Virginia

[Maggiesdad]

... cannot be free ranging....


hmmmm... Yup - that's the law the raccoons, foxes, coyotes, hawks, owls, etc live by.

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Maggiesdad...when he first told me about "cannot be free ranging", he said if they were in a pen that was fine. I asked him to explain to me why the chickens weren't allowed to wander around MY land, since we have 8 1/2 acres, and that's when he told me that was fine as long as they were on my property. But the moment they step into a neighbors yard and they get called, we're gonna have a problem. Now, if the chickens wander into a neighbor's yard and they don't mind, then it's not a problem (duh). I don't know much about chickens, but I should hope they wouldn't wander too far from the coop, but if they do, i'll fence off a section of the yard and woods. Neighbors have dogs, anyway, and I would hate for the dogs to go after my chickens. Can't see the neighbors from my house, but their dogs are loud and obnoxious...barking all hours of the day and night. When we first moved in, the two dogs came onto our property through the woods and I had to chase them away, and they didn't seem too friendly. Big white dogs...one looked like a great pyrenese (spelling)...dunno, but it was BIG. I'll have enough to worry about with the coyotes, foxes, redtail hawks around here, I don't need to worry about someone's dogs too.

 

[Maggiesdad]

When I let my girls out, it's during the later part of the evening - just an hour or two while I'm doing chores out in the yard anyway. They get a chance to fill their crops with goodies of their choosing, and I can keep an eye on them. The work their way back to the coop as evening falls, and it's not enough time for them to get into trouble.

 

[ki4got]

Thanks everyone for the info!

I just spoke to animal control and got the scoop: The only law regarding chickens that's on the books is that they cannot be free-ranging. But further in the conversation, he said they don't necessarily need to be penned in, they just have to stay on your property. Other than that, there are no laws. You can have as many as you want, including roosters, but he recommends only one rooster LOL...and guineas are fine, etc. etc.

one rooster? heck with that. i like my boys... they keep the girls safe from overhead predators by sounding a warning as soon as anything flies over. then again they all get along great without squabbling (tho the more senior roosters run interference whenever a junior roo tries to get a girl LOL)

 

[ki4got]

Maggiesdad...when he first told me about "cannot be free ranging", he said if they were in a pen that was fine. I asked him to explain to me why the chickens weren't allowed to wander around MY land, since we have 8 1/2 acres, and that's when he told me that was fine as long as they were on my property. But the moment they step into a neighbors yard and they get called, we're gonna have a problem. Now, if the chickens wander into a neighbor's yard and they don't mind, then it's not a problem (duh). I don't know much about chickens, but I should hope they wouldn't wander too far from the coop, but if they do, i'll fence off a section of the yard and woods. Neighbors have dogs, anyway, and I would hate for the dogs to go after my chickens. Can't see the neighbors from my house, but their dogs are loud and obnoxious...barking all hours of the day and night. When we first moved in, the two dogs came onto our property through the woods and I had to chase them away, and they didn't seem too friendly. Big white dogs...one looked like a great pyrenese (spelling)...dunno, but it was BIG. I'll have enough to worry about with the coyotes, foxes, redtail hawks around here, I don't need to worry about someone's dogs too.

here's an aerial view of my property with the approx range of the birds... the coop is the horse trailer south of the sailboat.
i should also mention, my birds free range all day every day and i lock them in at night. but i think the #1 safety thing for them is lots of things to get under when hawks fly over... rose bushes, raspberries, the boat, etc.

 

[jmarie]

Big white dogs...one looked like a great Pyrenees = Livestock guardian dog
lots of barking, could be lots of foxes in your area

Make friends with your neighbor and see if they have raised them around animals. If they have they will scare off fox and other predators and actually help you out.

If no training and not raised with animals = huge, unmannerly beasts --> ask your neighbors politely to keep them penned!

 

[ki4got]

the great pyr, kuvasz and other similar breeds, we just abbreviate to BWD. big white dog. LOL guess mine's a MWD.I have a 'kinda' livestock guardian dog... LOL my standard poodle, who's usually more tan than white, thanks to our nice red clay/mud.

when he's not searching for hidden eggs, this is his usual spot, waiting for hubby to get home...


obviously he and the chickens don't get along AT ALL!

that same day, he decided to go egg hunting, and they all decided he knew where the food was...
he's the chicken piper. when they're not mobbing me that is.

 

[ki4got]

Big white dogs...one looked like a great Pyrenees = Livestock guardian dog
lots of barking, could be lots of foxes in your area

Make friends with your neighbor and see if they have raised them around animals. If they have they will scare off fox and other predators and actually help you out.

If no training and not raised with animals = huge, unmannerly beasts --> ask your neighbors politely to keep them penned!

additionally, if the neighbor is willing and the dogs don't have huge prey drive, introduce them to the chickens. hoping the dogs know 'leave it', you can use that to designate the birds off limits. (to dogs of unkown temperament, i'll hold an adult bird to the dog, tail first... then if the dog snaps, he's just going to get feathers)
and invite your neighbors to let the dogs visit your property now and then to mark all over the place, that'll help with some predators.

my boy (Sunny) likes to whop the chickens with a paw as he's running by but rarely does more than catch a tail feather. sometimes i hear a squawk when he makes more contact than he should, but haven't had any damaged by him... they all seem to learn to either duck or run when he goes by at 300mph. the ones that duck get jumped over.

 

[UnionMan]

VA peeps, can someone PLEASE tell me where to get chickens in VA?! I've been scouring the internet and can't find local chickens. I'm in Northern VA and am looking for Australorps and Americaunas. This is my family's first attempt at chickens.
Thanks!!


 Oh, I'd like them to be started pullets!

If you are on Facebook there is a group called "pet chickens of Virginia" there is a swap coming up at the Tractor Supply in Fredericksburg va on March 16th. But in the FB group you might also be able to find your breeds from a breeder.

 

[newfarmgirl]

Hi there..I am also in NOVA and I can tell you that here in Purcellville, VA, our local Southeren States is taking orders for pullets. I believe they have RIR, and leghorns coming at the end of March ( 22nd?) but you have to pre-order,. Wherever you are, start checking at your local feed stores...they should be taking orders. I know I got a sheet with a list of deliveries for at least 13 varieties of chicks staring t com in 2/24/13 until 3/24/13. I got chicks last year (my first time) and was surprised at how simplified it was to raise them. Check it out!