416bigbore
Ruffus and Big Boy
I am in the process of building chain link panels to make a large covered run off our coop, just not completed yet. I have been letting our 4 Isa Brown hens run loose outside the coop and with our enclosed Hot 4' perimeter fence have not had to worry about them wanting to challenge it with all the fresh grass, weeds and bugs to keep them occupied.
This has been working great with no problems and they know when it's time to go back in for the day to roost. This does not make their little duck buddies very happy to see them out free ranging without them. After a few days I decided to let the ten Rouens out also since they are to big to fly, my thinking the 4' fence should be ok for them also.
This too has been working great except for Miss Piggy and Porky, the two smaller Mallard hens who have no problem with flight. They fly around the coop with ease and if it wasn't covered they would be gone in my opinion. To say those two were a little unhappy to see the whole flock free grazing and not them....... extremely PO ! So this needs to change, I can't exclude them from the others and I also don't feel right about clipping their wings to prevent them from flying away, that's just me.
So after talking things over with my GF we decided to let the whole flock out at once and what ever happens, happens, knowing good and well them two could literally fly the coop and not return. After stewing on the whole possibility of Miss Piggy and Porky leaving and not returning. I decided to let them out just before dark as the sun was setting, figuring they may not want to venture to far from home with it getting dark. Knock on wood this has been working so far.
When I go to open the coop door in the evening they literally trip over each other to get to the lush grass and weeds. Then of course they all start standing up tall and flapping their wings. Miss Piggy has flown low across the yard and drop back to the ground as she was about to fly over the fence. Not quite sure why she didn't keep on going? Maybe to late in the day to venture out? Maybe she did't want to leave the flock that she rules over? Just not sure of her reasoning.
This has been working out and not really having any issues with them not wanting to return to the coop. The four chickens are the first ones in line around the door to go in, so I open up the door and soon after the ducks start filing in. Does anyone think I need to worry about Miss Piggy and Porky flying off and not returning? I would like to think we have done a good job in keeping them fat and happy and not wanting to fly off. I posted some pics knowing how everyone likes pics! 
This has been working great with no problems and they know when it's time to go back in for the day to roost. This does not make their little duck buddies very happy to see them out free ranging without them. After a few days I decided to let the ten Rouens out also since they are to big to fly, my thinking the 4' fence should be ok for them also.
This too has been working great except for Miss Piggy and Porky, the two smaller Mallard hens who have no problem with flight. They fly around the coop with ease and if it wasn't covered they would be gone in my opinion. To say those two were a little unhappy to see the whole flock free grazing and not them....... extremely PO ! So this needs to change, I can't exclude them from the others and I also don't feel right about clipping their wings to prevent them from flying away, that's just me.
So after talking things over with my GF we decided to let the whole flock out at once and what ever happens, happens, knowing good and well them two could literally fly the coop and not return. After stewing on the whole possibility of Miss Piggy and Porky leaving and not returning. I decided to let them out just before dark as the sun was setting, figuring they may not want to venture to far from home with it getting dark. Knock on wood this has been working so far.
When I go to open the coop door in the evening they literally trip over each other to get to the lush grass and weeds. Then of course they all start standing up tall and flapping their wings. Miss Piggy has flown low across the yard and drop back to the ground as she was about to fly over the fence. Not quite sure why she didn't keep on going? Maybe to late in the day to venture out? Maybe she did't want to leave the flock that she rules over? Just not sure of her reasoning.
This has been working out and not really having any issues with them not wanting to return to the coop. The four chickens are the first ones in line around the door to go in, so I open up the door and soon after the ducks start filing in. Does anyone think I need to worry about Miss Piggy and Porky flying off and not returning?
I would like to think we have done a good job in keeping them fat and happy and not wanting to fly off. I posted some pics knowing how everyone likes pics! Attachments
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