Am I crazy for wanting to sell my whole flock

[BDutch]

Thank you to everyone who commented. My goal is to let everyone start free ranging in the fenced yard with access to the coop and their runs. I have found some people who would be willing to help with them once a month so I can go out to dinner or out of town.

We have hanging feeders and I have put the other one on my wishlist for my birthday so that was super helpful.

I also am going to start selling the eggs and more chicks/laying hens.

Lastly, I read a comment that said I needed to let go of my expectations and that is spot on. We have a fenced yard wedged between dogless neighbors and we are working on creating more hiding places in the yard so I won't worry so much about hawks. Tonight we just propped the coop open and surprisingly they went in without being herded so moving forward that's the plan- free range after noon with coop door propped open so they can put themselves up and we will close it right before dusk.

Thank you all so very much everyone's advice and stories helped me realize they will be ok and so will I. I already have some people who want the young laying hens once they start laying so my flock size will soon be reduced to manageable!

This is all great news. ! I hope you really keep loving keeping chickens.

Last tip: if you have enough savings or can ask for another present you could ask for an automatic pop door opener to make your life even more easy and can go on outing's without needing to return around sunset/dusk!

 

[oakhavenmama]

Not sure what happened with you and your flock, but I have used rover.com to take care of my chickens. The lady charged me $25 per visit for the entire flock, not per bird. Hope all is working out for you!

 

[BDutch]

@Mizzrscott , how is everything going?
Did the free ranging work out well?

 

[Mizzrscott]

@Mizzrscott , how is everything going?
Did the free ranging work out well?

We have tried it and there are so many hawks suddenly but we have a routine for now that works and so far we haven't had any incidents.

 

[123RedBeard]

How about a "Chunnel"? It's a aboveground wire tunnel for chickens ... https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...50-long-also-ideas-to-keep-hawks-out.1611437/ add in a auto pop door ... And a rat/mouse proof feeder ... https://ratproofchickenfeeder.com/Ratproof-Chicken-Feeders_c_1.html

 

[McChooky]

As someone already mentioned chicken tractors and chunnels are an excellent way to protect your chickens from aerial predators such as hawks during the day.Hope this helps!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/80220437106375646/

 

[BigBlueHen53]

So happy to read this entire thread up to this point and see that you are able to keep your flock and reduce your stress and anxiety around chicken keeping by making a few changes. Chickens should be fun! Blessings to you.

 

[Strawberry74]

We have tried it and there are so many hawks suddenly but we have a routine for now that works and so far we haven't had any incidents.

I am not sure how big their outside free ranging space is but simply using stands of paracord or weather resistant rope in a few spans across the area well deter hawks. They cannot fly and swoop down and therefore will pass on by.

 

[GreenHaven]

I am not sure how big their outside free ranging space is but simply using stands of paracord or weather resistant rope in a few spans across the area well deter hawks. They cannot fly and swoop down and therefore will pass on by.

I saw your reply on this post that is older - I would love more info on using the paracord or rope for hawk deterrence. How close do the strands need to be for this to be effective?

 

[McChooky]

I saw your reply on this post that is older - I would love more info on using the paracord or rope for hawk deterrence. How close do the strands need to be for this to be effective?

Birds of prey can easily maneuver around ropes etc in flight