Poor Russle...

[Chicky Tocks]

Quote:
Are you sure that your hens aren't fertile? Usually they'll stay that way for a couple of weeks if he's been doing his roosterly duty....

 

[Brindlebtch]

I'm so sorry you lost Russle. He was such a good looking boy!

 

[greathorse]

Cheryl I admire our attitude regarding your loss of your cock. It is within the course of nature if you free roam and it happens I lose the very occasional bird to a hawk and I wish it didnt happen but it does. I dont fret too much and the hens get smarter as timegoes on. They do have cover and have learned to use it on most days.

 

[horsejody]

 

[cheryl98117]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

That is really sad. Worse to watch it happen.

The eagle WILL be back to more chicken dinner if you don't do anything about protection.

At the moment our girls have, shrubs, trees, decks, and their coop for cover.

We are building a larger coop and run for them out in the old homestead house. The coop itself is 12'x14', and the run will be about 40'x60'. We will be covering the run with stiff bird netting, and burrying the fence at least 8" in the ground. Not sure if we will string any hotwire at the base or not. I just hope that the new coop will be large and safe enough for aprox. 24 birds.

Again, thank you everyone. We did, "and even more so now" know the risks of free ranging our flock.​

 

[cheryl98117]

Quote:
I'm not sure if they are or not, or if our bossy Leghorn hen would let him do his job. The bossy hen would always jump on Russle when ever he tried to do his thing. Now that he is gone though, she mounts the other hens, and herds them where she wants them. Its kind of amusing.

Is that even normal?

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

That'll be GREAT for your chicks. Lots of room and safety that will bring you pease of mind as well.

I had to google Idianola to see where you're at in Washington.

Looks like a really nice small town area to live. I grew up in Cathlamet, 25 mi West of Longview on the Columbia River.

Be sure to share lots of pics.

 

[BellLisamo]

awwww how horrible! i am so sorry.

 

[cheryl98117]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

That'll be GREAT for your chicks. Lots of room and safety that will bring you pease of mind as well.

I had to google Idianola to see where you're at in Washington.

Looks like a really nice small town area to live. I grew up in Cathlamet, 25 mi West of Longview on the Columbia River.

Be sure to share lots of pics.

Indianola is a nice area, not always quiet, but people tend to keep to themselves. Our neighbors around us have become family over the past few years, and enjoy the chickens running free. "well not when they get into the flower gardens but...

" They enjoy the fresh eggs the most though.

I'm glad to hear that the new pen will be large enough. I'm contemplating how deep the fence should be, as we have bear, possum, neighbor dogs, a large pack of coyotes, and in the fall a cougar. We thought about laying concrete around the perimeter of the fence, but decided against it. Now we are thinking of stapling the fencing to some cedar poles and burrying them length wise in the ground. I'm thinking that that will keep the fencing from being dug under or pulled out, and there would be no concrete to deal with later on. At least that is the theory i'm going with.

Just trying to think of any and all ways to predator proof our coop and run... I'm not too worried about the bear and cougar, the others are what I am trying to prevent from gaining access.​