Will chickens like the woods?

[onfire242]

We will be putting our coop and run here on the edge of the grass in a few weeks....Will the chickens like the woods? It can get pretty thick in there come summer time with bushes and tall weeds. Thanks!-Debbie

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Welcome to BYC, Debbie!
Yes, your birds will LOVE that location! The shade and cover provided will be quite appreciated. Our current coop is also at the edge of the woods on our property and our birds can't wait to scurry into the woods when released for free ranging, especially during the long, hot days of summer.

 

[onfire242]

Wonderful!!! I am Soooooo Excited to get my chickens! I am worried about hawks in the area so I am unsure if I will will let them roam without a fence and a net over them. I would love to but fear the hawks will have a feast! We also have a fox den/foxes on our property :-( I will take care of them if I see them but electric poultry netting may be best in case I miss them sneaking up!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I completely understand your concern. Our girls (the roo in the pic has since been re-homed) are kept penned unless we are actually outside to keep an eye on them - we are surrounded not only by plenty of wildlife, but more concerning to me, multiple neighbors with no desire to keep their dogs on their own property. Either my son (partner in chicken crime) or I are out, with the girls, when they are ranging. This allows us to assure our birds stay on our property and to keep an eye out for anything that might want to make a meal of them. Plus it's just a good excuse to spend some time with the flock.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I do sort of the same thing as Ol Grey Mare. My chickens have a large run, but I let them out to free range for about an hour or two almost every day. We live in the mountains on 18 mostly forrested acres and there are all sorts of predators. I have an Anatolian Shepherd who is either outside on a tether or in his big dog run (next to the chicken run) and he keeps an eye on things while the chickens are out. I realize that he can't actually do anything but bark if a predator were to come by, but so far that seems to be enough. We lost one chicken to a bobcat in broad daylight before I got the dog. We've lost none since the dog was added to the family.

 

[aussiegal318]

Hi Onfire242 & welcome.
I'm next door in MN & I have my coop net to our wooded area also. Good news, that area is tick free!!! I have free ranged my birds since getting them & haven't had any hawk problems. I believe it's because my roo keeps an eye skyward & they then dart into the woods/brush for cover. They spend most of the summer digging grubs & bugs there. Mine are in a pasture area with my alpacas I don't have to worry about the land predictors, it's too inconvenient with the fencing. Before I had the added pasture, I did lose about 5 (run by chicken dinner).

Have fun with with your new flock!

By the way, the eggs taste better when they have free ranged!

 

[onfire242]

Thanks Aussiegal....I'm not so sure my woods are "Tick Free" like yours :-( Do chickens get Lyme disease often?

 

[aussiegal318]

With chickens they will be. Ticks are a favorite food of chickens. Never heard of chickens getting Lyme disease.

 

[onfire242]

Ahhh now I get it! GREAT!