First let me say that my flock free-ranges in my 1 acre fenced front yard during the day and cooped at night... and that after a hawk attack back in Feburary, I decided to keep a second roo that was almost mature.. and have several other juvenile roos in the flock based on advice from fellow BYCers.
Being in a rural area - I know there are risks to free ranging but I feel my chickens are happier.. most of the time.
Well, this horrid story begins with a flock of happy chickens in the yard yesterday. I was taking Freecycle boxes to the end of my driveway (a long one) that is parrallel to the front yard. On my second trip back... I hear my two mature rooters giving their warning calls urgently.. I look up to see 5 of my roosters.. the two grown and 3 young ones rushing out towards the center of the yard...(although the youngesters were pulling up the rear in the charge) In what seems like slow motion - I see one of my young black australorps running in a zig-zag pattern through the yard towards the coop.. I do a quick scan and see the coop is full of watchful chickens..I was having one of those delayed "what is going on" moments when I see a HAWK swoop down and scoop up one of my three week old chicks from my broody mamas It never broke stride as it flew off with my baby. I yelled.. and ran down the driveway (no easy thing for a 50 year old out of shape woman) as if there was something I could do. My heart was broken.
I know this is the cost of raising my chickens the way I do... and I have been lucky not to have any major problem after moving the coop to the fenced front yard spot on our property... but it was so upsetting .. just needed to share
Shelly
Being in a rural area - I know there are risks to free ranging but I feel my chickens are happier.. most of the time.
Well, this horrid story begins with a flock of happy chickens in the yard yesterday. I was taking Freecycle boxes to the end of my driveway (a long one) that is parrallel to the front yard. On my second trip back... I hear my two mature rooters giving their warning calls urgently.. I look up to see 5 of my roosters.. the two grown and 3 young ones rushing out towards the center of the yard...(although the youngesters were pulling up the rear in the charge) In what seems like slow motion - I see one of my young black australorps running in a zig-zag pattern through the yard towards the coop.. I do a quick scan and see the coop is full of watchful chickens..I was having one of those delayed "what is going on" moments when I see a HAWK swoop down and scoop up one of my three week old chicks from my broody mamas It never broke stride as it flew off with my baby. I yelled.. and ran down the driveway (no easy thing for a 50 year old out of shape woman) as if there was something I could do. My heart was broken.
I know this is the cost of raising my chickens the way I do... and I have been lucky not to have any major problem after moving the coop to the fenced front yard spot on our property... but it was so upsetting .. just needed to share
Shelly
