Freeranging Nankins

[nankin3]

I want to freerange some of my birds this spring soon as the flock is built up anyone doing that now? If so are they able to stay up and away from most predators where I live the only birds I have been able to successfully freerange are my oegb. If anyone does freerange do the Nankins come back into thier house to roost at night or do they roost in the trees once they are free?

[raylastanford]

Hi!  I free range my flock of Nankins.  They keep pretty close to the coop and along the tree line (or in my garden).  The roosters work well together to watch out for the girls.  The mothers even take the chicks out.  They all come in at night before dusk, and I've never had any try to stay out.  I sold some Nankins to someone who let them out right away, and he has not been able to get them in at night, they roost in his trees.  I think the trick is to lock them up in their new digs for a few days until they recognize it as home.  I would also probably fence them somewhat until they proved themselves.  My mothers always train their babies where home is.  They also bring any foster babies to the Nankin coop no matter how I try to brood them elsewhere.  I've never lost a Nankin, but have had other birds taken by hawks.  My coop is also up high, so they can go underneath it.  I do have to separate during breeding season, of course.  Then they have little honeymoon huts with their own yard.  I don't have any fighting issues except in spring (during breeding season before groups are made).  I guess you have to know your territory.  If i weren't home and outside so much, I might not be as comfortable.  Of course, you have to be prepared that you will likely lose some birds.  If I was a serious exhibitor I might not be willing to risk it.  I'm still new to showing and breeding, so my free ranging could change.  Hope this helps.  Laureen

[nankin3]

Hi Laureen,
 Thanks for all the great info, mine will be well established in thier digs as it will be spring before I have the numbers to risk turning any out to freerange. The birds I am going to try and show will definetly stay up in a pen along with my breeders. I am new to the Nankins so any info you can give me is much appreciated.
Danny

[Falling Tree Farm]

I free range Nankins to a degree.  I let them out when I am around and they roam over the property and nearby wooded areas.  I live in a rural area with many predators-fox, hawks, mink, raccoons, bobcat, hawks, coyote and the occasional pack of dogs.  They come back late afternoon if I don't call them first.  They tend to move together or in groups with a rooster or two and a number of hens.  I have had a few losses mostly to a bobcat.  I tried to free range oeg in the past and one by one they disappeared.  I would not let them out if I wasn't around, too risky.  I have a mixed flock of standard size laying hens that I free range at times when I am not around and I can go weeks without a loss, then I may have a day when 3 or 4 are killed.
One interesting observation, I have a cat that sometimes comes with me when I let the Nankins out.  He likes to lie in the grass and watch them.  He will not attack them but does 'play charges'.  When he does the flock scatters and may fly to the top of the coop.  The roosters do not bother with the cat except to sometimes follow him but I have a few hens that will puff themselves up and do their own 'play? charges' at him.  These are not hens with chicks but they act protective of the flock as though they did have chicks.  I don't let the cat near chicks or hens with chicks because I do think he would attack.  Enjoy your birds! Howard Kogan
PS Make sure your Nankins are locked in a predator proof coop at night or they won't last long!

[nankin3]

Thanks Howard,
 My birds will be in a similar enviroment as far as the predators are concerned so I thank you for the warnings. I wonder if they would stay inside a 4ft fence I have that is about 50ft sqaure and electrified or would they probably be prone to flying over it? I just don't know how flighty they will be, my oegb won't stay in it silly things lol.

[Falling Tree Farm]

Nankins are good flyers for chickens.  Mine fly to the roof of their coop-12 feet up.  A four foot fence will not contain them.  In my experience you need to use top wire on their runs to keep predators out-hawks and owls love bantams as much as we do! Howard Kogan, Falling Tree Farm

[nankin3]

 Thanks Howard,
 I was afraid that was what you would say, I guess I will have to split the pen into sections and then cover it as it would be very difficult to cover the area I have to deal with.
 Danny