INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[julie0477]

Thanks for the thoughts on my hen. I have always let my chickens free range during the day and then I secure them at night. I went thru a spell where we had a coyote issue but that hasn't happened in a year and a half, but I have lost two to the road in the past 6 months and one the year prior to that. We have 6 acres of non stop foraging fun available, but in the evenings the older group of chickens always veer towards the road. I'm usually home to supervise and I shoe them away back in to the yard, but last night my husband and I took the kids to the orchard and when we got home thats what we found. And my rooster was trying to pick her up. Ugh I'm getting ready to cry just thinking about it. I'm re-thinking this whole free range thing. My original thought was the risk outweighed the benefit of having happy free chickens, but I don't think I can stand to lose another and its pretty hard on the kids. We are almost done with our new coop and I am going to buy a 50 ft section of six foot fencing to go with it. I now have 12 full size chickens and 8 bantams - 4 sebrights and 3 silkies and 1 silkie cross (I don't expect to keep the sebrights in there, they can fly out of anything). And a couple of ducks (who have no interest in the road thank goodness so I do not plan on trying to fence them in). Do you guys think that will be enough run area for the the full size chickens and silkies for the parts of the day that I can't be home to supervise? Or do I need to invest in another section of fence?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

By the 10 square foot rule, that would be enough for 15 large fowl chickens (assuming you are going to make a run that's about 12.5 x 12.5 with your 50 feet of fence), but you're most likely going to find that this is not enough space for your birds. I would invest in another roll of fencing if I were you.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Thanks for the thoughts on my hen. I have always let my chickens free range during the day and then I secure them at night. I went thru a spell where we had a coyote issue but that hasn't happened in a year and a half, but I have lost two to the road in the past 6 months and one the year prior to that. We have 6 acres of non stop foraging fun available, but in the evenings the older group of chickens always veer towards the road. I'm usually home to supervise and I shoe them away back in to the yard, but last night my husband and I took the kids to the orchard and when we got home thats what we found. And my rooster was trying to pick her up. Ugh I'm getting ready to cry just thinking about it. I'm re-thinking this whole free range thing. My original thought was the risk outweighed the benefit of having happy free chickens, but I don't think I can stand to lose another and its pretty hard on the kids. We are almost done with our new coop and I am going to buy a 50 ft section of six foot fencing to go with it. I now have 12 full size chickens and 8 bantams - 4 sebrights and 3 silkies and 1 silkie cross (I don't expect to keep the sebrights in there, they can fly out of anything). And a couple of ducks (who have no interest in the road thank goodness so I do not plan on trying to fence them in). Do you guys think that will be enough run area for the the full size chickens and silkies for the parts of the day that I can't be home to supervise? Or do I need to invest in another section of fence?

I am so sorry

Its a hard decision. I free range when I am home but I am retired. The extra fence is a choice you have to make. I have had losses, With the fox that came in I keep a rifle with me also all day. he is a brave one. My special babies that have a bad leg issues, crossed beak etc, I use a section of heavy hardware cloth and sit with them. Free range birds will have loss, Its painful, but its also what I want my birds to have. I feel they deserve a real life without boundaries, and will protect those that have a challenge, as well as my older girls that I started with! You have to chose for yourself. Its very painful to lose any of them, but I want them to have a full life too. They deserve the best treatment we can offer them, after all they do give us breakfast!
If I see any near the main road, I scare them to death, yelling, big leaf rake waving! They all know that mom is not happy if that rake is out of the garage

I am fortunate so far, and haven't lost any on the road. Our issues have all been raccoon and fox.

 

[Quinstar]

Well, unless we get really lucky our flock is officially down to 9 from 10. Tansy (GLW) is MIA. I let them all free range last night from about 4-8 and when I got home she was nowhere to be seen. Walked all over looking for her and was really hoping she'd turn up when the sun was going down, but nothing. I feel like the scare with Annabeth kind of prepared me for this, but it still really stinks. Let everyone in the run today and I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that maybe she'll show up. I'm guessing either a hawk or coyote as there is no sign of her anywhere. I just find it strange that my neighbors chickens are in a run without a top and nothing seems to be bothering them. I don't think I'm dealing with a broody hen or anything as she's only 13 weeks old and hasn't even started laying yet. Who knows.... I think we'll keep everyone locked up in the run for a bit and see if we can't figure out what happened.

