Ready to throw in the towel!

[WthrLady]

Come to think of it. You don't even have to wait for issues to befall YOU. Read around here. Learn from OUR mistakes and build those into your plan.

That's what I did when I built my giant coop and run.

 

[WthrLady]

Your farm was probably loaded with critters too. You either don't remember them, or due to space issues and them not needed to come in close contact with humans for food, water, shelter, you never really noticed them.

Life is different in town. It's easy. Nothing is preying on them except the ocassional car or disease. They are usually well fed, not hunted, well sheltered, have a ready supply of water.

My cameras capture a virtual zoo every day, day and night,and I'm as country as you get! I can hunt my property (except raptors) at my want and will. I don't, but I could.

 

[Birdinhand]

Your farm was probably loaded with critters too. You either don't remember them, or due to space issues and them not needed to come in close contact with humans for food, water, shelter, you never really noticed them.

Life is different in town. My cameras capture a virtual zoo every day, day and night,, and I'm as country as you get!

I had a trap line for a bit. we had our share of foxes and racoons, geese, deer. things were kept at bay by the humans more. it's kind of amazing how restrictive things are in the burbs, then again, I'm should probably count my blessings that we can even keep chickens. the worst were the packs of dogs, they even came after our horses from time to time.

 

[WthrLady]

People bring unwanted pet dogs out here and abandon them. Then they pack and things get ugly. They don't last long. I feel so sad for them.

 

[dalasgalas]

Awesome! I like the advice. This is exactly what I needed. Please keep it coming! My babies refuse to roost in their coop because I couldn't keep the snakes out. I have learned to live with the rooster crows, but when combined with a list of other issues, that crowing is hard to ignore. I started free ranging because I felt that runs were unnecessarily cruel (this was in the beginning, when I didn't know any better). However, I haven't quite figured out how to transition them to a closed run without stressing them out too much, nor do I have the option of burying fence 2 feet below the floor (too rocky) to protect them from raccoons. Starri33 first reminded me of the possibility of a closed run (thank you!), so now for this to work I need to be able to build a coop and run for VERY cheap as I just learned my dog will need a $3000 surgery. Thanks so much everyone!!!

If you build a coop with closer metal mesh cloth it would keep the snakes out. As for the chickens not liking it, I would think they'd like being eaten less.

I can't dig in my yard, too rocky, I use cinder blocks to hold down the floor, the entire coop is surrounded with cinder blocks. Still a chance they will dig, but less so.

My chickens are pets. I keep the flock less than the city max so if a stray chicken needs a home I can have that luxury. If you really love the chickens there is a way to work this out without going broke or broken hearted.

 

[Blooie]

As for predators in town, I once watched a family of raccoons come up out of a storm drain - in downtown Denver. Right downtown! In the parking lot of the Ronald McDonald House we were living in waiting for Kendra to be born, coyotes were sometimes in the parking lot, going after the prairie dogs that had set up shop under the interstate overpass. And after Kendra was born, I got back to the RMH and stayed in my car until the skunk was gone from the landscaping in front of the building. Predators are out there, even in highly urban areas.

 

[whit246]

I completely understand! There are days I feel the same way - about chickens, about my career, about lots of things. And I'm pretty new at this and haven't suffered any losses... yet (knock on wood).

You need to do what is best for you and yours. But if you choose to make a run, I will tell you that I managed to build a coop for under 50 bucks using recycled materials. My pen was store bought, but I could have made one on the cheap using recycled materials. Hit up craigslist or facebook or neighbors. I'm sure others on here have ideas, too. If you choose to pen them, they'll deal with it. Give them a good ol' dose of tough love. Maybe tot can let them out a bit every once in a while. Maybe there's a compromise to be found somewhere. They def need to be cooped up at night.

I am sorry you have had such negative experiences. But Blooie is right (as is often the case): it's a personal choice. I wish you luck. I'd probably be having the same concerns if I'd gone through what you have.

 

[Killer Tomato]

As for predators in town, I once watched a family of raccoons come up out of a storm drain - in downtown Denver. Right downtown! In the parking lot of the Ronald McDonald House we were living in waiting for Kendra to be born, coyotes were sometimes in the parking lot, going after the prairie dogs that had set up shop under the interstate overpass. And after Kendra was born, I got back to the RMH and stayed in my car until the skunk was gone from the landscaping in front of the building. Predators are out there, even in highly urban areas.

The biggest raccoon I've ever seen in my life was in the Mission District of San Francisco, walking down the middle of the street at about 3 a.m. When it saw me, it strolled over to the storm drain, and smushed it's fat butt through the opening. It hadn't been missing any meals, that's for sure.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Downtown Toronto is known as the raccoon capitol of the world.
Downtown Chicago is becoming known for a huge coyote population.

Before Europeans arrived, coyotes were limited to what is now the southwest US and raccoons were only in river bottoms of what is now southeast US.

Elimination of grey and red wolves allowed coyotes to fill the void.
Trash dumpsters, outdoor dog and cat food are a boon for raccoons in urban settings.

 

[dalasgalas]

Downtown Toronto is known as the raccoon capitol of the world.
Downtown Chicago is becoming known for a huge coyote population.

Before Europeans arrived, coyotes were limited to what is now the southwest US and raccoons were only in river bottoms of what is now southeast US.

We have an amazing array of inner city wildlife here in Austin. Coyotes, Hawks, Owls, and an interesting array of Quaker Parrots.