Our chickens run freely on our farm. They are not in cages and graze in the fields with the cows and goats. It’s a beautiful thing to see them eating bugs and getting other things from the cow dung, haha. While they eat and move along in the fields they have many predators. We have lost many to foxes and coyotes and Brian and I are always on the watch for those chicken hunters. Now that we have Walter, our English Shepherd, the Coyotes have been kept at bay but at times still sneak in at nab a chicken.
Last week late in the afternoon I saw a coyote start to move in close to the fence and I knew he or she was going to kill a chicken. Brian grabbed his rifle and quietly crept out to hide behind the pile brush and what happen next was a story to tell. Brian had an army of chickens lined up behind him. As he crawled across the mowed grass to hid next to the cow trailer this army of chickens followed behind. I laughed so hard, it was so cute to see these girls(Hens) and couple boys(Roosters) waiting for the MAN to kill their enemy. There must have been 30 or 40 chickens following him and as soon as he lifted his rifle they ran to hid somewhere. BOOM ! Down went the coyote and Brian stood up to see for sure if he got him. As Brian came back to the house all the chickens ran to meet him and he was surrounded with their joyful relief .
Carolyn
Awww, I love chickens! It's wonderful that you have some on your farm. But yes you do have to keep the little ones safe from predators!
ReplyDeleteAs for us we hope to get some goats someday ourselves if things work out. :D