We're moving out the country and I am so overwhelmed by the fencing and predator proofing options. I don't know what to do!
My neighbor, whose field backs up to mine, lets her dogs roam and she warned us they love to kill chickens and get a hold of cats. I have 30 chickens and four ducks. I also have three dogs (who are trained to not touch my birds!) and four cats. I'm kind of panicking that these dogs are going to hurt our kitties and birds, and that my dogs will fight with them.
My other neighbor, whose field also borders the chicken eating dog owner's field, told me that she lost most of her chickens to those dogs and other predators. She said their electric fencing didn't keep them out at all. She has livestock guard dogs now. She offered to give me one, but I'm not sure if that would just give me more to deal with or be a good idea. She said this dog loves to play with the other dogs and distracts them so she needs to be out in the field alone and learn to do her job. She is currently chained by their chickens. Her dogs are great pyr/border collie mixes.
We are just renting and don't want to put a lot of money into fencing at this point, but I also want my creatures to be safe. Our field is about 3.5 acres of clear land. It's partially fenced already, but the fence isn't secure. The neighbor's dogs go through it.
I need to build new chicken pens because we can't move our current ones out there, so I have to decide what kind of safe pens to build for about 30 birds and the four ducks ASAP in addition to some fencing. We also have a lot of coyotes, and all the typical predators like hawks and raccoons. I'm in Kentucky.
Completely overwhelmed! Need suggestions!
My neighbor, whose field backs up to mine, lets her dogs roam and she warned us they love to kill chickens and get a hold of cats. I have 30 chickens and four ducks. I also have three dogs (who are trained to not touch my birds!) and four cats. I'm kind of panicking that these dogs are going to hurt our kitties and birds, and that my dogs will fight with them.
My other neighbor, whose field also borders the chicken eating dog owner's field, told me that she lost most of her chickens to those dogs and other predators. She said their electric fencing didn't keep them out at all. She has livestock guard dogs now. She offered to give me one, but I'm not sure if that would just give me more to deal with or be a good idea. She said this dog loves to play with the other dogs and distracts them so she needs to be out in the field alone and learn to do her job. She is currently chained by their chickens. Her dogs are great pyr/border collie mixes.
We are just renting and don't want to put a lot of money into fencing at this point, but I also want my creatures to be safe. Our field is about 3.5 acres of clear land. It's partially fenced already, but the fence isn't secure. The neighbor's dogs go through it.
I need to build new chicken pens because we can't move our current ones out there, so I have to decide what kind of safe pens to build for about 30 birds and the four ducks ASAP in addition to some fencing. We also have a lot of coyotes, and all the typical predators like hawks and raccoons. I'm in Kentucky.
Completely overwhelmed! Need suggestions!
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