Talking about stuff I picked up over the years is suddenly not as interesting as talking about what will be in the Property. So unless there’s any objections, I shall now commence to dream.
We wants eggs. And maybe meat birds. So that means two different chook operations: layers in the run with a brood box so the eggs are easily collected, and a set of tasty meat birds either in a movable box to scoot around the back yard, or let free to roam. If they’re free to roam, I’ll have to trim their wings and have good fences. Otherwise they’ll be in the neighbor’s yard, and both our neighbors have very large dogs.
Like all dog owners, we are convinced that our little fuzzy butt is perfectly trained. But other people’s mutts? Oh, the horror!
So… two sets of birds. The chooks in the run would be let free rather regularly, and those in the back yard would help take care of pests and dropped fruit there. Hm. The slope in the back yard is rather steep. Gonna have to make it free-ranging, I think. Lots of trees for them to race up and hide in if someone’s mutt gets loose. It’s only for 6 weeks, should be OK… and then we slaughter, bury the offal, and plant a tree in that hole.
Fun Fact: chicken with feathered feet scratch to find bugs (and out of a small joy in destruction) less than those with naked feet, and ducks do not scratch at all.
It’s always fun to have have chickens…at least I think so (but I’m a smidge biased). If you free-range your meat birds, they’ll still need a tight, secure place to roost at night. I’d be much more worried about wild creatures, than the neighbor’s dogs! Rogue raccoons can decimate a flock in one night.
Thank you for the excellent advice. I think around here raccoons are definetly going to be a big deal… until coyotes move in. Until then, massive concrete footing may have to suffice to keep them out. Thanks for the comment!