wish me luck please!

[chickmomma03]

Thanks

 

[Pork Pie]

No ace around, and TSC is about an hour from here. I'll call the tack and feed and check with them, and check with the local hardware, if they don't have it I just can't justify driving an hour to pick it up, so I'd have to see if I could order online.

I have 1 chicken that is close in size, but she's not a threat, so if she scoots under she's not going to bother them.

I thought it was hilarious that he had to chase them. I didn't actually get to see, I was getting ready to leave for the dr, wish I could have caught it on video, would have been hilarious. I AM thankful he was able to catch them though because we have hawks, which is why I can't free range them.

Its only a personal thing, but we have hawks where i live and i let my chickens free range. I have lost one 6 weeks old chick and prevented the death of an adult during the past 6 months, but i would rather have them free ranging and doing "chicken things" all day and accept that i may have an occasional loss, as opposed to keeping them in a run. Having lots of bushes / undergrowth helps in providing cover for the chickens. As i say, just a personal choice i guess.

Good luck!
CT

 

[chickmomma03]

yea, not an option CT, I have hawks that actually watch and wait in my yard (even before chickens, they hang out in my trees every morning I have pictures and videos of it somewhere on my computer). I live in the country, trees through a fair portion of the back yard and woods surrounding. I have seen the damage hawks do out here, and as much as I would love for my chickens to free range it's not safe. Owls live around here too, and then there are the cats. I can't net an over 3/4 acre back yard to ensure their safety. My run is not a small run, it's nice size, and it's what works to protect them. One day I may be able to have free range, but for now I want live and happy chickens. If I did, I'd be losing chickens all the time, and with me being attached and my son being attached, it's not a risk worth taking.

 

[Pork Pie]

yea, not an option CT, I have hawks that actually watch and wait in my yard (even before chickens, they hang out in my trees every morning I have pictures and videos of it somewhere on my computer). I live in the country, trees through a fair portion of the back yard and woods surrounding. I have seen the damage hawks do out here, and as much as I would love for my chickens to free range it's not safe. Owls live around here too, and then there are the cats. I can't net an over 3/4 acre back yard to ensure their safety. My run is not a small run, it's nice size, and it's what works to protect them. One day I may be able to have free range, but for now I want live and happy chickens. If I did, I'd be losing chickens all the time, and with me being attached and my son being attached, it's not a risk worth taking.

I totally understand - as I mentioned, just my personal choice - its good that we don't all think the same way - what a boring world it would be!

 

[chickmomma03]

It would be pretty boring. I think it wouldn't be so hard to consider free range if I weren't so attached and the yard weren't so big/filled with brush and hiding places. I have time to sit out there, but then I find myself worrying (I don't clip their wings now, and never did clip the littles wings) about them flying over the fence (only a 4ft, but I have a 6ft privacy on the front of property) and escaping or tucking themselves somewhere I can't access them to lock them up at night. If we ever finish getting the debris cleared out and could section off part of the yard so it's not such a huge area then I think I'd be a little more willing to free roam them through part of the day (but I'd have to clip wings again since I've seen how high some of them can get). I can't move fast enough to catch them either (physical issues that make mobility a challenge). Thankfully I have help for that one.