Tara123 Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Could I have a check list please for when I let my girls out of there run for the first time. Am hoping to do it any day now but I'm very nervous about it, I know its best to do it an hour or so before bed for the first couple of times but what else do I need to be aware of regarding garden hazards Cats are my main worry eg: I have 2, next door 3, garden opposite 2, couple of doors away 1 and lots more but don't know where they live. As I have bantams which are a bit smaller than a chicken it makes me worry even more that a cat would kill them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 If you stayed near them when you first ley them out you'd be able to chase any cats off. Try throwing down some corn for them near their run too. I wouldn't worry about any plants you think they might eat that are poisinous as they tend not to eat anything that's not good for them. Have you got an area netted off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursechick Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Best to make sure you have a high enough fence around the garden with no gaps or holes. And then just watch them having fun, then when you want to get them in show them their treats and they will follow you home.Easier to train than a dog. We also have a cat on both sides and one of our own but so far no problems.However I'm not brave enough to leave them out of the run when I'm indoors cos we back on to a school field which is home to lots of foxes. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 ... er, I'm afraid my garden checklist goes like this: Block hole at side of gate (one of them once squeezed under) Put upside-down hanging basket over chives, move parsley pots on to patio table otherwise they will all be eaten Scour lawn for dead mice (left by the cat) ... my chickens regard this as a prize beyond all others, and will fight over it for ages! That's about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara123 Posted February 5, 2008 Author Share Posted February 5, 2008 Have you got an area netted off? No, but i only have a small garden with a 6 ft high fence all the way around it. So don't think I'm going to need a netted area. Put upside-down hanging basket over chives, move parsley pots on to patio table otherwise they will all be eaten Already have lots of upside down hanging baskets protecting most of my plants, so that the dog doesn't trample all over them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 In that case, Tara, sounds like you're all prepared - let them out and enjoy the fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 You will proberably find they won't go far on their first excursion out of the run. Ours eventually came out and just walked down the side of the run the first time we let them out. As for the cats, you would be best keeping an eye on your chickens to start with to make sure the cats don't harm them. We have two local cats who love our chickens, they sit on fences or under bushes watching as the hens cluck around them. The chickens ignore the cats and seem comfortable with them being there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted February 6, 2008 Share Posted February 6, 2008 hi i have a cat that is frightened of the chickens, because they chase her, they donrt mean any harm, they just know she will run away so they do it for fun i think. there is also a big grey fluffy cat that terrorises my cat and has once had a go at one of the chickens, but i think they put him in his place and i dont see him now. i think chickens can look after themselves mainly sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
