backporch chickens

[marcus connor]

I have a 20 acre pasture, they prefer the sandbox and yard more than the 20 acre

 

[lovemy6hens]

Placing their food somewhere else might discourage them from being on your porch, but that may not be enough. Sitting with our 11 hens on my patio this afternoon, I thought about my husband saying he wanted them off the porch. I like having them there, but looking around I saw what they liked about it. (It would be great if they only liked it there because that's where I am, but realistically that's not the case.) It's covered, so hawks aren't as likely to see them and they don't get rained on. The paving stones under the picnic table provide sunny spots to (sort of) safely sunbathe. There is a flower bed next to it that's covered by the overhang of the roof. Again, safer from flying predators. They've eaten most of the plants, so are left with dirt to burrow into or dust bathe in. The flower bed has a little white garden-edging fence to keep some of the dirt in (creates more of a place to hide and they don't get wet if it rains). There is a large bush on the other side of the patio so they can hide there too. The chairs provide an excellent roosting area for naps, whether sleeping on a person's legs outstretched on the footstool or not. They can move where the breeze is in the summer or where there's a wind break in the winter. Much more appealing than their coop and run, but all could be provided there.