(Well-meaning) human predators in the chicken run, Oh No!

[ChickenCanoe]

I haven't read through this whole thread and I like the first post as well as the many responses. It may already have been said but this is your property and that was trespassing. They should have come to you first to get permission to come onto your property. That would teach them a lifelong lesson.

 

[MROO]

Great idea; I used to take animals I was rehabbing to the school and do classroom presentations, emphasizing the need to be pre-prepared with knowledge and housing, vet money, etc., and also the difficulties inherent in keeping animals, even common ones. I had a young child indignant, declaring HER iguana was placid and friendly. After questioning her, I explained that her little iguana was cold and malnourished. I gave her parent iguana care instructions, and her pet quickly grew large and much less passive... I emphasize the WORK and expense inherent in being responsible for a life. Animals are too easy to acquire on a whim.

Education is a great way to get kids' interests piqued! I keep critically endangered Nankin bantams. They've been to 4H meetings and several classrooms for breed-conservation talks. My boys ride on a shoulder like a parrot and several will walk on a leash. It's pretty cool to see the reactions of both the kids and adults - and to field the gamut of odd questions and comments about them. I think it's been very enlightening for us all!

 

[gtaus]

No child of any age should be entering a property, let alone removing carabiners and opening gates, without permission. Period.

Thank you for the response. I don't disagree. In my case, I have a swing set that all the kids in the neighborhood use, we have a little creek running through the property where all the children come to catch frogs, and I encourage them to visit the chickens. So, there was permission for that. However, going into the chicken run and trying to prop open the pop door was not expected. I felt these kids were old enough to have understood those boundaries as the gate was closed and "locked" with a carabiner. But I was wrong.

They came back a few days later, I had some nice signs posted, but more importantly I was able to talk to them about how to be nice to the chickens and soon the kids were feeding the chicks out of their hands. Children on the outside of the fence, chicks on the inside. I think it all worked out in the end. Having said that, I will be putting on locks so even well-meaning children cannot get into the chicken run or coop where they don't belong.

 

[jspeese]

As a parent myself and my wife being a retired lower school teacher, I'd encourage these kids' interest, ideally with their parents involved, but explain a few ground rules. They seem like nice kids. But even nice kids need ground rules, like being sure to close gates, knowing what to feed and what not to feed chickens, when they may and may not come, and how to act around them. And because not everything that people eat is good for chickens to eat, the kids should be taught to check with you first before giving them anything. And definitely not to go in the coop or pen without you. Perhaps if they are responsible and mature enough and you get to know them better, they could be taught and paid (with their parents' permission) to look after the birds if you were away. You don't want either your chickens or the kids to get hurt.

 

[gtaus]

...I agree with those who say a padlock is necessary. Also, what about a nice sign on the run that says something like "thank you for visiting, if the girls are not out, we may not be home. Please knock at the house." Or "the girls are busy if they are not out, please try back later.".... Custom signs can be made for very little these days.

Thank you. I will be getting padlocks. I have posted some signs and here is the one on the gate itself...

I got the picture from google images, printed it on a sheet of paper, laminated it in plastic, and mounted it on some leftover wood pieces from the coop build. Cost me practically nothing. Only pennies for the paper, ink, and lamination sheet.

 

[gtaus]

I would not have been so calm and patient, I'm afraid. My instant reaction would have been "Hey! What are you doing in there?

I completely understand as my first reaction was also "Hey! What are you doing in there?" Fortunately, I was able to dial it back a bit and consider my options. I did not say everything I could have, or should have said, that first encounter. But I was lucky to get another chance and with all the great suggestions I got from the BYC community, I was able to prepare myself for a "redo" the next time the kids visited. Everything went well and the kids had a blast feeding the chicks out of their hands. A very happy ending for all.

 

[gtaus]

I haven't read through this whole thread and I like the first post as well as the many responses. It may already have been said but this is your property and that was trespassing. They should have come to you first to get permission to come onto your property. That would teach them a lifelong lesson.

Thank you for responding. But yes, I live on an old lakeside resort and the children have been coming on my property for 30+ I have lived here. I even have a neighborhood swing set and a small creek that the kids use to hunt frogs. So they do have permission to run around on my lake property. I also encourage the visiting families to enjoy my chickens, but obviously, not to help themselves in the chicken run or coop. Everything got worked out and in the end I believe there was a lifelong lesson learned and happy memories of the experience feeding the chicks out of their little hands. So it all ended well.

If you have time to read, there were great responses from the BYC community on this thread and I really appreciated all the feedback.

 

[gtaus]

Education is a great way to get kids' interests piqued! I keep critically endangered Nankin bantams. They've been to 4H meetings and several classrooms for breed-conservation talks. My boys ride on a shoulder like a parrot and several will walk on a leash. It's pretty cool to see the reactions of both the kids and adults - and to field the gamut of odd questions and comments about them. I think it's been very enlightening for us all!

You would have my interest piqued, and I'm hardly a young kid anymore. It sounds like you really enjoy sharing your passion with other, both children and adults. We need good ambassadors like that in life in general. Thank you for doing your part.

 

[gtaus]

As a parent myself and my wife being a retired lower school teacher, I'd encourage these kids' interest, ideally with their parents involved, but explain a few ground rules. They seem like nice kids. But even nice kids need ground rules, like being sure to close gates, knowing what to feed and what not to feed chickens, when they may and may not come, and how to act around them. And because not everything that people eat is good for chickens to eat, the kids should be taught to check with you first before giving them anything. And definitely not to go in the coop or pen without you. Perhaps if they are responsible and mature enough and you get to know them better, they could be taught and paid (with their parents' permission) to look after the birds if you were away. You don't want either your chickens or the kids to get hurt.

Many good suggestions. Thank you. On the kids second visit, I did indeed talk about some of those issues you brought up, and the kids were interested in learning more about the chicks. So it really worked out well.

These kids were with their vacationing families and only here for a long week over the 4th of July. So there will be no long term arrangements such as paying kids to care for my birds if I was gone. That would be a good idea for someone else dealing with young kids over a longer period of time.

And yes, I don't want either my chicks or the kids to get hurt. My chicks were only 10 weeks old at the time, so they would not be able to hurt anyone, but I thought if I had a protective full grown rooster in there, things could have gone bad for the kids, and me if the kids had been injured. So I will be adding padlocks to the chicken run and coop to keep everyone safe in the future.

 

[gtaus]

Don't give kids an apparent choice where there is none. Instead of "I would like" you must make it clear: "You must always..." If that seems harsh to you, give them a choice of two things that YOU decide are acceptable. "You can either knock on my door, or call me at _______ to get permission to come over to visit them." Never let them assume there is wiggle room for a choice of their own. That's not being mean, it's being responsible and honest, and it can be said kindly (but firmly.) BTW; regarding the description of "your" wildlife--can I come live with you???

Thank you for the response. I have posted a sign "Keep Gate Closed - no matter what the chickens say." And I will be buying some padlocks for use during the summer months when we have visiting families at the lake. That should be more than enough to reinforce boundaries.

I feel very lucky to live on a lake, and it was always my dream. I do enjoy all the wildlife we have, but it does increase the predator concerns for the birds. My chicken run is predator resistant, but not predator proof. The coop is like fort knox and I lock up the girls every night. So far, it has worked out well.

My wife says the only chicks I can have out here must live out in the coop. Sorry.