Vent- protecting chickens is a lot of thinking....

[kuulgrl]

Yesterday, we pulled in the drive and while my husband was unloading I went to check on the chickens (free range). As I'm walking to the coop I see movement, that isn't chicken. It's a opossum snooping around the coop. Surprised me since I've never seen one during day light/dusk, only at night.

So I grabbed the shovel I keep behind the coop and start swatting at him to get him out from under the coop. He makes a break for it and I pin him under the shovel. I managed to pick the darn thing up by the scruff (it was kinda small, maybe 5-7 lbs) to show my husband. So he dispatched the opossum for me and the chickens were all safe. ;-)

Today, I see something brown in the road in front of my house and just know, someone hit one of the girls. :-( I have no idea what happened. So sad.

Anyone have any ideas for keeping them away from the road?

 

[Chickens R Us]

When free ranging chickens go where ever they want to go. The only thing to keep them off the road would be a fence.

 

[sandovaljose214]

fence

 

[kuulgrl]

Looks like it's just another way I'll have to expect losses. :-( Even if I fenced along the road, they would just walk down the driveway. I love that it's rural here and I don't Need a fence like I probably would in the city.

Maybe I can get chicken crossing signs put up, kinda like deer crossing. ;-) I doubt the county would spring for that.