Keeping Chickens Free Range

[dpenning]

Well, it turns out the girls are going over the fence to the neighbor of their own accord, not being chased by the dogs. The dogs were on a walkabout with me on the other side of the property, when we came back my hubs said all 5 girls are on the other side. Looks like there may be an 8' fence in my future

 

[duluthralphie]

Im in Kwa-Zulu Natal!!!

LOL>..we are touring the whole of North America!!!! And maybe the tops of Southern US!!!

Ahh.. I am the top of the northern US.

 

[Tikkijane]

I know plenty of people that like killing things, as sad as it is. In this situation, it sounds like the cat did not do anything. And if the cat had, killing it would not bring back the chickens.

No, but it would prevent it from killing again. Predators rarely stop at a single kill.

 

[Tikkijane]

I am indeed blessed, it was an amazing once in a lifetime experience.  I dream of going back but it will probably never happen.  If you ever get to do a safari you will never be able to look at a zoo the same way again.

Oh my word, I had to laugh- my oldest dd went back to NM for a visit. They went to the ABQ zoo. She texted me a picture of some guineas in the zoo.

 

[sunshynertc]

Kwa-Zulu is a picturesque area of South Africa. I visited that area when I was still lived there. I grew up there and when I had enough money I left. That was 25 years ago. I "visit" via google earth view. We were not allowed to own animals in the area that I lived, neither were we allowed to own land.

I have my flock of hens and a couple of bunnies. I am sure you will enjoy your visit to the States.

Homeschool Mom of 2 Eagle scouts.

 

[dpenning]

Oh my word, I had to laugh- my oldest dd went back to NM for a visit. They went to the ABQ zoo. She texted me a picture of some guineas in the zoo.

LOL you know what I'm talking about.

 

[duluthralphie]

Well, it turns out the girls are going over the fence to the neighbor of their own accord, not being chased by the dogs. The dogs were on a walkabout with me on the other side of the property, when we came back my hubs said all 5 girls are on the other side. Looks like there may be an 8' fence in my future

I am not actually commenting on this post, I have been thinking about something after your cat incident, and I sure do not want to serve up that fruit covered pancake again.....


I understand your situation is not the greatest and we all do what we have too with our chickens. I was just wondering if you have given any thought or how you handle the hens going broody and stealing away a nest. Do you just let then take their chances with predators or what?

I am not judging just curious, I let my turkey hen have a nest last August in the wild and she did fine, but I was worried. Of course, I am not sure "let" is the proper word to use, as she hid it from me and every attempt to find it was futile. However, had I found it she would have hatched 12 babies instead of 5. 7 drowned in the egg on hatching day after pipping in a down pour.

 

[dpenning]

Ralph, the girls use the nest in the coop from what I can see. There is no rooster and the eggs are collected every few days by a neighbor.

The coop is as secure as I can make it as it is a well built shed with an automatic pop door on a light sensor. Outside the pop door is an area that is bordered by the property fence on kne side and an electric fence on the other side with a chute the girls can go through to free range.

Not sure where your concern is? They are free range chickens that have a pretty darn good life.

 

[duluthralphie]

It was not a concern really, I was just curious how you handled the hens going broody, stealing a nest and chicks being killed. Not having roosters that is not a problem, most likely if they steal a nest ( hide a nest) and go broody the worse that happens is they sit on infertile eggs for a month. Most likely the hen would be able to escape an egg eater.


I am trying to figure out some way to allow some of my hens to go broody this summer and not have to worry too much about them. I will even let the turkeys have nests after I get all the eggs I want from them.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Consider myself blessed in that I've had so few predators over the years.... Such things as described here, don't think I could do.

The girls are having a great time wandering in our out of season warmth
Bringing the hen hutch up to the house was a good. Found 4 eggs in it today. They look H-U-G-E compared to what one gets at the store.
SO HAPPY TO BE BACK TO R-E-A-L eggs!