Take part in study on PFAS 'forever chemicals' in eggs

[sparkysmum]

The field directly behind our house is owned by a large insurance company and leased to a sheep farmer. The land is zoned for housing but that's another story. Anyway I was thinking ...... wouldn't it be nice if my ladies could peck around the field by day ( not the pekins) and return to their eglu at night. So I contacted the owners ....who put me in touch with their agents .........who said ............not yes or no!!!!!!!!!!

 

What they actually said was that they couldn't enter into a formal agreement with me since the sheep farmer has 100% rights to the land but if the hens were to "stray" onto the field they wouldn't shout too loudly. They also said that I should try to speak to the sheep farmer to obtain his approval.

 

What should I do If they were to "accidently" arrive in the field would they find their way home It's a very large field - several hectares - could they get lost

 

I am slightly tempted as my ladies hate being confined to their garden even although it's huge by most standards

 

Do help me decide what to do. Thanks as always. A&Hxx

[Patricia W]

OOh er.... I think I'd get more ambitious than chickens - alpacas? Pygmy goats... all are know to stray into large fields attached to nearby gardens .....

 

Tricia

[Chicken Shirl]

I don't think hens stray very far away from home. Mine could get out of our land at the bottom end but they have never done so. I read somewhere that they keep to within 500yards of their coop. Hope I am right in saying this. It would be an anxious time for you at first though I think. They would love it though I'm sure. What about foxes? Also need to beware of nice big trees if there are any. The chooks might think it would be good to roost in them instead of the "eglu"

 

I don't see why a sheep farmer would object to a couple of hens. Good luck with it.

[Gelbel]

If it were me, my concerns would be what happens if, in the future, it does become housing and your girls are confined to barracks?

 

It seems that all girls want more space than they have and if they do have a load of space then I'd ignore their fluttering eyes and pleading clucks.

[Chucky1]

Hi Sparkysmum. I don't see the farmer objecting but I think it would be good to talk to him. If he is raising lambs he is probably managing the fox population too, so it would be good to check.

 

I wouldn't expect anything to happen with the new housing until the economy picks up.

 

Ours FR in 3Ha, they still go over to the field next door - they've always come back thus far

[ali-s]

My chickens wander into the fields which surround our house all the time. Monday the Farmer was ploughing one of the fields and the chickens joined the gulls to scratch around in the newly ploughed earth looking for grubs. They don't wander far and always return when I shout out to them or at corn feeding time.

[Chicken Shirl]

My chickens wander into the fields which surround our house all the time. Monday the Farmer was ploughing one of the fields and the chickens joined the gulls to scratch around in the newly ploughed earth looking for grubs. They don't wander far and always return when I shout out to them or at corn feeding time.

 

 

How fabulous for them. I would love to see that.

[Egluntyne]

I'd be worried about visits from the fox.

[susanb]

We have just lost a girl to a fox and she was only a few yards from the Eglu in our garden. Having seen that happen I would not be able to rest if they were wandering in a field (even though that sounds lovely). You would need to see what the farmer is doing about foxes!!

[Toots]

We have just lost a girl to a fox and she was only a few yards from the Eglu in our garden. Having seen that happen I would not be able to rest if they were wandering in a field (even though that sounds lovely). You would need to see what the farmer is doing about foxes!!

 

I would worry about foxes as well, especially with exbats!

[Chucky1]

I'd be worried about visits from the fox.

 

If it is anything like around here there is no tolerance of foxes with young lambs about.

 

I have seen one fox about a mile away in the two years that we have lived here.

[sparkysmum]

thanks for all your replies - it's always good to hear different perspectives The sheep farmer is largely absentee & I only see him occasionally. Having said that I think I will seek his permission, chat about foxes & give it a go, if I'm sure it's safe If it works it will be good all round. A&Hxx