Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Could use some help figuring out where to run fencing....View attachment 2811140
House is behind me, view from west side of coop. Birds shelter under the Russian olives...and I think Dora was heading into them. If she'd made it, I think she'd have been fine. I suspect that's what saved the rest. Also difficult for hawks to get through, so I want at least some of them inside the fence.
View attachment 2811142
Up the hill to the left of pic1. Brick is my seat, easy to move. Spigot for refilling water is up on top of hill and to the left. There's a gap between olive trees 2/3 of the way up the hill.
View attachment 2811248
South side of coop (opposite from people door). Most of the wind hits this corner first. Also, coop has new roof as of last summer: roughly 9x8 feet for dimensions . wire in foreground is around a sink hole that opened this summer. Suspect drought conditions vs running hose for bird water. Dropped the wire ring around ita nd stuffed tree suckers I'd clipped into it to help keep critters out. I'm thinking compost of yard clippings/coop clean out going in here so it fills in/protects crevice (looked a couple of feet deep). Not sure how else to deal with that at the moment, either. Thing 1 was way down by the distant tree, at the bottom of the cliff the distant tree is anchoring.
View attachment 2811247
View from east side of coop. The slope on the south is more half slope, half cliff. Birds run it easy, people work/slip..lots...
View attachment 2811246
View up the hill from the east side of the olive trees. Mama went down about where the gap is.

Another thought is electric fencing from coop (bird side only?) Looping around the trees, but that seems more temporary.

It is a bit difficult to get my mind around the space but it looks like a lot to really fence in apart from electric wires.
I wonder if you should do what I do which is create a smaller area that is fenced - where they spend most time and then let them fully free range when you are out and about.
It is a bit of a pain getting mine to 'come inside' when I am going out but I have so many foxes I make it a rule.
Alternatively, if it is really a dog - maybe even not a stray, then would it be practical do do chain-link around your whole property line?

 

[featherhead007]

It is a bit difficult to get my mind around the space but it looks like a lot to really fence in apart from electric wires.
I wonder if you should do what I do which is create a smaller area that is fenced - where they spend most time and then let them fully free range when you are out and about.
It is a bit of a pain getting mine to 'come inside' when I am going out but I have so many foxes I make it a rule.
Alternatively, if it is really a dog - maybe even not a stray, then would it be practical do do chain-link around your whole property line?

Kinda expensive $$$ my chain link was 10,000 bucks and the other areas were even more

 

[featherhead007]

Kinda expensive $$$ my chain link was 10,000 bucks and the other areas were even more

?

 

[BY Bob]

Could use some help figuring out where to run fencing....View attachment 2811140
House is behind me, view from west side of coop. Birds shelter under the Russian olives...and I think Dora was heading into them. If she'd made it, I think she'd have been fine. I suspect that's what saved the rest. Also difficult for hawks to get through, so I want at least some of them inside the fence.
View attachment 2811142
Up the hill to the left of pic1. Brick is my seat, easy to move. Spigot for refilling water is up on top of hill and to the left. There's a gap between olive trees 2/3 of the way up the hill.
View attachment 2811248
South side of coop (opposite from people door). Most of the wind hits this corner first. Also, coop has new roof as of last summer: roughly 9x8 feet for dimensions . wire in foreground is around a sink hole that opened this summer. Suspect drought conditions vs running hose for bird water. Dropped the wire ring around ita nd stuffed tree suckers I'd clipped into it to help keep critters out. I'm thinking compost of yard clippings/coop clean out going in here so it fills in/protects crevice (looked a couple of feet deep). Not sure how else to deal with that at the moment, either. Thing 1 was way down by the distant tree, at the bottom of the cliff the distant tree is anchoring.
View attachment 2811247
View from east side of coop. The slope on the south is more half slope, half cliff. Birds run it easy, people work/slip..lots...
View attachment 2811246
View up the hill from the east side of the olive trees. Mama went down about where the gap is.

Another thought is electric fencing from coop (bird side only?) Looping around the trees, but that seems more temporary.

Like my friend @RoyalChick, I am having trouble visualizing your property from the photos. I like her idea of a smaller enclosed area for when you can't be with them and then let them free range when you can supervise seems to be a reasonable compromise and what I do with mine. You seem to have a ton of open space.

 

[BY Bob]

Our cat (outdoor only due to allergies) is afraid of the chickens, afraid of dogs, and climbs the windows to get out of the house when he's brought in to catch mice. He does however, climb INTO the bucket to get the mice when I dump them out of the live trap (No water in bucket). Took a mouse out to the coop when I let the birds out around 1030 (3hrs+late). Had to see what they would do. The 2 adults watched it intently, then came out looking for scratch. The pullets just wanted the scratch. The mouse (dumped just outside the coop) ran INTO the coop and then sat watching us all (cheeky little devil). My oldest (who wants nothing to do with the birds but wants to steal the cat when he gets his own place) brought the cat down, cradled in his arms to watch all of this. Had him bring the cat into the coop and set him down facing the mouse. Stared at it intently, sniffed at it a sec, looked around in a panic and bolted out of the coop. Mouse 2, chickens/cat 0 today. Current occupancy: 1 2year old hen, 1 1year old hen, 7 13week old pullets, 1 13week old cockerel, 1 3 week old chick, and 1 small beady eyed little mouse.

@RoyalChick bunch would have torn it to shreds. Fresh mouse steak. They haven't had any in while have they RC?

 

[RoyalChick]

Kinda expensive $$$ my chain link was 10,000 bucks and the other areas were even more

Seriously? I had no idea chain link was that expensive. Wow. OK, then maybe not chain link.

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick bunch would have torn it to shreds. Fresh mouse steak. They haven't had any in while have they RC?

Mouse steak has not been served at the Chicken Palace for several months now.
I am optimistic that my many hours spent crawling around the foundation sealing up the holes will pay off (I must remember I still have about 5' left to do). The real test will come in the Fall when the mice are looking for food. Right now there is food everywhere so nobody is even trying to gain access.
But yes, my lot would have torn it to shreds.

 

[BY Bob]

Are Chickens Holding a Charity Car Wash?

This was in my neighborhood. I hope they had a permit.

 

[Sortacountrychicken]

Hello everyone. Longtime lurker here and I will return to it shortly as life is too hectic to keep up with you guys. Just wanted to weigh in the the eagle debate. I have watched juvenile bald eagles come after my birds. The only reason they haven't carried one off was because I was able to get to the chickens while my rooster held them off. I don't know about an adult though. I've never had one. I am very close to a river and am located in Minnesota. We have lots of bald eagles but never any goldens. It is my guess that the juveniles cannot compete for hunting grounds over the water and seek food elsewhere. Do not rule them out of your equation. I wish you all luck with your predator issues.

 

[featherhead007]

Seriously? I had no idea chain link was that expensive. Wow. OK, then maybe not chain link.

2.5 acres of chain link is. $