Keeping Chickens Free Range

[Manyana]

This is so dreadful to hear that you have to put up with all those stray feral animals. Touch wood, we've been very lucky here.

 

[slordaz]

knock on wood ,so far all the feral cats around are scared of duckzilla and a rooster, the flock has come together nicely especially on making sure that the ounger ones get to safety, They don't scatter like you think they would being raised from fuzzballs by a duck. It is a good thing too as nothing was getting in but boy were they breaking out. so we moved them to a stall instead of the coop and they seem happier, we put motion lights up though.

 

[Manyana]

Duckzilla and the rooster sound pretty fierce. Feral cats and pigs are a big problem out west of here but for some reason we don't get many here..... wild dogs are a bit of a problem but again only at certain times of the year and touch wood, we haven't had them here. I've shooed a goanna away when we first got our girls but he hasn't been back after the first couple of times that I banged the tree that he climbed into with a shovel. Hopefully he got the message. There is enough for them all to eat without having to risk getting me angry.

 

[Kingofroosters]

I always keep my chickens in free range when there is dark i put them in the coop well for the chickens its a good thing to go outside and eat the insects but the biggest problem is thats my chickens should be out of other roosters attack so i buyed a security rooster for my all chickens and it helps alot so i also suggest you that buy a security rooster or keep a good sight on you all chickens

 

[Debby27]

Free-range backyard chickens seem immune to the massive bird flu outbreak in chicken factories Learn more:


http://www.offgridquest.com/health-nutrition/free-range-backyard-chickens-seem-immune

 

[dekel18042]

Free-range backyard chickens seem immune to the massive bird flu outbreak in chicken factories Learn more:


http://www.offgridquest.com/health-nutrition/free-range-backyard-chickens-seem-immune

I've read different articles about avian flu from several sources and not sure how accurate this particular one is. It states the avian flu can kill a human in a matter of days. That sounds like a bit of fear mongering to me as every article I have read on the current outbreak has stated that there have been no cases in humans.
Whether or not this happens down the road remains to be seen, but it seems this article is jumping the gun and creating an atmosphere of fear. Concern is definitely warranted, not so sure about fear.

 

[slordaz]

I think it's more of an issue of people wanting to scare new people to not raise their own so as to not affect the commercial's bottom line, the only backyard flocks I've heard of getting it is ones in close proximity to a commercial. If you stop and think about it hardest ones hit are commercial because they cram them in like sardines even with us humans you cram us in like sardines and disease starts running rampant. We live in the mountains on migratory rout and knock on wood haven't had avian flu around us at all. we have wild ducks that stick around the property and the little wild birds have been around the chickens when they are out free ranging with no illness, but our birds have lots of room besides being free ranged, so that is probably why it appears that back yard flocks are immune

 

[Debby27]

Hi Everyone, I am do apologize for posting something that I only had time to half read. Yes you are right, fear mongering is a big thing these days. It did state that while it could happen and infect a human, it is rare and usually humans with low immunity or working directly with said birds may become infected & could die.

From CDC: " Although it is unusual for people to get influenza virus infections directly from animals, sporadic human infections and outbreaks caused by certain avian influenza A viruses and swine influenza A viruses have been reported. "

Again, my apologies for not doing my homework...

Deb

 

[Tikkijane]

I've read different articles about avian flu from several sources and not sure how accurate this particular one is. It states the avian flu can kill a human in a matter of days. That sounds like a bit of fear mongering to me as every article I have read on the current outbreak has stated that there have been no cases in humans.
Whether or not this happens down the road remains to be seen, but it seems this article is jumping the gun and creating an atmosphere of fear. Concern is definitely warranted, not so sure about fear.

I think it's more of an issue of people wanting to scare new people to not raise their own so as to not affect the commercial's bottom line, the only backyard flocks I've heard of getting it is ones in close proximity to a commercial. If you stop and think about it hardest ones hit are commercial because they cram them in like sardines even with us humans you cram us in like sardines and disease starts running rampant. We live in the mountains on migratory rout and knock on wood haven't had avian flu around us at all. we have wild ducks that stick around the property and the little wild birds have been around the chickens when they are out free ranging with no illness, but our birds have lots of room besides being free ranged, so that is probably why it appears that back yard flocks are immune

The strains affecting non-migratory fowl now is NOT a strain that can transfer to humans. That being said, backyard flocks are also being affected by the recent strains that are highly pathogenic.

The biggest impact it's having is egg shortage, and of course, raising prices of both chicken and turkey meat, given the 48 million birds that have been euthanized. Poultry shows in many states have been put on hold, and there are holds on auctions as well.

To keep track of the latest news and stats, go here:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/porta...ealth/sa_detections_by_states/ct_ai_full_list

 

[alibabba]

Oh do I know your pain as your story sounds like some of the problems I have had here more then once and once is all to often as you know ...

Hope everything works out for you and from many years of experience it rarely works out talking to neighbors and yes it is sad to say but you do need to find out what your local laws allow you to do to protect your livestock or pets is, and livestock laws are normally lethal when it comes to predators but something you will need to think about if the owners of the refuse to control their pet's ....


Just in the last month I downed one bob-cat and a domestic house cat just two days apart ya nothing good but there are deeds that need to be dune at times to preserve your livestock ......







Mr. Bob-Cat The Horrible

The fence in the back ground goes all the way around my property and yes predators will work to get in and the fence will bring you a lot of protection under the law if you need to put a predator down in the protection of your livestock ......


















gander007

shame about the bobcat, they are rare. Daytime attack?