FiggyPudding Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 although I don't work, I did let my hens free range all the time. We had 2 foxwatches, where worked to a point. I think you might need to move them around, to confuse the fox. I went along with the view that I'd rather my girls were happy 'living' rather than being cooped up - which they absolutely HATED ! 2 Hens were taken by the fox, one at night time (hubby too late in closing the eglu door) & one daylight snatch by the sly fox. These were my casulties in 17 mths, which isn't too bad... especially as one girl was an ex batt & really living on borrowed time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallyChook Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 I let my chooks FR all day. At the moment I'm on mat leave so tend to be in the house. Normally as a nurse my shifts can mean leaving the house at 06.30 and not returning until 21:00, or on nights so asleep during the daylight hours. For me, I would much prefer they live a happy naturally free life and risk the predators that are a part of that, than keep them cooped up. With 16 chooks at the moment, there's no way I could have a WIR for them so it's their shed/coop and that leads directly onto the garden. Keeping them in wouldn't be an option as the shed doesn;t have a run and would involve large scale construction - something I cannot afford. One day, Mr Renard will come and devastate my flock and my heart... it's almost a certainty not a possibility. It's some thing I had to think long and hard about, but I came to the decision that for me as a pagan, I couldn't keep them cooped up any more than keeping my cat in just one room, or never taking my son out and about. If I had the money I would build a HUGE WIR but hey ho, finances wont permit (or space!) come on lottery!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted September 30, 2010 Author Share Posted September 30, 2010 Well, as the WIR shoul be finished this weekend, I am planning on keeping them in, when I'm at work...I know if I didn't work, I would let them out all the time......but am making a decision based on " factors" as Davis Brent would say...the WIR will be split level, and interesting, and they'll have FR in the afternoon.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...