Keeping Chickens Free Range

[ShrekDawg]

He does like to hunt small animals though but less than he used to

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Apologies for interrupting but if I don't type this up, I'll loose the funny of it.
Have 3 chickens from purchase last March, one older hen Been not so good since given to me, 3 yrs ago. Older hen went missing about a week ago. REAL Free range so figure a fox grabbed her from the back yard. TODAY, I find her just under the NE end of the back porch. Highest we've had in the last week was about 40, but real surprised other critters hadn't hauled her body away. Throw her into the bed of the truck, grab the keys. Empty spot about a mile down, so when coyotes do find her, they won't go after a neighbor's dog, cat, etc.
Get one of MY dogs into the truck, look in the bed, my other dog has her. Chase after him. Open the truck door so he jumps in, throw her body into the bed AGAIN. LOCK everything up. Weekend, so nosy *** neighbor WILL Be up here IF I'm gone any amount of time. Get to spot I'm tossing her, get out & FREEZE. My lighter colored hen is strutting around on the Road. WTH, HOW did she get here? Have noted the hens 'hitch-hiking' btwn hay bales, wood pile and house.
Embarrassingly try to catch her, use saddle blanket on my truck seat, no go. Just as I'm headed back to truck, Nosy *** Neighbor's hubby's truck goes by. Well, ****. Dash the mile home, grab some bread & a hard boiled egg.
Check locks on house again. See Rooster looking Concerned Further down the drive than usual, Better Late Than Never? Figuring, if I don't boogie, SOMEBODY will have hen as a meal, only have the 2 left. Eek, ack, Crap, Holy Cripes and other words.. Get to her area, throwing bread, bits of hard boiled eggs. She comes closer, then CLOSER, NAB HER! Left bigger dog home. Kid you not, she curls up next to my leg, hound dog starts in on egg she's ignoring, she's PO'd she's been caught. After i park truck, she sits, pouting, I finally Drop her out the open door.

 

[lynnehd]

Apologies for interrupting but if I don't type this up, I'll loose the funny of it.
Have 3 chickens from purchase last March, one older hen Been not so good since given to me, 3 yrs ago. Older hen went missing about a week ago. REAL Free range so figure a fox grabbed her from the back yard. TODAY, I find her just under the NE end of the back porch. Highest we've had in the last week was about 40, but real surprised other critters hadn't hauled her body away. Throw her into the bed of the truck, grab the keys. Empty spot about a mile down, so when coyotes do find her, they won't go after a neighbor's dog, cat, etc.
Get one of MY dogs into the truck, look in the bed, my other dog has her. Chase after him. Open the truck door so he jumps in, throw her body into the bed AGAIN. LOCK everything up. Weekend, so nosy *** neighbor WILL Be up here IF I'm gone any amount of time. Get to spot I'm tossing her, get out & FREEZE. My lighter colored hen is strutting around on the Road. WTH, HOW did she get here? Have noted the hens 'hitch-hiking' btwn hay bales, wood pile and house.
Embarrassingly try to catch her, use saddle blanket on my truck seat, no go. Just as I'm headed back to truck, Nosy *** Neighbor's hubby's truck goes by. Well, ****. Dash the mile home, grab some bread & a hard boiled egg.
Check locks on house again. See Rooster looking Concerned Further down the drive than usual, Better Late Than Never? Figuring, if I don't boogie, SOMEBODY will have hen as a meal, only have the 2 left. Eek, ack, Crap, Holy Cripes and other words.. Get to her area, throwing bread, bits of hard boiled eggs. She comes closer, then CLOSER, NAB HER! Left bigger dog home. Kid you not, she curls up next to my leg, hound dog starts in on egg she's ignoring, she's PO'd she's been caught. After i park truck, she sits, pouting, I finally Drop her out the open door.

You gave your nosy neighbors quite a bit to talk about!

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

You gave your nosy neighbors quite a bit to talk about!

Should of reviewed it b4 I posted. Those particular Neighbors are EASILY entertained. Have left snow PRINTS from the easement TO the house.

NOT too Bright.
Blew me away, she STAYED in the truck THAT FAR!

 

[Peeps61]

Should of reviewed it b4 I posted. Those particular Neighbors are EASILY entertained. Have left snow PRINTS from the easement TO the house.

NOT too Bright.
Blew me away, she STAYED in the truck THAT FAR!

I have one that hitched a ride home with my dad - 25 miles away! She lives in a coop down the road from them now because we didn't figure out she was mine until we started comparing notes. The hen took off down the road and a lady with a small backyard coop took her in. I still have her sister in my flock, so I ask my mom how "Ruby" (I named her Miss Priss) is doing from time to time and tell her sister at my house

.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

I have one that hitched a ride home with my dad - 25 miles away! She lives in a coop down the road from them now because we didn't figure out she was mine until we started comparing notes. The hen took off down the road and a lady with a small backyard coop took her in. I still have her sister in my flock, so I ask my mom how "Ruby" (I named her Miss Priss) is doing from time to time and tell her sister at my house

.

I'm just SO surprised she rode in the BED of the truck THAT far down the Road! Down the Mountain driveway, hair pin turn to the county Rd...
Coyotes in Opposite direction to where I dumped Dead hen today. Walker hound took care of, Barking like crazy. They were Close, so glad she was on guard.
Tempted to put the last 3 in the closest to coop I have, for tonight. At least have wind breaks. -20 in windchill tonight, they say..

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

I have one that hitched a ride home with my dad - 25 miles away! She lives in a coop down the road from them now because we didn't figure out she was mine until we started comparing notes. The hen took off down the road and a lady with a small backyard coop took her in. I still have her sister in my flock, so I ask my mom how "Ruby" (I named her Miss Priss) is doing from time to time and tell her sister at my house

.

Danged remarkable. What's the highest speed with her in the bed?

 

[Mrs. K]

haha - the only part in the newsfeed "What's the highest speed with her in bed?" I was almost afraid to open it!

 

[Peeps61]

Danged remarkable. What's the highest speed with her in the bed?

Knowing my dad, probably sixty five or seventy down US Highway 29 into town. Much slower otherwise.

 

[Peeps61]

haha - the only part in the newsfeed "What's the highest speed with her in bed?" I was almost afraid to open it!

Ha ha!!! You are NOT on the NICE list for Christmas!