We had about 100 chickens in the spring including the chicks but the number is down because of one stupid mink! We introduced the blue egg layers and they lay awesome eggs. Our little ones (they are the type in the jungle-colourful and small) lay very good eggs but we wanted bigger ones. In the summer they are in the trees...first warm day they go out to the trees, I don't feed them during the summer, I do feed the chicks that become orphaned
but in the fall I start feeding near the barn so it gets everyone use to me again, I slowly move the food into the barn and they get the idea. All of them are pets and we have more roosters than hens and none end up in the freezer lol. Winter, they all stay in a coop together with no heat lamp and they are fine, they cuddle together. On cold nights -23 I usually check on them throughout the night-call me crazy but they are my pets, but with the heat from other chickens they stay pretty warm. Watch out for weasels in the barn, and outside owls at night, raccoons, mink, and we had a fox this year as well. Free range chickens lay the best eggs, but they also would rather sleep outside. If they are kept in for a week they will usually go back to their home. Make sure the roost is high.