would drive the 4×4 over to a trailer that has wire sides built for it so that it can hold the chickens under it at night. The chicks were then taken out of their cages and put underneath the trailer. Food was placed on one side underneath the trailer and water on the other. Eventually, food will no longer be available at night and only during the day while they are roaming. I wonder if the chickens will ever be able to forage for all of their food on pasture or if they will always have to have feed given to them every day.

The chicks are now moved everyday to a new patch of pasture. They are allowed to roam wherever they want to during the day, and at night are rounded up and put back under the trailer. I think that there might be an easier way to keep chickens on pasture without letting them out every day because it is very time consuming and difficult to herd chickens into an enclosed space as night is falling. I also think that allowing them to roam freely during the day puts the chicks at risk of being caught by birds of prey because they still are a little small and in an open space.

My host said that we are going to come behind the chickens and water in the poop so that the nitrogen in the poop doesn’t cook off the grass. I think that this is important because the chickens are going before or after my host’s other livestock which means the grass needs to be alive when the chickens are done so that the other animals will have enough food when it is their turn. I will definitely keep this information in mind if I decide to have my own chickens on pasture with other livestock.

Submitted by: Anna Agee
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team