-peeping sound-

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community! Best wishes and have lots of fun!

 

[Avogadro]

Howdy and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Thanks for joining our community!

Hello and thank you!

 

[Avogadro]

View attachment 1991055

I have 9 chickens. We have two Hens that are 7 years old and still laying. One likes to be a mama during the summer and lay on the eggs. I have to take them from her and she pecks at me when I do that. We picked up 8 chicks in May and down to 7 chicks since one did not make it. She passed in October or November just can't be sure now. One chick is a Cockerel. Cockerel you need to teach not to come after you if you get one when you get your chicks. Don't turn your back on a Cockerel. I found out about this months ago.

We have two Golden Laced Wyandottes, two Sex links since one did not make it, three Australorps and a Welsummer pullet and the Cockerel. This breed is new to us. Have fun and enjoy your girls.

Our coop is a building 10x20. Half is for lawn equipment. The run is the same size. In the seven years being here nothing has attacked any of the chickens. No creatures come to the back yard just the front. We have coyotes in the front yard but never have they been to the back. They are also across the road in front of our property. We have a dog door/chicken door for them to go in and out as they please and we never shut them in. The only thing that has been in the coop is the ground squirrels. The one I caught was eating an egg in the box while I was getting ready to get the egg. Glad I looked before reaching my hand in the box. Squirrels here take our feed, if we don't let them they go after the eggs. Read up on this.

Your flock sounds lovely! Thank you for the tidbit about squirrels, we have many a squirrel on the property and a handful of black squirrels as well (it may be skewed observation on my part, but I swear the jet black squirrels are far more bombastic compared to the grey squirrels...). Has the squirrel ever bothered your chickens or is it a simple glutton? Either way, what did you do to keep him away? Thank you for the fantastic reply!
((I’ll also keep a stern eye on my one rooster that will be arriving.))

 

[Avogadro]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community! Best wishes and have lots of fun!

Why thank you! I’m EGGstatic to finally be a member!

 

[cmom]

For foxes electric wire would be effective I think. But, I would reconsider Fort Knox. I didn't think I needed it, and in March we will be building our 4th coop and it will be Fort Knox. Then during the day they can come out into the larger runs for free ranging, that is, free ranging in an electric fence with bird netting over it. All it takes is one predator to change your mind.

If you haven't yet gotten your netting, when you do get it make sure it's good netting. I had an owl go through some crappy netting I bought. When I bought it, it was different than what I thought it was. Since I have bought some very good heavy duty netting. Nothing is going to get through it. I had replaced this netting with more of the crappy netting after the owl had breached it and killed a couple of birds. I took the birds out and moved them to a different coop but the owl came back. This is the GHO that went through the crappy netting. Now I have good netting up and so far no more owl.

The owl look like it's thinking, "where did the chickens go? They were here the past couple of nights."

This is the new netting I recently bought.

 

[Avogadro]

For foxes electric wire would be effective I think. But, I would reconsider Fort Knox. I didn't think I needed it, and in March we will be building our 4th coop and it will be Fort Knox. Then during the day they can come out into the larger runs for free ranging, that is, free ranging in an electric fence with bird netting over it. All it takes is one predator to change your mind.

I was discussing this with my partner last night, and after seeing more posts about safety I think I’m going to make Fort Knox... I like the idea of having a fortress for them to retreat to with a large run with the protected free-ranging. I want my ladies to have all the space they want, but with the protection they need. Thank you for the advice!! I’m extremely appreciative

 

[featherhead007]

Yep, that looks strong enough

 

[drumstick diva]

too bad you can't use razor wire - Is there such a thing?

 

[featherhead007]

too bad you can't use razor wire - Is there such a thing?

Actually there is a razor wire, used for fencing, topping chain link. but for humans, not prey animals.

 

[Avogadro]

If you haven't yet gotten your netting, when you do get it make sure it's good netting. I had an owl go through some crappy netting I bought. When I bought it, it was different than what I thought it was. Since I have bought some very good heavy duty netting. Nothing is going to get through it. I had replaced this netting with more of the crappy netting after the owl had breached it and killed a couple of birds. I took the birds out and moved them to a different coop but the owl came back. This is the GHO that went through the crappy netting. Now I have good netting up and so far no more owl.
View attachment 1991130
The owl look like it's thinking, "where did the chickens go? They were here the past couple of nights."
View attachment 1991135
This is the new netting I recently bought.View attachment 1991132 View attachment 1991133

Oh lord, that’s a haunting image with the owl in there.. Terribly sorry to hear about your losses. Thank you so much for sharing, I’ll definitely make sure to get heavy duty netting. Do you recall what brand or specifications your good netting is?