I'm happy but a little sad

[Mama_Chicken]

Quote:
That's where I found my "missing" chickens! I was freaking out until I heard something from waaaay above my head! I also found another one across the yard ducked in the tall grass, hiding. I do hope yours come back

 

[MoonAngel12]

Quote:
Sensitive maybe, it just sounded very judgmental to me. The poor girl didn't intend to put her chickens in harms way I am sure. She thought it would be nice to let them out and roam a little bit. It sucks that something happened, but she didn't need salt rubbed into some already fresh wounds chastising her for her decision to let them free range while she took a nap.

 

[sourland]

Quote:
Sensitive maybe, it just sounded very judgmental to me. The poor girl didn't intend to put her chickens in harms way I am sure. She thought it would be nice to let them out and roam a little bit. It sucks that something happened, but she didn't need salt rubbed into some already fresh wounds chastising her for her decision to let them free range while she took a nap.

When posting or reading other's posts we should let our perceptions go and try to find the intent of the words. Ole Rooster and I are of a similar age and were brought up in an era where facts were facts and sugar coating served no purpose. I understood what he meant. When someone has ill intent it is far more obvious.

 

[Firefighter Chick]

perhaps they wandered off too far. did you check around your neighboring property?

 

[4 Love of Baby Chickens]

Mostly I live in cleared area but the barn and coop is in the woods. Last night when I shooed one of my BR hens back to the coop I smelled something dead. I didn't go look 'cause it's really overgrown.

My father told me if I paid for our neighbor to come in and bushhog around and behind the barn he wouldn't care. I can easily pay for it. I've got enough money to pay him after my paycheck this week.

ChickInDelight - I sure am tempted to buy some more pullets. But make sure they are used to the coop before letting 'em out. + come when I shake the feed can!

 

[guineahen14]

I live in middle tennessee also and I free range my standard chickens almost every day, they love it and always go running into the front yard. I also keep guinea fowl with them, they are excellent watch dogs and sound the alarm as soon as they seen something and out I go to deal with it. I keep my Serama chickens locked in their run, and I will not let any babies loose. They are too small and we have too many predators here, different size hawks, raccoons, fox, coyote, possum, even worst stray dogs and cats. When I am not home all my chickens stay in their cover runs. They are all locked up every evening, we all do the best we can to keep them safe.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

OP - you did what you thought best for your chickens. Don't be too hard on yourself - from time to time things like this happen. We all run the same risk when we free range our birds. Sometimes it is impossible to be with them every minute with that being said I've read several posts on this forum where birds were taken in plain sight of their owners with owners being helpless to do anything about it.

We just used a bushhog on our property and it does make a difference. We had it for the weekend and it cost us a little over $400.

 

[nickie]

I was letting my chickens wonder the yard all the time until they wondered through the fence into my neighbors overgrown unused field. I built them a run after that because my husband was none too happy when I made him hop the fence to find the Sussex. When they are full grown and more accustomed to their home and place I will try again. My ducks are free all the time and even with all of the critters around still waddle and quack happily.

 

[4 Love of Baby Chickens]

Well they haven't come back. But the other hens are doing great. Happy, happy, happy.

I love watching them scratching, eating grass, and waddling their big fat butts to me when I shake the feed can.

LOL