Mixed feelings

[sheeshshe]

All my friends have lost chicks this week to dogs and hawks and now I am super paranoid. I like how happy my chicks are to roam the yard at their free will. However I want their safety in mind as well. I have them in their covered run today... but its making me sad. they don't look happy! I feel like they are pretty safe outside since most of the day they lay under their favorite tree... its a hemlock I think and its dense and low to the ground and you can barely see them under it.

I just don't know what to think ya know? I like them happy, but I want them safe.

Thoughts?

 

[joletabey]

Do you have fencing around your property? Are there dogs in the neighborhood you worry about? Do the chickens ever go up in the tree? That would be a great way to get away from a dog. . . . . and I don't THINK a hawk would crawl around in the tree to get his dinner - as far as I know hawks are swoopers.
I know I constantly worry about my animals,too, but if you have free ranged them to this point with no trouble, I would continue doing it. At least they will be happy.
Best of luck. . . .

 

[sheeshshe]

only time dogs would be an issue is if one got away from home. I haven't seen any this year, but all the other years there were dogs who got away.

i'm not too worried when the chicks are under their tree, but sometimes they do go into the yard... most of the time they are in the woods, but every once in a while they go into the yard. this is what worries me that a hawk will get them.


I think that I'll let them out this afternoon. They just look depressed.

 

[werecatrising]

I gave the same issue a lot of thought before getting my chicks. I had originally planned on buying a large dog kennel for a run. Even if I bought the largest one I could find they still wouldn't have the room I wanted them to. Once they are old enough they will free range. i realize I may lose some, but they will have a happy life while they are here. I feel I am able to keep their environment safe enough. The majority of my land is covered by dense trees, so hawks will be unable to get them. The open area will be fenced off so they don't have access to it. I have a pyrenees mix who is a great guard dog. So while I know there are going to be more risks than if they were penned, I feel it is worth it.

 

[sheeshshe]

mmm yeah. if I could keep them in the woods all day long I'd be happy... But for the most part they are. the reside inbetween me and my neighbors and the love their tree that they rest under.

My current plan for now I think is to keep them in the run in the mornings and let them out in the afternoons. We take morning walks, so I feel safer with them in the run while I am off with the kids... We stick around in the afternoons so I feel more comfortable with them let out then.

I hope this plan works out... I wish they could roam all day though.

 

[cmom]

I used to free range my birds. Originally I fenced the birds in because they were digging up my gardens and newly planted plants. Either I had to fence in the gardens or the chickens. The chickens lost. I have their run and yard closed in with chicken wire. I also have an electric fence outside of the bird’s yard. Nothing is going to dig under or go over. I have seen raccoons in the yard at night but they haven't gotten to the chickens. I did have a neighborhood mutt once dig under the fence before I put the electric up and kill one of my hens. Sitting out side a couple of different nights I heard an animal scream most likely from the wire when it touched it. I have accidently touched it and got quite a shock. An animal who weighs considerably less than I do will get quite a wallop. I guarantee what ever critters touched the wire won't be back.

 

[sheeshshe]

I thought about fencing them in the yard, but that still doesn't fix the hawks issue since that is the main issue at hand right now. Hawks have been the only predators that we've seen thus far.

 

[juliect]

Quote:
Tell that to the @#$* Cooper's Hawk that patrols my area.

I hate that bird!!

But I do still let my girls out when I am around to keep an eye on them...not that me being in the yard frightens that obnoxious hawk

 

[spotsplus]

I thought I was all set with a 6' stockade around 3/4 of the property then a 4' fence with chicken wire all around would protect mine from all but the birds but wouldn't you know our neighbors two cats have been coming over (kittens about 5-6 months) and one killed my 3 month old Appenzellar cockerel. Now I don't feel they are safe at all.

I've been doing all I can to let them out when I am there to watch but I don't often have time to do that. I'm in process or building some portable "grazing hutches" that I can move around for them so they can get grass and dig in the dirt regularly. We'll see if that works. What a pain in the ***.