- Oct 24, 2010
- 6
- 0
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Hello. I am looking for someone who has absolute experience and knowledge on how to raise chickens. Specifically, in a rural environment. This person must be absolutely confident about their skills. Thank you!
All right, let me explain my situation.
I have owned two "sets" of chickens and have lost them both. My family lives in a very rural place. We are surrounded by farms, but my specific house is in a more forest-like place. And we've got all of the active predators that you can name: raccoons, lynxes/bobcats, foxes, rattlesnakes, oppossums, skunks, mountain lions, hawks, vultures, falcons, ect., ect. I think you get the point. Our first set of chickens were two very efficient ones that showed a lot of personality. They were our first chickens and we grew very close to them. However, they were in an enclosed area with our orchard in the midst of the woods down a hill about fifty feet from our house. They were surrounded by a "No-Climb Fence" which I am assuming was meant for a deer which I will prove later on. My father felt that an ordinary dog carrier that was left open all the time would be safe enough. My father was sure that they would be safe, but . . . We lost our chickens to raccoons and it took us months to recover.
Then, a friend gave us their three remaining chickens because they were moving and could not keep them. I see that friend every day so we had to do everything we could to keep them safe. We decided to go a little overboard on their next coop. We bought a giant dog cage that was meant for a great dane and we built thick wood all around it. We painted it and put a huge door in front of the cage door. The cage door was locked normally and then we added a combination lock just to make us feel better. XD Then the plywood door would close over it and would be tied by three wires. It was foolproof. But then, as I was at my computer, I looked out the window to see that my chickens were under attack. They were ambushed in broad daylight by a lynx. We were devastated. It was a huge blow to the family and we decided to give up.
But all of the families around us own chickens and we just returned from a trip to the Cayman Islands where there were hundreds of chickens running around free-range and we fell in love with them all over again. I told my mom that if I made a fool-proof system that has absolutely no chance of losing the chickens that she would consider it. She's very reluctant, because we were very close to the chickens we lost. It was horrible when they died; they were truly apart of the family. My dad and I are trying to plan a way that has no flaws at all, otherwise we aren't going to do it. We're thinking that if we just keep our chickens in a completely enclosed area, with a roof and walls (similar to a very large shed), that maybe it can work.
Please, can someone help my family's situation? We really want these miracles back in our lives, but we never want the threat of losing them ever again. I need a chicken expert that can give me as much information and details as they possibly can. Step-By-Step would be great. THANK YOU FOR ANYONE WHO CAN HELP!!! It is desperately needed!
All right, let me explain my situation.
I have owned two "sets" of chickens and have lost them both. My family lives in a very rural place. We are surrounded by farms, but my specific house is in a more forest-like place. And we've got all of the active predators that you can name: raccoons, lynxes/bobcats, foxes, rattlesnakes, oppossums, skunks, mountain lions, hawks, vultures, falcons, ect., ect. I think you get the point. Our first set of chickens were two very efficient ones that showed a lot of personality. They were our first chickens and we grew very close to them. However, they were in an enclosed area with our orchard in the midst of the woods down a hill about fifty feet from our house. They were surrounded by a "No-Climb Fence" which I am assuming was meant for a deer which I will prove later on. My father felt that an ordinary dog carrier that was left open all the time would be safe enough. My father was sure that they would be safe, but . . . We lost our chickens to raccoons and it took us months to recover.
Then, a friend gave us their three remaining chickens because they were moving and could not keep them. I see that friend every day so we had to do everything we could to keep them safe. We decided to go a little overboard on their next coop. We bought a giant dog cage that was meant for a great dane and we built thick wood all around it. We painted it and put a huge door in front of the cage door. The cage door was locked normally and then we added a combination lock just to make us feel better. XD Then the plywood door would close over it and would be tied by three wires. It was foolproof. But then, as I was at my computer, I looked out the window to see that my chickens were under attack. They were ambushed in broad daylight by a lynx. We were devastated. It was a huge blow to the family and we decided to give up.
But all of the families around us own chickens and we just returned from a trip to the Cayman Islands where there were hundreds of chickens running around free-range and we fell in love with them all over again. I told my mom that if I made a fool-proof system that has absolutely no chance of losing the chickens that she would consider it. She's very reluctant, because we were very close to the chickens we lost. It was horrible when they died; they were truly apart of the family. My dad and I are trying to plan a way that has no flaws at all, otherwise we aren't going to do it. We're thinking that if we just keep our chickens in a completely enclosed area, with a roof and walls (similar to a very large shed), that maybe it can work.
Please, can someone help my family's situation? We really want these miracles back in our lives, but we never want the threat of losing them ever again. I need a chicken expert that can give me as much information and details as they possibly can. Step-By-Step would be great. THANK YOU FOR ANYONE WHO CAN HELP!!! It is desperately needed!
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