Colin and Sian Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Wonder if you could give us some advice. We got our first chickens just over a month ago in the summer hols. It was great because we could let them out all day every day as we were around (we are both teachers). Now though we are back at school and had been letting them out of the run just when we got home - this was giving them a couple of hours out each evening. However one of them died and so we got two more - they are really bullying Durple (the original one) and so we are letting Durple out of the run each morning so it doesn't get pecked all day. We are going to try the water pistol idea at the weekend when we can sit and watch them for a couple of hours. This has all made me think though about whether it would be best to let them all out of the run every morning so that they can be in the garden all day even though we are not there. The garden is secure and large but obviously we are a little worried about foxes etc. Are there likely to be foxes round in the day in winter - Col seems to think there might be. But it just seems a little cruel to keep them cooped up all day everyday - it won't be long before it's dark when we get home so they won't get any time out of the run. What do other people do? Sian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 I think you always have to be wary of foxes. I've only ever seen one fox once near us (in 7 years) and we still got an attack one night. Chickens attract foxes. Some people have the approach that the days of happy freeranging make up for any attacks that happen. I'm going by the principle there are foxes to be on the safe side, and OH will (eventually ) finish the electric fence, but ours are in the omlet extension sometimes all day now. I worked from home when we added Katy to allow them space to freerange for a week. A confined space would make the attacking worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Hi Sian, I got my chickens in the summer and being a teacher was home for ages so they were out in the garden all the time and when it came to going back to work they looked so bored in the run that i decided to let them free range when i was out. Well i got back one day to find that the postman had put a parcel round in the back garden and left the gate open - they had both escaped and although one was found ok the other got eaten by a fox (at least thats what we presumed it was - feathers in neighbours garden, her body under a bush). Now i know a fox hadn't strictly got into the garden but after that i was worried that one might knowing there were chickens about so i brought a run extension and my girls stay in the run when we are out now, a real shame, but i still haven't forgiven myself for putting the girl that died in potential danger and i'd hate it to happen again - it was awful. However it does depend how secure your garden is and where you live. We are in a close on the edge of a village but the fox struck mid morning from what we can work out. It is a real quandry though cos i am also thinking that when it gets dark they won't have any free range time. Its do you give them a better life (ie free range) but with bigger risk of death or a less free life with less risk? I don't know what the answer is but for now i'm sticking with the run. BTW Durple is a GREAT name! I love it! Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 We used to let our girls free-range whilst we were out at work. Unfortunately they wrecked the garden. So they are kept in the run during the day now and when we get home we put the outside lights on for them to have a stretch of the wings and a wander around They seem happy and contented enough with that and they are also let out at the weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 my girls freerange all day and go back in the run before it gets dark. They are also fine if they have to be confined to the run while we are away - they only play up and fling themselves at the run door if they can see/hear us There are foxes in the area, but I haven't seen any during the day. I feel prepared to take the risk of letting them out all day as they obviously like it so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freak29 Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 We did the same as you, infact we got the chickens (seperately from the eglu) on the last day of term before the summer holidays. It was great letting them out in the holidays, but when going back to school my mum felt sorry for them leaving them in all day so she decided to let them out (at the moment about 7:30am) so they could have a bit of morning exercise. Unfortunately a couple of mondays ago we had a scare because our Warren dissapeared (after some squaking) luckily she was returned a few hours later. But then the other day (with less squaking) and a bunch of feathers were found & our Black Rock is still missing, sadly most likely gone. So we have been phoning around to try and get another Black Rock but most are saying they can't get any until the new year and noticing an upset Jenny left on her own one dealer advised getting 2 new hens but I thought they might fight... So we're still looking for some but don't want to wait too long. Sorry if I went off topic there... I let them out as soon as I get home from school but as I have to walk some miles it is past 4 and they do wander in when it starts turning dark but im scared they are vulnerable in the eglu with the run door etc open so i've thought about shutting them in at about 6 (when it goes dark now) so...there you go, I wouldn't any harm to come to them, but i do feel hrash cooping them up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveypup Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Hi. I noticed you are in Huddersfield. The supplier I got my chooks from is in Preston (01772 613719) and I spoke to her a fortnight ago and she had a few Speckledies and Black Rocks which were 14 weeks old and also some 'Brown Ones' available. Not sure if this would be too far for you to travel? I am hoping to go and pick a couple more up you see but have had to wait as they were too young to mix with mine and would have got picked on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickadoo's Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 hi If you havent seen any foxes, dont be fooled.....They are about. This time of year they have cubs and need to get as much food as they can. I recently lost all of my beloved chickens to a fox attack. I wouldnt want anyone to go through this. My advice to you is to keep them in a fox proof area aspecially at this time of year and only let them out when you can be sure they are safe e.g. when its light outside and your at home. Hope this helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 They are also fine if they have to be confined to the run while we are away - they only play up and fling themselves at the run door if they can see/hear us It's brilliant. Once they see me looking, they start calling, and calling and calling, climbing over one another, and crushing themselves against the bars like they're confined in a pitifully tiny space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 Chocchick, what are you doing out of bed at 3.42am or have you just come back from Napoleon's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 Woke up and couldn't sleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
