No fence, will they run off?

[ashleyadavis]

Hi, I have chickens that are both 2.5 months and 3 weeks old.

Occasionally I let them out but I stay right with them because they typically scatter into their own groups. Having 36 chickens doesn't make it any easier. I am afraid they will wander off and not come back. They have went into the neighbor's fence but ran right back when the dog went after them.. Any experience or advice?

 

[lazy gardener]

I strongly urge you to put up even a temporary COVERED fence of 1" mesh for their out of coop time.

Other BYC members have actually had a hawk swoop down and attack a chicken within feet of where the person was standing.

If that dog were to get loose (I understand there's a fence that separates, but the chicks can squirt through the fence?) or a few chicks were to go through the fence, the dog could easily kill a hand full of chicks before you could respond. And with the fence, there is no way you could go over the fence to save your chicks. Fence is cheap. Especially when comparing the cost of the fencing to the emotional cost of "If only I had"... when a predator kills one or more of your babies.

 

[azygous]

People overlook how easy it is to train chickens to come to you on a signal.

First get them used to receiving a regular treat from you while you make a "signal" in the form of a sight and sound cue. I use a clicker you can get from PetSmart for a buck. Or you can use a special word or phrase when handy out treats. In no time, your chickens will come right to you when you use the verbal or sight cue.

Also, young chicks want to remain close to cover, realizing they are prey, and they usually want to be in close range of security. If there's a dog loose that has access to the area where the chickens range, that's inviting tragedy. Dogs are predators by nature.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Too bad that everything loves to eat chickens (me too). A multi-layer of defense seems appropriate starting with the coop on up.
It’s a constant battle. Since the start of time predator & pray. I wish chickens tasted like OKRA! Nobody likes OKRA!!

 

[snow5164]

I would not let them run free , as you said there’s dogs near by one mouthful and you’ve lost 4 chicks .

Get a dog crate take the plastic tray out so they’re on the grass. A fence won’t help because they will be flying over it soon.


With 36 it could go bad very fast! Hope for the best but plan for the Worst

 

[OhZark Biddies]

... I am afraid they will wander off and not come back...

Welcome to BYC!

I suspect they will not wander off, but they will get killed off.

Read through some of the posts on this forum:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/predators-and-pests.13/

And you will find stories daily of people who loose chickens, and often entire flocks each day.

I would encourage you to figure out some sort of fence for the sake of your chicken's safety.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Dogs are about THE best protection if trained or raised with chickens. Dogs are also the number one killer of chickens. I have fencing for mine. I know that not everyone’s situation is the same. Mine could fly over (6’) IF they wanted. They don’t I believe because they know they are safe and it’s Home. Everybody keeps their chickens differently. I think it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be forced to do something. Why not start now before you loose your flock. Sometimes we just have to learn the hard way....

 

[Northern.Ontario]

The dog can't be on watch 24/7. Predators are bold and will sometimes learn the schedule of your dog, then snatch a chicken when the dog is not around.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

... Nobody likes OKRA!!

LOL... you've never had my aunt's smothered okra... or my wife's gumbo

The dog can't be on watch 24/7. Predators are bold and will sometimes learn the schedule of your dog, then snatch a chicken when the dog is not around.

Our heeler was 24/7.... we did give her new years day off (australian independence day) ... which was inconvenient because that meant we had to load all the chickens into the station wagon and take them to town for the day where they'd be safe... but they looked forward to it all year long also, so it was a win win...

 

[rjohns39]

You might want to consider portable fencing but know in advance that at this age they can fly over it if they want. I buy mine from premier1supplies.com Amazon sells it too.