Free Range Questions

[GooseMoyo]

My chickens have a ~140 sqft run with the coop. They typically roost in a big cedar inside the run rather than the coop. I just recently installed an automatic door to outside the run. The hens took to it right away and began free ranging (took them a day or so to figure out the only water is back in the run). I haven't seen them go further than a few hundred feet from the run and mostly just circle the run within ~50 feet. Two questions:
1. My rooster never leaves the run. Is this normal? I don't mind it; he has everything he needs in the in the run, I just figured he'd want to be with his girls.
2. Last night was the first time all the hens didn't find their way back before the door shut (just one missing). How long does it "typically" take for them to figure out the timing?

thanks!

 

[aart]

Lots of unknowns here.
How many birds and what ages(in weeks or months)?
How big is the coop, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics a big help.
How long have you had these birds?
Is the auto door on a clock timer or a light sensor?

Oh, and...Welcome to BYC! @GooseMoyo
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

I haven't seen them go further than a few hundred feet from the run and mostly just circle the run within ~50 feet.

This is normal when they first start going out. Over time they will probably get bolder.

1. My rooster never leaves the run. Is this normal? I don't mind it; he has everything he needs in the in the run, I just figured he'd want to be with his girls.

Normal? Not really for a mature rooster with mature hens. Knowing his age and the girls' ages might help explain this. This sounds like a cockerel being beat up by the girls, especially older hens. Do any stay back with him?

2. Last night was the first time all the hens didn't find their way back before the door shut (just one missing). How long does it "typically" take for them to figure out the timing?

Their timing is set by when it gets dark. But sometimes certain ones go to bed earlier than others. Certain ones are more dominant and may be bullies at bedtime which can cause others to delay. This happens a fair amount when they sleep in coops. It can happen when they sleep in a tree also.

Chickens sometimes have a problem with the concept of
"gate". Sometimes when they are outside of the run when it starts getting dark they are so intent on getting back to sleep that they forget all about that gate they have been going in and out of all day. They go to the fence and try to go straight to bed, totally ignoring that gate 15 feet away. When I first let mine out I am there at bedtime to herd them to the gate if they get stuck. Most of mine make it back through the gate no problem. If a few get stuck outside they typically learn the gate concept pretty quickly. But some are brighter than others.

Is your problem timing or is it the concept of gate?

 

[GooseMoyo]

Thanks! I'll get my info updated - but I'm in south Texas, about an hour north of San Antonio.
The hen was fine; there's plenty of trees to roost in.

3 hens and 1 rooster... had an owl cut my numbers in half over the winter until I figured out it wasn't racoons. They are all about 1 year old. We hatched them from eggs and they've been in the same run their whole lives (except the brooder).

The run is ~10x15. The gate is set to light for open and close. I would have said the problem was figuring out the gate (they ran passed it multiple times trying to get to their water), but yesterday I saw all the hens enter and leave multiple times before the one was left out. So I think it was just a matter of timing.

No hens stay back with him. He is definitely the dominant personality in the flock though.

A few pictures attached. I had to jury-rig the bricks and planks in front of the gate to keep the puppy and goat kids out of the run until I can figure a more permanent solution.

 

[mossyoakpro]

Thanks! I'll get my info updated - but I'm in south Texas, about an hour north of San Antonio.
The hen was fine; there's plenty of trees to roost in.

3 hens and 1 rooster... had an owl cut my numbers in half over the winter until I figured out it wasn't racoons. They are all about 1 year old. We hatched them from eggs and they've been in the same run their whole lives (except the brooder).

The run is ~10x15. The gate is set to light for open and close. I would have said the problem was figuring out the gate (they ran passed it multiple times trying to get to their water), but yesterday I saw all the hens enter and leave multiple times before the one was left out. So I think it was just a matter of timing.

No hens stay back with him. He is definitely the dominant personality in the flock though.

A few pictures attached. I had to jury-rig the bricks and planks in front of the gate to keep the puppy and goat kids out of the run until I can figure a more permanent solution.

I had to change my Omlet door to "time" instead of "light"....sometimes on an overcast day it would close and lock some out. Mine all sleep in the coop and they get quite distressed if they can't get back in. Might try that? I have mine closing about 30 minutes after sunset and I adjust it every couple of weeks to account for the difference in daylight. Best of luck and welcome to the BYC!!!