Farm Fails

Some things we do really well, with almost no expertise. Other things…well, let’s just say we learn every day!

We moved the pigs (another post for another day) because they had “done their job” in that location. We have them trained to single wire, so we no longer needed the net fencing for them. We also have had a chicken issue, so we decided to use the net fencing to give the chickens some free range space. Sounds like a good plan, huh?

A little background. We have lost two chickens to bullying in the last week. Two of our girls were killed by members of the flock. A quick internet search alerted us to the fact that our chickens are either bored, or they don’t have enough space / resources. Now I know they have plenty of food, because there is always feed left in their feeder each morning when I go out to give them more. So boredom or space.

Last night, after moving the pigs to their new jobsite, we moved the net fencing so that it circles the entry to the chicken run, and opened the door. After a little cajoling, they figured out that they could come out to the newly moved fenced area. They had a BLAST! Jumping up into the privet, hunting and pecking and living their best chicken lives. Yep! Solution found. They just needed more area. No problem. We can rotate the fencing around their run and they will have fresh grass and pickings forever! The net fencing is wonderfully easy to move, and it’s high enough we don’t need to electrify it to keep them in. Win / Win.

About 15 minutes after the sun set down below the mountain tops in the distance, the roosters started gathering the girls to go inside the run and into the coop for the night. Sweet! Great job gents! Only…one of our girls could NOT figure out how to get back in the coop! Mr. Rooster was pushing and pecking and trying to rally her into the run, but she kept running up against the fencing on the side. Then she WALKED RIGHT THROUGH the holes in the net fence! Geez!

After grabbing her and putting her in the coop, we realized our mistake. They don’t challenge the fence at all, but when confused and scared, they can walk right through the holes in the net fencing! Oh no!

Well they really enjoyed their evening of freedom, but we can’t take the chance on letting them out in the newly set up fence area since they could get out and get attacked / lost / eaten by predators.

So this morning, I ordered a new “poultry” net fencing, which has much smaller openings, and we will reset the fencing for them to have lots of range space! If you’re interested - here’s a link to the one we purchased. We won’t electrify it, as that could kill our chickens, but they won’t be able to walk through it either! I bet they can’t wait until Friday when it arrives! I know I can’t!

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The Great Pig Migration!

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Stuff I hate, but do anyways.