Hello everyone!
Since you are all on the topic of wing clipping, I wanted to ask you your experience with chickens getting over fences...... I keep the girls in a run most of the day, but when I get home and on weekends I let them out into a bigger area of the back yard to forage, etc. I myself am a chicken so I put a net up over the area I let them into so that they can't fly over the fence if they get the chance. I was noticing that in the late afternoon they all start migrating back toward the coop and run.
Do you think they would still fly over the fence in the late afternoon if I were to let them go in unnetted areas? I go out with them at that time and I am actually using them to keep the weeds down in certain areas, but my observation was that they would be less likely to fly away at that time of the day. Is that just an inaccurate assumption on my part? I haven't clipped their wings yet, because it is so cold I figured the extra feathers would help keep them warm.
Also, have any of you had problems with neighborhood cats getting your girls?
Okay and ONE last question, that is kind of stupid at that....... where do you all find dry dirt this time of year for a dust bath? I saw them picking in the wet dirt this weekend trying to make a dirt bath area and needless to say that didn't work too will. I do have sand, DE and ash, but can't get my hands on any dry dirt. It seems silly to dig it up and let it dry in my garage, but I am think I may have to do just that.
Thanks!
