What are your experiences? Predators, containing flock, behaviors, food, health, everything! We have tons of coyotes(they are actually wolf-coyote hybrids) raccoons, minks, hawks, fishers, etc.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
What are your experiences? Predators, containing flock, behaviors, food, health, everything! We have tons of coyotes(they are actually wolf-coyote hybrids) raccoons, minks, hawks, fishers, etc.
I'm SO guilty of 'helicopter ranging' ....way too many predators around our house to free range without worry. But then again...I'm the lady who is planning on hanging valances in my dream coop that my ever-so-gracious husband is building for meI don't free range. I do what I call "Helicopter Ranging". That is to say I pick weeds, herbs, edible flowers, especially choice items from the compost, etc. and throw them in the covered run where my sweet babies are coddled and never exposed to danger.
HOWEVER, when we get 5 new chicks in June it's going to be tighter quarters than the 3 hens have had to that point. So I will need to let them out to the chicken yard around their coop & run that has a 5' high chainlink fence and would more than double their run space when I'm nearby in the yard gardening. Before that time comes, tho, I am going to need to train them to get back into the run when I'm not outside regardless of how much sunlight there may still be.
At present it's pretty ridiculous for me to chase 3 inside. Of course that happens one at a time and once the first one is in I can't leave the door open for the next 2. So we play quite a game of Red Rover, Red Rover before I can go inside or make an appointment.
We have a bonanza of predators here: coyotes, neighborhood dogs & cats, owls, hawks, rats, raccoons and possums. I wouldn't risk them not having someone nearby to run cover for them.
We're so yuppy my spoiled chickens and I. ::sigh::