Texas

[gooselady]

My very first batch of chicks in 1996 had a RIR in the mix.  Every time I stuck my hand in the brooder I felt something tick-tick on my fingers.  Being new to chickens I thought it was just their little bodies flitting around.  Then I realized the RIR was PECKING me each time!

Mine are really mean to my other chickens and each other! They are beautiful hens but have nasty attitudes.

 

[hensfortherapy]

they do naturally lay better during the lighter months...maybe that contributed to them holding out on you!

That makes sense. They were hatched in Oct and did not lay until after Easter.

 

[erikk]

So you double up the wire?
This will be my chicken coop. I am putting that inside a larger run area that will be fully enclose (all sides and top) with chicken wire. Should I look at getting something like this too?

How much you prepare for predators depends on your local predators. In my case the young chicks who got out of the chicken run were killed by our own family doggies (schnauzer/poodle mix = schnoodles). So we had to reinforce the run to keep the chicks IN, as the run was already enough to keep the dogs OUT. We built the inital run with 16' long by 5' high Tractor Supply Horse panels. It has 2"x4" gaps. Not enough for a full size chicken to pass through, but we found out the chicks pop through like it isn't even there.
www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/horse-fence-panel-5-ft-x-16-ft

We added something similar to this but in plastic (cheaper). This would keep the chicks secure inside (excepting for gaps under or around the ends of the wire).
www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Welded%20Wire%201%22x1%2F2%22

I came home today and was very surprised to see about 8 of my full size birds had either flown over the run fence or wriggled through the gap I must have left at the gate. I'd let the dogs out and heard chicken commotion and went to see what was going on. The chickens were nervous with my dogs running loose, but the dogs hardly seemed interested in the full size chickens. I think my dogs are primarily interested in the chicks which are the same size as their doggie squeeky chew toys. Don't those little chick cheeps sound just like a chew toy squeek?!

I tend to overbuild in general (such as using horse panels for a chicken run), but if you'll have small day/week old chicks running about I'd recommend 1/2"x1/2" mesh or no larger than 1/2" x 1" hardware cloth to keep the chicks where you want them until they're too big to fit through any larger gaps. For me, it seemed about 4 weeks of age before they couldn't fit through the 2"x4" holes in the panels.

 

[bnjrob]

How much you prepare for predators depends on your local predators. In my case the young chicks who got out of the chicken run were killed by our own family doggies (schnauzer/poodle mix = schnoodles). So we had to reinforce the run to keep the chicks IN, as the run was already enough to keep the dogs OUT. We built the inital run with 16' long by 5' high Tractor Supply Horse panels. It has 2"x4" gaps. Not enough for a full size chicken to pass through, but we found out the chicks pop through like it isn't even there.
www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/horse-fence-panel-5-ft-x-16-ft

We added something similar to this but in plastic (cheaper). This would keep the chicks secure inside (excepting for gaps under or around the ends of the wire).
www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Welded%20Wire%201%22x1%2F2%22

I came home today and was very surprised to see about 8 of my full size birds had either flown over the run fence or wriggled through the gap I must have left at the gate. I'd let the dogs out and heard chicken commotion and went to see what was going on. The chickens were nervous with my dogs running loose, but the dogs hardly seemed interested in the full size chickens. I think my dogs are primarily interested in the chicks which are the same size as their doggie squeeky chew toys. Don't those little chick cheeps sound just like a chew toy squeek?!

I tend to overbuild in general (such as using horse panels for a chicken run), but if you'll have small day/week old chicks running about I'd recommend 1/2"x1/2" mesh or no larger than 1/2" x 1" hardware cloth to keep the chicks where you want them until they're too big to fit through any larger gaps. For me, it seemed about 4 weeks of age before they couldn't fit through the 2"x4" holes in the panels.

I prefer to overbuild than want to kick myself later because I didn't plan for a problem. I swear our chickens are like mice - if they really want to fit through a space, they will find a way.

 

[RRTXCHICKS]

I live in Hutto and have the same problem.  My chickens are not housed at our house.  That was the only way around the HOA problem for us since I have neighbors that would report us and a weenie dog that would stalk them.  I have two red sex links and a black australorp hen.  The red hens are very noisy but the australorp hen is pretty quiet.  If you kept the coop small and your closest neighbors didn't mind, you could probably get away with two chickens.  If it doesn't work out, let me know.  I have room for a few more birds.   

Thanks so much for the generous offer. We plan on talking to neighbors and set up meeting with HOA. We will let you know we need to take you up on it. Thanks again and wish us luck!

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Chickens sound a lot like my seahorses. They could get themselves into almost any space. It was not unusual to find one in the sump or some other strange place. Since I have raccoons and opossums, hawks, snakes and cats running around here (and who knows what else visits the big wooded park across the street), I will over build. I've never seen anything but the cats in my yard, but who knows what is out there at night. I think the fact that I have a dog keeps a lot away even though she is in the house.



I have to share these. They are just too cute! And they are made with my favourite candy - Reese's PB Cups! Oreos aren't too bad either.

 

[kschickens]

Thanks so much for the generous offer. We plan on talking to neighbors and set up meeting with HOA. We will let you know we need to take you up on it. Thanks again and wish us luck!

I hope it works out for you guys. We love our birds!

 

[jockeyeba]

Sadly we lost three of our babies this week to a possum. Last night we caught and dispatched the killer. Now to fortifying the coop further. BTW possums do eat the head. At least two of ours were missing and no where to be found.

Glad you caught him We've caught a possum & 2 raccoons the last few weeks

 

[jockeyeba]

 
So sorry for your loss.  Possum Stew anyone??

Lisa

When I was in Lousisana, I had a chance to taste one ... pretty good. When visiting Vietnam, I ate Rat BBQ in the restaurant, excellent, tasted just like roatsed pigeon.

Dear Lisa, I will bring the beer.

 

[jockeyeba]

I am building my coop with hardware cloth to keep things like that out.  My big run will be made out of chicken wire.  As the guy at the feed store says "everything likes chicken".

Glad you caught the bugger.  

Hardware cloths the only way to go