Would this setup work?

[mamichi]

Hey all, I live near Tampa, in an agriculturally zoned area, but we're definitely not rural. The grocery store is 3 minutes away by car. Anyhoo, we have almost 2 acres of land and want to expand our chicken operation.

This is what I want: to be able to free range the girls every day and to be able to rotate areas in which they pasture. This means I want portable housing for about 25 birds. There is a local farm within 10 miles of me who does not lock up his birds at night and does not have a problem with predators, he says, because of the roosters. I am wondering if I could have a portable shelter that doesn't lock up at night, BUT does have roosters and portable electric fencing all around it.

Anybody have a similar setup? Thoughts as to why this would or would not work?

Thanks, everyone

M

ETA: I forgot to mention that portable shelter and electric fencing would be inside a 6 foot high chain link fenced yard.

 

[Bossroo]

Just a matter of time. Tell the neighbor that the local predators are currently shopping for the fixin's to make a tasty gormet dish.

 

[mamichi]

Yanno- the guy I mentioned runs quite a large-free range operation and has been for quite a while. I buy broilers from him. I am not one to give him advice.

I am curious if people depend on their roosters to defend their flocks, and does anyone use electric fencing. Thanks.

 

[savingdogs]

Roosters try, but a fence is a better defence. They are just a bigger chicken after all.

 

[bumpershoot]

My roosters are often the first line of defense between the hens and a coyote, which means they get eaten first while the ladies run. I still lose both until the coyote is gone. I have found that my guineas have also done a good job at watching the ladies as they wander my fields. They make an almighty racket whenever something comes near.

I think that your portable electric fence will be a good investment.

 

[little brown hen]

When my hound dug under her pen and got out most of my rooster's ran and hid. She ended up killing most of my layer's. Sadly I found a nice home for her. So don't depend on a rooster to protect the flock. I learned my lesson.

 

[mgw]

roosters are very good for being alert and warning of danger so the chickens have time to run to somewhere safe. So I would definatly get one , I have no experiance with elect fence but have heard it works well .

 

[BeckyBird]

I am always envious of the folks who can freerange. I cannot. Around here, the worst predator to my chickens is the stray dog. I've had dogs kill roosters--big roosters at that. I've had dogs break into pens that I thought were fully secure. A dog can--and will--kill everything in its path. Just for fun, which is even worse.

If you can set up a dog proof electric fence run, then it might be worth it for you to try. Of course there are always other predators around, but I've found that dogs are one of the worst kind.