The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[wolfglen]

I know what you mean about mean roosters! Some are as docile as the hens, some are like a raging bull. I currently have one which will tear your hand off if you reach into the cage, yet once out of the cage he's gentle as a lamb. He loves to hunt and kill any mice or rats around and was trying to fight a bobcat through the cage one day.

 

[wolfglen]

Now Hamburg NY is a place I haven't heard of in quite a while. I went to the State Police Academy with a guy from there but can't recall his name.

 

[lazy gardener]

I haven't really thought "electric fencing" yet. I was just thinking of putting some outdoor electrical outlets near the coop. I am interested in the electric poultry netting though, and will have to look into that more. I am lucky to say that my dad owns an electrical company so I can save a considerable amount of money on any electrical expenses I need for my coop. I do already have a large roll of 4' chain link fencing on hand.

I would like to do both dual purpose and meat birds for butchering. My 5 current birds are all dual purpose ( I believe). My roo is a buff orpington, and I have a gold comet, production red, black australorp, and barred rock. I like to think that maybe I can butcher some of their off spring. I will look up Joseph Salatin. Thanks!

If you already have the chain link and can install that, you could buy a very inexpensive charger that will run on household current and run a strand close to the ground, and an other at the top of the fence, off set about 6" outside the fence. That would discourage both diggers and climbers.

Aoxa: I agree with you re: summer heat. I can always put on more layers of clothing, and stoke up the wood fire, but can't always take off enough layers in high summer heat to get comfortable without scaring children and neighbors!

 

[aoxa]

Well my advice, if you want an LGD, get it from RedRidge!

It is incredibly hard to find breeders like you!

 

[fosterson]

Here is Rosie's brother Cooper. We breed them in case you haven't realized that yet... This would probably be one of the most uncommon colours - Phantom.

Oh my goodness. I did NOT know poodles came in black and tan. That is my FAVORITE dog color. Ooooh...how I wish I could have him!

 

[aoxa]

I don't have a lgd but I do know the hawks in my area tend to stay way from my hens when the dogs are out. I only witnessed one hawk attack. Thankfully he landed in the electric netting and took off. I don't know if it shocked him but he stayed away for a few days regardless. I have no rooster but my girls always have an eye to the sky for hawks. They make a weird noise to alert the others. And off they go to safety. My girls range all day. I have to hope my girls are smart enough to be aware and take cover when the hawk is close. The electric netting keeps the dogs and foxes out. My chickens need to be chickens and I try hard to let them be themselves.

The hawks here don't care if the dogs are out, but everything else stays at bay.

We did have a moose calf here the other day!

RedRidge, would the dogs attack a deer or moose? They'd probably just stay away I'm guessing if the dogs were out.

 

[Mrs Rebecca]

If you already have the chain link and can install that, you could buy a very inexpensive charger that will run on household current and run a strand close to the ground, and an other at the top of the fence, off set about 6" outside the fence. That would discourage both diggers and climbers.

Aoxa: I agree with you re: summer heat. I can always put on more layers of clothing, and stoke up the wood fire, but can't always take off enough layers in high summer heat to get comfortable without scaring children and neighbors!

I am loving all of the ideas! But, how do you all feel about children and electric fencing/netting? The only experience I have ever had with it is hearing it click at my friends farm. I am always scared my kids are going to touch it and tell them not to touch anything. Granted, I know that kids can learn to be careful, and I am not opposed to them learning some things the hard way, but I don't want to injure them. My coop is going to be in their backyard. My kids are 6 and 10.

 

[NanaLynn]

I've been learning a lot from you guys and have not posted in a long time on this thread. I was wondering a few things about the electronet fencing.
Do the chickens every get shocked by it? (I know it is unsafe for small chicks)

Do you have any trouble with chickens flying over the top?
I have a Golden Campine that is always flying over my 4 foot fence.

How big of an area does the 164 foot one cover? (someone posted this link http://www.kencove.com/fence/Electric+Net+Fencing_detail_NSPCG.php) Just wondering for those of you that have these how many sets did you end up buying and your initial setup cost, etc.

Thanks for any help you can give and thank you for all the great info on this thread. I have been learning a lot. I have had chickens for almost a year now and am still learning so much!

 

[fosterson]

How big of an area does the 164 foot one cover? (someone posted this link http://www.kencove.com/fence/Electric+Net+Fencing_detail_NSPCG.php) Just wondering for those of you that have these how many sets did you end up buying and your initial setup cost, etc.

164 linear feet will cover one 40x40 foot space, roughly.

 

[aoxa]

I've been learning a lot from you guys and have not posted in a long time on this thread. I was wondering a few things about the electronet fencing.
Do the chickens every get shocked by it? (I know it is unsafe for small chicks)

Do you have any trouble with chickens flying over the top?
I have a Golden Campine that is always flying over my 4 foot fence.

How big of an area does the 164 foot one cover? (someone posted this link http://www.kencove.com/fence/Electric+Net+Fencing_detail_NSPCG.php) Just wondering for those of you that have these how many sets did you end up buying and your initial setup cost, etc.

Thanks for any help you can give and thank you for all the great info on this thread. I have been learning a lot. I have had chickens for almost a year now and am still learning so much!

Chickens don't often test fencing of any sort. I used cheap plastic chicken fencing and contained them easily - but it does not keep any predators out or even the smallest dog.

Yes they can get shocked. I've seen them get shocked with our strand fencing if I have it down for the car to go through. We have 5 hooks and we set it on the ground while we drive down. The chickens have stepped on it and gotten a little zap. Nothing big because it's already shorting out from being set on the ground.

I've seen the geese get shocked and they won't leave the 5 strand fence.

Now electric with goats is the best ever. They won't test it after a few tries

Poor Henry.. He's been shocked and is the biggest baby of all.

I would have done the moveable fencing, but our property is full of gravel. I can't put any posts in without a serious pole digger. Not even these:

Seriously. Can't even do something this small if I want to contain chicks without a lot of frustration.