The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

I let the 13 wk olds pen open this afternoon when I got home and stayed out reading (and napping) to see how it would go.

Went pretty well. I think I need to reduce down the back perimeter before I let them out much, however. I have electronetting and it is opened up to about 1 acre. I was working on expanding that as the goat boys do their job clearing the understory in the woods. Each time I move the goat boys back the chickens get more space to run that has become cleared enough that they can move in and enjoy it without fear of predators hiding in the brush.

But I think I'll bring it back up just to include their small chicken "forest" that's close to the barn (Probably about 1/3 acre). It will be a bit of a restriction on the 5 hens that are used to more space to roam, but it will be a good "training ground" for the young'uns.

Still won't let them out without several times of my supervision and being assured that they know how to get back in and to safe hiding in the little forest. But I think if I reduce the area they'll learn pretty quickly.

 

[slordaz]

Well finally figured out my predator that wasn't fitting any of the profiles on them. 6 feral cats hunting in a pack to take down the adult hens as the 2 month olds were still in secured pen. Not something they normally do, so had to have been starving due to over population of them. Moved the young ones into the hen house with the adults last week, without to much trouble from the flock , we do have some young cockrels that my Red decided to to make us aware of so they gotta find a new home.




They get some freedom but with attacks are penned up for now, after loosing half the flock, while we get issue resolved

 

[islandgirl82]

Well finally figured out my predator that wasn't fitting any of the profiles on them. 6 feral cats hunting in a pack to take down the adult hens as the 2 month olds were still in secured pen. Not something they normally do, so had to have been starving due to over population of them. Moved the young ones into the hen house with the adults last week, without to much trouble from the flock , we do have some young cockrels that my Red decided to to make us aware of so they gotta find a new home.




They get some freedom but with attacks are penned up for now, after loosing half the flock, while we get issue resolved

That's awful! I hope you get it resolved soon.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@slordaz

Wow. Those cats MUST be starving to hunt in a pack like that.

Do you live trap? Sometimes the humane society will give you live traps to trap cats as well.

 

[Phoenixxx]

@slordaz


Wow.  Those cats MUST be starving to hunt in a pack like that. 

Do you live trap?  Sometimes the humane society will give you live traps to trap cats as well.

Those cats would be worth some money to people in need of a good mouser or two, i would think! Maybe put an ad up "free if you catch them yourself" or something?

 

[Turk Raphael]

Those cats would be worth some money to people in need of a good mouser or two, i would think! Maybe put an ad up "free if you catch them yourself" or something?

Perhaps for the 'right' place. I personally wouldn't want even one of them around our place. We like and tolerate feral cats that roam the place, even feed them in the winter time but if they were even seen stalking any sized chicken around here, I have a semi-auto .22 for that cure.

 

[Leahs Mom]

This is "overprotective chicken lady" checking in.

I moved the back electric net up closer to the small woods and the 12-13 week olds are enjoying themselves today while I'm home. Who knows...by Tuesday I might just leave them out when I go to work if they do well over the weekend.

Just outside the barn door.









I have these foot stools out "here and there" on the open spaces for something to run under if they can't get to other cover during aerial attack.

 

[Phoenixxx]

Perhaps for the 'right' place.  I personally wouldn't want even one of them around our place.  We like and tolerate feral cats that roam the place, even feed them in the winter time but if they were even seen stalking any sized chicken around here, I have a semi-auto .22 for that cure.

If the "pack" was split up into singles or pairs they'd have a much harder time hunting chickens. I could see them being valuable to a grain farmer, or someone who stores a lot of grain and feed in a barn. With all the rodents that would be attracted, the cats may well forget about chickens altogether!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

This is "overprotective chicken lady" checking in. I moved the back electric net up closer to the small woods and the 12-13 week olds are enjoying themselves today while I'm home. Who knows...by Tuesday I might just leave them out when I go to work if they do well over the weekend. Just outside the barn door. I have these foot stools out "here and there" on the open spaces for something to run under if they can't get to other cover during aerial attack.

Looking good. I can't round mine up anymore so they are on their own. They are slowly getting more brave.

 

[Sel Gris]

I really like your idea of putting footstools outside -- thanks! It would help my hens become a little more outgoing, I think, since half the time they're huddled under something anyway.

Do chickens freak out over crows? Or is there likely a hawk in the area to keep my eyes open for?

(To pay "hen picture tax," here's some pics of my mini-flock)

http://i.imgur.com/wmIOOPi.jpg (the favorite, named Buttercup)
http://i.imgur.com/lacYg4h.jpg (some of the others, when lured out by some of the mullein I was pulling as weeds)