Looking back over 2006, the extreme heat of the summer months was a problem that caused many producers some losses as birds struggled to cope with the heat and high humidity. As well as losses producers also experienced lower growth rates due to the stress of the birds and their lower intake of feed. This also compounded the problems and loss of income to some farmers was substantial.
Global warming is a definite fact of life these days, and we are told that we are going to experience more summers with higher temperatures and humidity than in previous years.
Even if these predictions are not accurate, it is a good idea to look carefully at the type of outdoor pasture and ranging areas that we are providing for our birds.
The outdoor area…….make it a safe and wonderful place for your birds to roam.
Let us start by looking out of the range house door and seeing that great wide outdoor space just waiting for those birds to explore and enjoy .
What do they see? A wide open vista of green lush grass surrounded by a fence, or a grassy area with shady places, trees, bushes, tall grasses or stands of corn and a few bales of straw for windbreaks?
If your outdoor area is just a grass field with a fence your birds may think twice about going outside. If, however, you have grass, shelter areas and even bushes they will probably head for the nearest tree, bush, or long tall grasses and will settle down to scratch and peck around in the comparative safety of the cover that is provided. They will come out to the green pasture at some time, but will always be keeping a watchful eye overhead for any kind of real or perceived predator.
Why do the chickens always want to head for cover? It is their inborn instinct, bred in them from the origins of the chicken…the jungle fowl. The fowl lived in the jungle with lots of overhead cover, safe from the many overhead predators. This is an inborn trait which still survives today.
What kind of environment should we be looking to provide for our birds when out on the range?
The best environment will provide both shelter from wind, rain, sun and predators. It will also provide suitable vegetation for the bird to eat and peck.. It would provide clean, cool water ,both summer and winter and a suitable dusting area where the birds can dust for mite and flea control. It will provide a quiet, safe sheltered area where the birds can rest and sleep without fear of overhead predators.
This may sound almost impossible if your outdoor area is just a grass field with a fence.
There are many ways that you can enhance your pasture area to encourage your birds to range and to provide a more secure and natural environment . The more often your birds range outside, the more they forage on pasture and insects and the more secure they feel, the better the bird will be.
Enhance your pasture- the natural way
Plant bushes and trees
I know this is a long term project but it really can pay great dividends in the end.
Planting little stands of bushes, shrubs and trees provides a sheltered haven for your birds.
It provides a secure environment from overhead predators, a place to rest in shade from the sun in summer, a sheltered place from rain and wind and a wonderful area to scratch , forage and wander in comfort and safety.
Plant long rows and stands of corn or other tall crops.
This can be a great alternative to planting trees and bushes, or can provide shade and shelter whilst those trees and bushes are growing.
Corn will stand all winter and can be a great place for chickens to scratch and forage, and still provides the overhead cover so the birds will feel secure.
Provide pasture areas next to bush or woodlands
If you are fortunate enough to have bush or woodlands already established on your property, consider making these part of your outdoor areas. You could have half grass and half woodlands.
Orchards are another area that would be ideal for chickens to roam, they will keep the grass down between the trees and may also eat many bugs that may be attacking the trees or fruit.
We have seen chickens ranging in young Christmas tree plantations , which they enjoyed immensely. This provided an income opportunity for the tree grower whilst his ‘crop’ of Christmas trees grew to the required height.
Artificial methods of providing a more inviting outdoor area.
If you cannot, or do not wish to plant bushes etc and have no woodlands or scrub areas on your property, you can provide sheltered areas by ‘mechanical’ means.
Be creative with tarped and screened shelters, straw bales make excellent wind breaks and with a few boards can make nice shady rest areas.
These areas should be within the bird’s sight when he comes out of the house. He will immediately range to those areas and settle down to peck and scratch .
Water and Feed out on the range
Cool fresh water should be provided out on the range for the birds. This can be a real challenge when the pasture area is well away from the water source.
If you have set range areas and you are rotating your pasture, you could consider establishing a water tank station at a convenient place and run a line to a drinker(s).
The line should be insulated, you can do this quite cheaply with those insulated wraps for water lines.This will ensure that the water remains cool for the birds.
The water tank could be the tank you have at the end of the chicken house which is providing the water for the chicken house. Or it could be a separate tank set in a shady area or even with an insulated jacket.
Long runs of pipe may require an ancillary pump, and you could install a small solar panel to run a small pump to ensure the water reaches the drinkers.
Of course, you could just carry the water by hand and fill the drinkers when necessary.
We do not recommend feed stations outside on the range. There is the possibility of wild bird and other wild animal feces fouling the water. Feed bins should remain in the house.
If you do wish to feed outside, bins with tight covers should be used, so no birds or other animals or vermin can enter the bin. No feed should remain outdoors overnight.
Dust areas
Dust areas can be just that patch if dry earth, or the dry areas between the rows of corn, or just a sand box area. Whatever kind you provide, the birds will just really enjoy.
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There is nothing more rewarding than to watch a group of chickens sitting under a shady tree in the summer, preening their feathers, pecking at little bugs on the ground or just laying stretching their wings in that lazy way they do.
We owe our birds the best and safest environment we can provide.
We welcome your comments and suggestions:
Pictures of your birds and your outdoor areas are always welcome
