Keeping Chickens Free Range

[duluthralphie]

Quote:

Aye, that it is.

I have a place in Fl also. but my DW refuses to live that far from the Grandkids. Can't say as I blame her, I love the Florida winter weather, hate the Florida summer weather, but love the grandkids more than being in Florida...

 

[HappyChickadee]

I made mine some suet cakes earlier in the winter. They loved them but because I used coconut oil they are too expensive to make all the time. I do give the ladies dinner every night and that consists or whatever left overs I have or a mix of grains that I have put together.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

I broke down this morning; chipped off some cheese, crumbs from banana bread, broke up a hard boiled egg and a slice of fancy wheat bread for the girls. Poured warm water over the bread bits.

A dusting of snow but feel sorry for my girls in the windchill.

Any one else spoiling, OR (supplementing, in some circles?) their flock in the weather? Going to extra means to keep things going?

I know. There was a touch of frost on the ground here in N FL yesterday and I felt so bad for them (this is where I would put the cute graphic if I knew how). Anyway I do give them the occasional treat. Threw some leftover chicken and salad from last night in there this morning. Should be a nice surprise when they wake up.

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Yes, I bet they LOVED the treats.

 

[Ramblin Rooster]

I always supervise so ours don't go into the neighbors' yards and in case of predators. No problems yet!

 

[dpenning]

I always supervise so ours don't go into the neighbors' yards and in case of predators. No problems yet!

Hey, I need to try that on my DH. "Honey, i'm going to quit my current job to be a chicken supervisor!" Wonder if it will fly....

I'm jealous of those that can!

 

[duluthralphie]

Hey, I need to try that on my DH. "Honey, i'm going to quit my current job to be a chicken supervisor!" Wonder if it will fly....

I'm jealous of those that can!

If that fails try Gallus Residential Care coordinator, I sure that would fly right by him.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

You 2.....

.... picking on poor 2 legged Roos.......

Feathers weigh more than their brains? Hit 'em up side their heads and the Echo would kill us? Beat them till they're stupid but be done b4 you got the stick picked up? Oo, that last one was mean....
Sorry, my wit can be vicious, remembering my 1st husband.
Made a couple of salads today. As usual, Freckles, Blk and Gold SL, went after tomato like there was NO TOMORROW.
Have covers over boxes on porch. will try to get them tucked in tonight, even if it costs me cheese, treat stuff.

 

[Tikkijane]

Thanks for the clarification I thought buzzards were like vultures

Turkey vultures {aka buzzards; turkey buzzards}, otoh, are fine with chickens. They are very large. They do not attack chickens. I've seen them in yhe pasture with my birds and while aware of each other, they leave each other alone.

 

[Tikkijane]

  I know SOME FOLKS, would find this cruel, but when my Aust. shepherd/Dane mix killed 6 BRAND NEW chicks from TSC, he had chick bodies hung
from his collar for about 2 weeks. That was after also killing other chicks and a Roo, seemed to be fun for him & me fussing and scolding. No more problems although he isn't as partial to chicken flavored dog food any more.  
    Change of subject:  
  I broke down this morning; chipped off some cheese, crumbs from banana bread, broke up a hard boiled egg and a slice of fancy wheat bread for the girls. Poured warm water over the bread bits.
A dusting of snow but feel sorry for my girls in the windchill.   :/

 Any one else spoiling, OR (supplementing, in some circles?)  their flock in the weather? Going to extra means to keep things going?

At least half the time I've seen this suggested and tried, it was reported that the dog finished eating tje chicken whilst it was hanging around its neck. For whatever that's worth. :/

 

[Tikkijane]

Haha about your cats! And I like the idea of feeding them so they will be less likely to hunt. Some cats seem to hear tiny wings flapping and go nuts like its instinct but I have only seen that with little birds.

One would think the Hawks would only go for open areas but alas...not Red Tailed Hawks anyway. My neighbor was telling me that last week a hawk took a bird from her feeder. Once when I lived in a different neighborhood I honest to God had my dove outside in a cage with a fairly lousy lock. I was letting her (actually him but I just couldn't ever change his name to a boy name) him have fresh air outside while I cleaned her big cage. There was a this huge hawk on her cage. I have pictures of it somewhere because I felt like she was safe in her cage and ran and go my camera (this was before camera phones) and dang it if that hawk did not jump up and then grabbed the cage and the cage fell open and my dove flew out and quicker than a cat that hawk snatched up my dove. I went outside screaming and he let her go but she was a fibber just from his Talons. I cried for weeks. I was horrified. They are very brazen creatures. Probably because we are honing in on their territory. My neighbor and I discussed it tho and i think my Barred Rocks are too big for the hawk to take off with. However, I don't know. I did notice today that the same crows keep coming back and hanging around in the trees that aren't in my yard and I think the crows would give a hawk a run for its money so maybe the crows can stay. Haha

I'm not too familiar with Owls but I haven't ever see them take something from around here - at least not in the neighborhood. My porch isn't really covered so that stinks but if they are up close to the house then that might deter them because great horned owl needs some major wingspan to maneuver!

Crows will go after hawks. I know of folks who have seen a flock of crows eating a hawk.