For some reason, I love to see my chickens free range our property but I'm leaning towards building a "run" for my 4 teen/pre-teen daughters, who are just flat out boy-crazy! What type of hardware cloth should I use for thier natural predators? Besides my trusty gun, are there any other ideas on keeping my other gals safe? Or is the whole idea just plain wrong?
hmmm. I think your gun and well-placed hot wire might help. Of course, there is the option of some leg-traps, just in case. I have a similar yet opposite problem. My teenage son loves to strut around, and has begun challenging the pecking order around here. Height differences make it a bit impossible to hold him upside down and dunk his head. I am considering letting him free-range awhile instead of free-load, to re-establish who gets the top roost.
Older brothers work wonders!! My poor daughter had two older brothers that the boys knew would kick their butts if anything happened to their sister!!
I am considering letting him free-range awhile instead of free-load, to re-establish who gets the top roost. Just don't send him around here, especially if he looks like one of those godforsaken jonas brothers!!!!
I had to read this a couple times, to be sure you were talking about human daughters My younger, but "bigger", brothers always kept the boys in line ...when my father wasn't there to threaten them with old empty wells on our property ..or a trip in his patrol car. When I moved to the farm with my Nannie and Daddy (great-grands), Daddy would just sit on the front porch with a shotgun ..no kidding! I think you'll have more results with trying to deter the boys ..rather than restraining the crazy girls
They seem to gravitate towards bathrooms at this age, just build each their own & you will not see them for days....
about the bathroom!! My daughter just turned 14. Thank the Lord we live pretty far from other people and she is not old enough for wheels yet! Not to mention boys are scared of her! For real! She tells them off, gives them those looks (the "are you really talking to ME" looks) and kicks their a** in sports. She has injured many a boy. What a good girl!!!
DH's cousin always had one question for his daughter's suitors: Are you prepared to die? (as in ready to meet your maker) Her dates ALWAYS brought her home on time! Her dad is also a very intimidating muscular guy.