 

[julie0477]

I went thru a spell a while back, I think it was 2-years ago now, that happened to me. One would disappear right in the middle of the day so I'd keep them put up for a few days and then let them out again, and it would happen again a few days later. No sign. A couple of times I heard a ruckus where the other chickens had seen what happened and freaked out, but by the time I'd get outside it was gone and the chickens had scattered and hid. One time one was taken from the bushes with out a sound and I was RIGHT THERE. But I couldn't see what took it. I believe it was a coyote (maybe a fox that time... it was awfully sneaky). We ended up seeing a coyote close to the property. I think a neighbor shot it as I haven't had any trouble in quite awhile now. Once they start they don't stop though unless they are STOPPED. We lost several that season, it was terrible. I hope you find her. I have had scares and ended up finding them but if its been overnight the chances are a lot slimmer.

 

[Quinstar]

I went thru a spell a while back, I think it was 2-years ago now, that happened to me. One would disappear right in the middle of the day so I'd keep them put up for a few days and then let them out again, and it would happen again a few days later. No sign. A couple of times I heard a ruckus where the other chickens had seen what happened and freaked out, but by the time I'd get outside it was gone and the chickens had scattered and hid. One time one was taken from the bushes with out a sound and I was RIGHT THERE. But I couldn't see what took it. I believe it was a coyote (maybe a fox that time... it was awfully sneaky). We ended up seeing a coyote close to the property. I think a neighbor shot it as I haven't had any trouble in quite awhile now. Once they start they don't stop though unless they are STOPPED. We lost several that season, it was terrible. I hope you find her. I have had scares and ended up finding them but if its been overnight the chances are a lot slimmer.

Well, that's good to know at least. I guess I'll leave them confined until I figure out what's going on. There run is plenty big for them all, but they just love being out around the yard. Maybe we'll just start limiting it to when we can be out with them. DH thinks we have coyotes in the woods, I guess I just never expected it to be during the day. They chickens never leave the yard either. I guess that's what I get for underestimating nature.

 

[julie0477]

Well, that's good to know at least. I guess I'll leave them confined until I figure out what's going on. There run is plenty big for them all, but they just love being out around the yard. Maybe we'll just start limiting it to when we can be out with them. DH thinks we have coyotes in the woods, I guess I just never expected it to be during the day. They chickens never leave the yard either. I guess that's what I get for underestimating nature.

Good idea. When it happened to me first I thought (or was hoping) it was a fluke but that dang thing just seemed to get braver as time went on. My neighbor friend likes to shoot and the coyote that I think was responsible wondered over into his yard and he shot at it. He thought he had missed but I never had a problem after that.

I KNOW! I thought I wouldn't have a predator problem as long as I had them put up during the day. Its been true for the most part, but I guess coyotes are a little braver than most.

 

[CRSelvey]

Out of the seven summers I have been here, I have probably made it to our county fair twice. So, today I was inspired by the possibility of finding hens and I took my two youngest kids to look around. While we didn't come across anyone who was selling hens, pullets, chicks, etc...we found a lot to see. I have found that since my kids are old enough to be in preschool and one in high school, I'm actually starting to recognize people in my town and its starting to feel homey. Anyway, we saw the coolest chickens and I now want a bunch I can't even identify. My kids want a turkey (I don't), they want ducks (maybe), and they want goats (that could happen). I don't know what you do with goats for real, but they are sweet.

If these are Buff Brahmas, you were right, I'd like two please.

I don't know what she is, but isn't she lovely?

And this little speckled one is also a looker
WOW!!! He's just awesome to quote my son.

I think these were the bantam cochins and they are so pretty. Please correct me if I am wrong.

The frizzle is adorable, but so is the buff hen. Do you know what she is?

I am a city girl and I've only seen wild turkeys in our part of the woods, so to me this is only something from a book. He was just pretty, ugly, and amazing all at the same time.

I can see why my kids love them so much. The are really too cute.

Now I know where Cruella De Ville got her wardrobe inspiration, but seriously, what in the world is this bird? Gorgeous of the high maintenance looking sort.

If you are all out at your fairs, I hope you are having as much fun as we did. I think we'll go back again this week.

 

[CRSelvey]

Well, that's good to know at least. I guess I'll leave them confined until I figure out what's going on. There run is plenty big for them all, but they just love being out around the yard. Maybe we'll just start limiting it to when we can be out with them. DH thinks we have coyotes in the woods, I guess I just never expected it to be during the day. They chickens never leave the yard either. I guess that's what I get for underestimating nature.

I hope you find her soon. I had one come back the next day and I thought it was a miracle. The raccoon prints I found on the coop the other morning made me so happy they have a nice fence to keep them safe, but they really do like being in the yard too.

 

[danand]

Cr- yes those are buff brahma, look like my Banty buffs. I have 5 girls and 1 roo. The little spotted one might be a Millie, hard to tell from that shot. Others will have to chime in on the others but the Cruella is a pigeon. There are some really cool pigeons now!! My friend came home with so frizzle pigeons!! I want them!!!