Rogue Chicken!

[ErikaSmit]

We have free running chickens and for the most part the flock doesn't go far. 1 of them, our 4 month old Roast, goes just about anywhere. It was funny at first but then yesterday she was brought back to us by the kids across the street. She apparently wanted to hang out with them over there. She crossed the street!!! Is making an enclosed run the only option? We have locked her in the coop and a fenced in area adjacent to the coop for about a month and her wandering got worse! I would love to keep them free ranging but not if some one will get hurt.

 

[ailurophile23]

Either an enclosed run or you might consider moveable electric poultry netting - allows you to change their "free-range" area while still offering some protection and it keeps them from crossing the street. Good luck!

 

[zzGypsy]

nice photo! can I ask what breed your chickens are?

I bought some that look just like that from a local farmer, and when I asked him what breed, he just shrugged and said "Chickens".

I've got 6, also free range, and one of them just won't hang with the others... always off on the far fringe of the range. I'm guessing it's just chicken personality, she's a loner. so far I haven't seen them range across the street, but my loner is the one who'd do it.

if your property isn't fenced to keep them in at the property line, the portable poultry fence is probably your best bet.

 

[ErikaSmit]

She's a New Hampshire, you will love yours. She's our most friendly!

I'm a little sad it's come down to fencing them in.

 

[ccrow]

Thank you- you've provided the answer to the age-old question, "why did the chicken cross the road?"
To go play with the neighbor kids, of course!

 

[zzGypsy]

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new hampshire, cool, I'll go read up.
ours vary a little in color intensity, from exactly like yours to a more washed out apricot. some have whiter tails, some have darker tails, the roo has a darker tail. their feathers have a slightly darker border.

these are very gentle friendly chickens, two come right up, don't fret at all about being picked up, will sit quietly on my lap for a couple of minutes before hopping off to chase bugs. the loner will eat at my feet, but doesn't want to be handled. and the roo is super attentive to distress calls from his girls... if one makes an odd noise, he RUNS right over there to defend them!

the one thing about them is they are all thin... they're getting plenty to eat, and seem otherwise healthy. I've ordered wormer. just wondering, are yours prone to be thin?

it is a bummer about fencing... we've lost one to a hawk, but so far, no other losses.

 

[crazy4spurs]

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