Colorado

[NoisyNora]

A few of the neighborhood kids just came by and asked to pet my chickens.......the only way they could know for sure that I have them is because they were snooping around my yard. They said they had seen another little girl in there with them.........there is only one little girl I have let in my yard, and that is my friend's daughter across the street so I hope that is who they were talking about. Anyways I called my friend (she watched my flock when I went to the east coast for 5 1/2 weeks) and asked if they had been snooping around when she was watching them. Sure enough she said that they had asked her if they could pet them and she of course said "no they aren't mine". I also told them no, but I told them that it was because they aren't friendly (lie) and that they would peck them (also a lie). I really don't want these kids in my yard, they are always wandering the area without parental supervision, and I worry that now they will take it upon themselves to get into my yard. My gates are all pad locked, and I am home a good chunk of the time but still......it makes me very nervous. The family has caused a lot of issues in the area, but the Mom has always been polite to me so I am thinking maybe I should go tell her that I am sorry to disappoint the kids but wanted to let her know they came asking and that the birds might really hurt them. (Not necessarily true, but still a possibility.) Thoughts? Advise?

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Quote:
Just my opinion, but I would advise against telling anyone that your birds aren't friendly or could peck them - even if it is a lie. So many people are fighting to obtain, or keep, the right to have backyard chickens. This doesn't help their cause.

I would definitely keep your birds well secured and padlocked. BUT, I would also arrange to invite the kids and their parents over for a supervised and structured visit - and educate them as to the benefits, proper keeping, and fun of backyard chickens. I think education is the key.

 

[NoisyNora]

Quote:
Just my opinion, but I would advise against telling anyone that your birds aren't friendly or could peck them - even if it is a lie. So many people are fighting to obtain, or keep, the right to have backyard chickens. This doesn't help their cause.

I would definitely keep your birds well secured and padlocked. BUT, I would also arrange to invite the kids and their parents over for a supervised and structured visit - and educate them as to the benefits, proper keeping, and fun of backyard chickens. I think education is the key.

When I say that the family has caused issues I mean that their house has been raided by the cops for drugs and weapons. These are NOT people I want at my house even if my husband weren't deployed. The reason I said that they would be pecked is because these kids do whatever they want and don't seem to care. I have seem them pet dogs through the fence without asking, and pick up cats and take home with them. I am more worried about the kids coming in to my yard when I am not here, and I want to do everything possible to discourage them. If it doesn't further understanding of chickens, sorry.

 

[NoisyNora]

Anyone else?

 

[ryan820]

Hi all. We are embarking on building a pretty big run for our four chickens. I plan on using hardware cloth, at least on the bottom half of the run, and other fencing above (or should I do hardware cloth all around?). I need a good supplier for this stuff. Lows is expensive and it comes in small rolls. Does anyone know where in the southeast Denver area I could get large rolls of this stuff? Also, what do you recommend for the top of the run? Should it be fencing too or will netting work? I want my chickens to free range but we had another run in with a pack of coyotes... Thankfully my flock didn't get wiped out. I happened to hear the commotion and intervened. These animals have guts! I wasn't very far away from the flock and they still attempted a mass killing.

So I'd like to get everyone's recommendations on the construction and where to get my material. Also, so that predators don't dig under the run fencing, is it ok to simply lay wire on the ground so they can't simply dig underneath?

Thanks!

 

[Redley]

Hello fellow Coloradians

This forum is the best, learned so much to make my first year with chickens a success.
My neice is now living with us, and she has proven herself a very responsible young lady.
She has asked for her own chickens.
We are on Lookout Mountain in Golden, but are willing to drive.
We are looking for the following chicks, can anyone out there point me to a place in Colorado that we could get these chicks at this point in the year?


(1) Gold Laced Wyandotte
(1) Blue Laced Red Wyandotte
(1) Golden Campaine
(2) Cukoo Marans
(1) Appenzeller Spitzhauben (preferrs Golden Spangled, but silver spangled or Chamois Spangled are ok too)
(1) Easter Egger (would like one with a buff or oranger base if possible)

Thanks for your help!!!
Redley

 

[megshenhut]

Nora, only you know the family and the kids. I'd say go with your gut feeling on this one. If you think they will bother your flock when you aren't around, then they still may bother the flock whether you let them in or not. Which ever way will create less problems, go with it. If you tell them no, they may be more inclined to want to get in there.

I know a story of kids banging on trash cans in the alley with sticks, driving an older man nuts. The more he raved and ranted for them to stop, the more they did it to annoy him. One day he went out and told them he would give each one a quarter that banged on the cans, wow, everyone wanted in on that one. He did that for 2 weeks, then he went out and told them that he was out of quarters, but they could bang as much as they wanted. What no more quarters! Within a week or so, nobody wanted to bang on the cans anymore.

 

[wattsjadajoe]

Sorry for the lag in response...had to go away for the weekend. So much to catch up on.

My son is 27 and did a tour in Iraq. It was harded for his mother than it was for me. I am a Navy Vet. so I thought it was good for him. Either way it was tough to see him go. He now lives in Canyon City. (One of the reasons we moved out her from Illinois) He is doing ok.

I've done some more research on my plans.....Gonna drop a wad to get thins started!!

Yes, on the Welsummers! I will probably be contacting you to get on the right page to locating some....Thanks.

The 50lb feeder....... Remember that wood holds moisture and after a while a large quanity of feed will start to mold...JMO


Joe

 

[Mtn Margie]

Quote:
X2 Nora, maybe you can add some fancy talk like "biosecurity issues" in order to keep your flock healthy. But then, that may also increase the curiosity. I suppose you could always bribe them with eggs every once in a great while and discuss that chickens don't like stress and produce more eggs when left alone to their normal routine. Once again the education part.
I have neighbors that aren't the greatest, but I still give them eggs once in awhile because I feel sorry for the kids and maybe a touch of kindness will make a change somehow. One can always hope.

 

[wsmith]

Quote:
X2 Nora, maybe you can add some fancy talk like "biosecurity issues" in order to keep your flock healthy. But then, that may also increase the curiosity. I suppose you could always bribe them with eggs every once in a great while and discuss that chickens don't like stress and produce more eggs when left alone to their normal routine. Once again the education part.
I have neighbors that aren't the greatest, but I still give them eggs once in awhile because I feel sorry for the kids and maybe a touch of kindness will make a change somehow. One can always hope.

Techno-babble, created by the Star Trek franchise. Its awesome. I would just tell them, no, you can't visit the chickens. Sorry. I need only responsble people around them.