Hello

[PeepersMomma]

Hi, I am new to this forum and raising chickens. I had 5 Columbia Rocks, 4 hens and 1 rooster. Recently, I lost 3 of the hens and the rooster to foxes. I have one hen left. I would like to purchase more Columbia Rocks. Does anyone know a breeder who sells this breed of chicken? I live in PA. The family I received the chickens from no longer have Columbia Rocks. Also, what (if anything) can I do to protect the lone chicken I have left (besides keeping it in an enlosed area). Once foxes know there are chickens, will they keep coming back? My chickens are free ranging. I look forward to your responses and being a part of this community of chicken lovers!

 

[theoldchick]

Hi!

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida! Glad you joined us!

 

[chicmom]

Hello and welcome! I'm hoping you have a good coop to secure them in at night. You're right, any predator will come back for more if it's easy pickin's. I have a nice small animal barn for my chickens (it's 8x12), and a totally enclosed run too. They are penned up until I get home at 5pm. Then I let them out. I really feel that you're just setting yourself up for failure if you don't have someplace secure to keep your chickens at night, and when you're not home.

Other's opinions may vary though.

 

[slackwater]

Hello and welcome! So sorry about your fox troubles. I have the same problem around here. Yes, you are likely to keep losing birds until you a) pen them up at night, and possibly provide them with safe foraging area during the day. So far, I have mainly lost chickens at night, unless some of my younger birds stray from the flock during the day. I've had to clean up the area they forage in to cut the grass back so that it's not high enough for a fox to hide in. Nonetheless, since I free-range them during the day, I'm always taking a risk

I do pen them all up at night, though.

Then again, people who keep their chickens in coops tend to lose plenty of birds too (overheating, illnesses, etc - problems that I don't tend to see in my free-range flock)...so, except that predators seem to take out plenty of birds very quickly, it's almost 6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of the other.

Good luck!

 

[Telamon]

congrats! you have now joined BYC, choose wisely:

go to the games, jokes, and fun section

help people with their problems

OR... have fun!

have fun! and have friends!

 

[PeepersMomma]

Quote:
Thanks for your comments. I do have a coop where the chickens can go and they are locked up at night. Unfortunately, the foxes got my chickens just as it was turning dusk. My main reason for getting the chickens was due to the tick problem we have in our backyard. I lost a dog to lyme disease and another dog contracted it and the disease was caught early enough that she recovered with medical treatment. I would prefer to have free ranging chickens.

In the short time that I've had them, I've really grown to love seeing them in the yard and they make me happy.

I'll have to hope for the best.

 

[PeepersMomma]

Quote:
Hi Sharon, Thank you for your comments. Yes, I do have a good coop where they go at night, but I do not have an enclosed run. It is something to think about.

 

[CPW Chicks]

We're from /nEPA and in the last 8months have had racoons,skunks , and a cat go after the girls. We lost 4 to the coon. When not watching the chickens they are safe in there enclosed yard/coop.