Well, that didn't work...

[bobbi-j]

Myself, I would have let them go at if for a bit, just to see how invested they were.

When I do that--let flocks range together--the roosters usually spar for a few minutes, then one backs down and takes off. It's usually less than 15 minutes, and no one gets injured.


Talking about using the net to catch the birds....I was at the local livestock auction Saturday. They have tack/junk before the animals, and there were three fishing nets bundled together. Two with the regular short handles, one with a longer handle. It caught my eye, I was thinking that might come in handy cause all I have are the short handled nets. Well, the ring guy picked them up and called out "fishing nets" and the auctioneer responded "nope, those are chicken nets". Anyway, those three used nets sold for over $20! and not to me, too much for my pocketbook. Guess someone else has hard to catch chickens also.

It didn't occur to me to let them go at it. Maybe I'll try again another nice day. Although, it's really no problem to alternate free ranging days. We'll see how things are going further into spring.

"Chicken nets"! I love it!

 

[bobbi-j]

Well, I decided to try it again today, only differently. The first time I let both flocks out together, they got let out at the same time, and DH had just poured some corn on the ground for them, attracting both flocks which put both roosters face to face. Bad plan.

Since then I have been watching both flocks when I can and noticed that they both have different areas where they range. (One flock has discovered the horse pen and the joys of horse apples!). So today I let one flock out before church, and the other flock out a few hours later. Flock One had already helped itself to the corn DH leaves out for them and had gone on their way for the day. Flock Two ate their corn and then moved on to "their" area of the property. I'm pretty sure the roosters each knew the other was out, but they just went their own way. So I think this is how we'll do it from now on. Let one bunch out first, then an hour or so later let the next flock out.