A Chicken’s Halloween: Not Gonna Be Fun.

[AnimalGeek23]

How’s everyone doing?
I might be ahead of myself because I haven’t even got my chicks yet, and it’s not going to be Halloween anytime soon. But I guess I like to plan things ahead and receive a few suggestions!
So basically I live in the suburbs, but I have a big yard with a lot of room for the coop and run. However, the spot we chose to build the coop is near the road. Sort of near the road. It’s the best spot though, with shrubs and trees for shade and a lot of sunny places for the winter. So we’re not going to change that. Anyways, at Halloween, there are plenty of kids on that road, trick or treating.
The kids every Halloween that go through that road are super rowdy! They egg other people’s houses, steal candy, and tromp across yards, some even throw rocks at the window...
I’m wondering what your suggestions are for preventing little kids from going into my yard and maybe hurting the chickens?? I mean, if I was one of them I would be interested in another person’s chickens too. I’m going to be the only person in the neighborhood to own chickens, but I don’t want little kids to throw stuff at them!!
Maybe I should make or buy a dog now that says “KEEP OUT OF CHICKEN AREA!” Or “CHICKEN CROSSING”????
This might be a weird question... just want some suggestions...

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

If the kids in you neighborhood are that bad, a sign will just add to the intrigue.
I might sit in the shadows with something big and scary that could fly out and scare the crap out of them.
I love Halloween but it does bring out the worse in some people.
Is it possible to make the side that faces the road a solid wall? That might make it less obvious that the chickens are there.

 

[AnimalGeek23]

Haha, I don’t think we’ll have time to build the wall. We’re getting chicks towards the end of September.
But maybe I can herd the chickens early into the coop that night? It’s going to be secure inside the coop...
Will that work?

 

[Melky]

How’s everyone doing?
I might be ahead of myself because I haven’t even got my chicks yet, and it’s not going to be Halloween anytime soon. But I guess I like to plan things ahead and receive a few suggestions!
So basically I live in the suburbs, but I have a big yard with a lot of room for the coop and run. However, the spot we chose to build the coop is near the road. Sort of near the road. It’s the best spot though, with shrubs and trees for shade and a lot of sunny places for the winter. So we’re not going to change that. Anyways, at Halloween, there are plenty of kids on that road, trick or treating.
The kids every Halloween that go through that road are super rowdy! They egg other people’s houses, steal candy, and tromp across yards, some even throw rocks at the window...
I’m wondering what your suggestions are for preventing little kids from going into my yard and maybe hurting the chickens?? I mean, if I was one of them I would be interested in another person’s chickens too. I’m going to be the only person in the neighborhood to own chickens, but I don’t want little kids to throw stuff at them!!
Maybe I should make or buy a dog now that says “KEEP OUT OF CHICKEN AREA!” Or “CHICKEN CROSSING”????
This might be a weird question... just want some suggestions...

I think I would be talking with those kids about appropriate behavior along with their parents. That said my dog does both attract attention (neighborhood kids) and chase off predators (mainly deer, bunnies, and squirrels, and one racoon) and she is only a 10 lb. Papitese. We do not let children in our neighborhood behave that way. Every parent would be on that. Also at Halloween we have the police to patrol to ensure good behavior. I like keep out of chicken area sign cuz at least they were notified of your preferences. They would not be able to say we didn’t know unless they are not old enough to read.

 

[staceyj]

If you are getting your chicks in September they will still be fairly small at Halloween time, I would get a large dog crate between now and then and just keep them indoors or in a garage if you have one, overnight on Halloween night (and mischief night if your town observes that as well)
That way the kids can have their fun and you won’t have to worry!

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

Haha, I don’t think we’ll have time to build the wall.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I meant the side of the coop/run that faces the road. That way it might just look like a shed.
I do also like stacy's idea of taking them inside.
I've always made sure my black cats were in on Halloween to avoid any trouble.

 

[AnimalGeek23]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[AnimalGeek23]

It does start getting a little chilly outside in October down here in New York, so maybe I’ll jist keep them inside. They might not be completely feathered yet actually.