Well, at least I'm not alone! Eleven chickens, getting zero to one egg a day for the past month or so. They went into molt but they seem good now, they are all about a year and a half old and have been great layers up until a few months ago.
We have 11 hens that we have had for about 1 1/2 years. We have always let them free range from about 4:00 PM until dark with no problem. This past week they have all decided to destroy my lawn. I mean tear the crap out of it in large areas. Not just one naughty girl, but all of them! Like it's...
Yesterday one of my RIR's just sat in on lawn for hours. I have 6 RIR and 5 BR that go I let out to free range each day around 4:00 while I'm home to watch. Usually they all know the routine, Run out, peck, peck, peck, dust bath, etc. But she came out about 15 feet, and sat in the middle of the...
Our chickens are a year old now, so I'm still new compared to many on the forum, but I have been through all the seasons with the girls. We have 6 RR and 5 BR, we live in Rhode Island, we had a fairly mild winter last winter, but it gets below freezing regularly and it's dark and gloomy for days...
Yes, the RIR in the photo. Would you have a hen that is more mature than the others even though they were all purchased as chicks at the same time?? She also has little bumps were the spurs would be on a rooster. Do hens have that? I thought at first that she was a hen that would be the first to...
Correct 7L Farm. I want to block off the area where the coyotes are crossing. The front of our property has an 8 foot drop of stone retaining wall. Not that they can't get up there, but they haven't before. I hear the howling out back, and that is where they have been seen crossing. The hens are...
Has anyone used an Electric fence to keep Coyotes away?? We have about two acres to cover. I would put it along the wood line, near the stone wall where I have seen them cross through. We have a large open area between the stone wall, woods and our house and coop/run area. Just want to know if I...
For years we have heard the coyotes howling out in the woods...this year the howling seemed very close. I guess they were close. The chickens will remain in the run and locked in the coop at night. It makes me sad to see them locked up, but the alternative of letting the coyotes know that my...
I'm sure my dog would go after a coyote...she is staying close to me now for sure....I love living out in the woods, and I know wild animals have a right to be here too, but when they get too close...... my husband, son in law, sons and neighbor will all be watching for them and will not...
Thanks Pebbles....:hitWow...Wiley Coyotes indeed...this whole thing has just gotten me so upset. The girls had been so happy. My instinct tells me the coyotes will be watching and waiting now....
I had my first loss this morning. Coyotes got two of my hens in the middle of the morning, about 11:00 AM. The girls were free ranging, we were all home, people in and out of the house, and yet, the coyotes came within 10 feet of my back door to grab the hens!! I'm freaking out about the...
My friend lost all her girls (6 of them) to hawks...bit by bit. Just like you said, when the predators find them, they don't give up. We accepted that we may have some loss with free rangeing. She is giving it a break for a season before she gets more chickens..figuring maybe a new batch of...