- May 4, 2014
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At the moment I have eggs
, but soon chicks and ducks. I have prepared an area but I want to assess it and the predator threats.
So the setup, my yard is surrounded by 6ft + fences, Im in the uk so no racoons but foxes are possible although not common to the town Im in. I have a large dog who thinks shes a guinea pig so her actual threat level to predators is non existant but maybe her perceived threat level is enough? Own one cat who fights other cats most evenings to my dismay, but is unbothered by the quail I had before and has fallen asleep next to a baby guinea pig. He isnt even interested in eating spiders which is a shame. Hopefully the dog and cat will deter rats and foxes although Ive never seen either near the property.
Nutmeg (dog) has met ducks, pigeons etc with no interest but she hasnt come across chicken so I will be watching her, although she is more likely to lick them and follow them about eating their poo than anything else. Thunder the cat has so far not see hown any interest in any hunting behaviour, he had a traumatic beginning(we got him when he was abandoned in a box in a thunderstorm with worms fleas and mites as a little kitten and he still runs away from peoples feet and is terrified of most men) and never even played chasing string as a kitten so I dont know if those instincts are there, but we will watch him.
So the plan is that the back garden is completely enclosed with over 6ft fences, there is a seperate 3ft fenced area within the six foot area that I intend to let them loose in during the day and coop them at night.
So question is, is this enough to reasonably ensure they will be safe. UK so no racoons, but other cats around and foxes arent unheard of though not particularly common to here.
At night they will be cooped but the day Im planning to let them loose in the yard if I feel they are safe and from adult size.
, but soon chicks and ducks. I have prepared an area but I want to assess it and the predator threats.So the setup, my yard is surrounded by 6ft + fences, Im in the uk so no racoons but foxes are possible although not common to the town Im in. I have a large dog who thinks shes a guinea pig so her actual threat level to predators is non existant but maybe her perceived threat level is enough? Own one cat who fights other cats most evenings to my dismay, but is unbothered by the quail I had before and has fallen asleep next to a baby guinea pig. He isnt even interested in eating spiders which is a shame. Hopefully the dog and cat will deter rats and foxes although Ive never seen either near the property.
Nutmeg (dog) has met ducks, pigeons etc with no interest but she hasnt come across chicken so I will be watching her, although she is more likely to lick them and follow them about eating their poo than anything else. Thunder the cat has so far not see hown any interest in any hunting behaviour, he had a traumatic beginning(we got him when he was abandoned in a box in a thunderstorm with worms fleas and mites as a little kitten and he still runs away from peoples feet and is terrified of most men) and never even played chasing string as a kitten so I dont know if those instincts are there, but we will watch him.
So the plan is that the back garden is completely enclosed with over 6ft fences, there is a seperate 3ft fenced area within the six foot area that I intend to let them loose in during the day and coop them at night.
So question is, is this enough to reasonably ensure they will be safe. UK so no racoons, but other cats around and foxes arent unheard of though not particularly common to here.
At night they will be cooped but the day Im planning to let them loose in the yard if I feel they are safe and from adult size.
. I am concerned about cats as there are a lot of cat owners in this area, its a busy suburb so not so many strays or birds of prey (or that much local wildlife for that matter sadly-I miss living in the country!). 
