Just wondering how far chickens would normally roam?
I just had 4 chickens wander into my yard. I'm on 2 acres with no neighbours to the east or west. The neighbours to the south are surrounded by dense scrub and are fenced in, and the direct neighbours to the north are on about 20 acres and don't keep chickens.
I've just done the door knock for the next two properties over to the north and nobody was home. I'll do the door knock again after 5pm when they're more likely to be home. Each neighbour has a fenced in yard so it's unlikely they've flown over too many fences. This is why I'm wondering how far they'd normally roam.
There's a fox that hangs around the area who loves the taste of chicken. He took one of my best layers recently in a day time attack (unusual for autumn). The 4 ladies were hanging around near the same coverage and tracks that I've seen the fox come and go from. I wanted to keep them safe, so I've secured them in an unused bird aviary which means they won't be able to go home to roost. I'd prefer to keep them secure until I find their owners.
Here's the 4 girls in question:
2 x Rhode Island Reds, 1 x Silver Laced Wyandotte, and 1 x Orpington.
My coop and run are visible from the road, so there's also a chance someone has taken the opportunity to dump them in the yard. Upon first inspection they all seem pretty healthy (no moulting, good weight, red healthy combs/wattles, and no visible mite activity), but they were very hungry/thirsty and got stuck into the pellets and water that I gave them.
I just had 4 chickens wander into my yard. I'm on 2 acres with no neighbours to the east or west. The neighbours to the south are surrounded by dense scrub and are fenced in, and the direct neighbours to the north are on about 20 acres and don't keep chickens.
I've just done the door knock for the next two properties over to the north and nobody was home. I'll do the door knock again after 5pm when they're more likely to be home. Each neighbour has a fenced in yard so it's unlikely they've flown over too many fences. This is why I'm wondering how far they'd normally roam.
There's a fox that hangs around the area who loves the taste of chicken. He took one of my best layers recently in a day time attack (unusual for autumn). The 4 ladies were hanging around near the same coverage and tracks that I've seen the fox come and go from. I wanted to keep them safe, so I've secured them in an unused bird aviary which means they won't be able to go home to roost. I'd prefer to keep them secure until I find their owners.
Here's the 4 girls in question:
2 x Rhode Island Reds, 1 x Silver Laced Wyandotte, and 1 x Orpington.
My coop and run are visible from the road, so there's also a chance someone has taken the opportunity to dump them in the yard. Upon first inspection they all seem pretty healthy (no moulting, good weight, red healthy combs/wattles, and no visible mite activity), but they were very hungry/thirsty and got stuck into the pellets and water that I gave them.
. Of course I kept and fed the cat the next 12 years. At one time it looked like I had cats coming out of my ears.
All that are living by me are neutered and spayed. All outdoor cats. All get food, and rabies shots, and night time shelter in garage during cold winter. None bother my chickens. 
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