Comments on: Chicken Hawk - What the…….. http://backtobasicliving.com/blog/chicken-hawk-what-the/ Our adventure into Homesteading and getting back to basic living. Life is tough, but living doesn't have to be. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:56:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: basicliving@backtobasicliving.com http://backtobasicliving.com/blog/chicken-hawk-what-the/#comment-120 basicliving@backtobasicliving.com Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:48:00 +0000 http://backtobasicliving.com/blog/chicken-hawk-what-the/#comment-120 Janet - it's good your guinea keets learned a lesson by spending a night outside! I'm sure it drove you crazy knowing they were out and not being able to find them.<br/><br/>Kelly - when it starts getting dusk, my chickens head into their coop automatically. They've always done this on their own and since they've been allowed in the run for quite a while and I've watched them turn in at night, I was fairly confident that they would go back to the coop once we let them out in the yard to free range. The key is to let them do it on their own - or you'll end up chasing chickens half the night! I usually have 1 or 2 stragglers, and if I decide it's time to call it an evening and there are still 1 or 2 outside in the yard, I take some scratch or a snack into the chicken run and call "Chick chick chick" and they run into the chicken run to eat so I can close the gate once everyone is safely in. So I would say if yours currently go into the coop when it's time for bed, they will continue to do that even when they are free ranging - and if you have a couple of stragglers, use whatever method you currently use to get them to come running for food. Mine are trained with "chick chick chick" - and when they hear that they come running to get a snack.<br/><br/>Hope that helps!<br/><br/>Penny Janet - it’s good your guinea keets learned a lesson by spending a night outside! I’m sure it drove you crazy knowing they were out and not being able to find them.

Kelly - when it starts getting dusk, my chickens head into their coop automatically. They’ve always done this on their own and since they’ve been allowed in the run for quite a while and I’ve watched them turn in at night, I was fairly confident that they would go back to the coop once we let them out in the yard to free range. The key is to let them do it on their own - or you’ll end up chasing chickens half the night! I usually have 1 or 2 stragglers, and if I decide it’s time to call it an evening and there are still 1 or 2 outside in the yard, I take some scratch or a snack into the chicken run and call “Chick chick chick” and they run into the chicken run to eat so I can close the gate once everyone is safely in. So I would say if yours currently go into the coop when it’s time for bed, they will continue to do that even when they are free ranging - and if you have a couple of stragglers, use whatever method you currently use to get them to come running for food. Mine are trained with “chick chick chick” - and when they hear that they come running to get a snack.

Hope that helps!

Penny

]]> By: Kelly or Alex http://backtobasicliving.com/blog/chicken-hawk-what-the/#comment-117 Kelly or Alex Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:07:00 +0000 http://backtobasicliving.com/blog/chicken-hawk-what-the/#comment-117 Im glad that you were there to keep the hawk at bay! I do have a question. How do you get the chickens to go back into the pen at bedtime? I want to let my hens out while I am there to watch them and I am afraid that they won't go back in when its time. We have 40 Partridge Rocks who just started laying. It's so exciting. I love my girls and Samson the one rooster. He is a happy boy. Thanks for any help.<br/>Kelly<br/>MainelyEwesFarm.Blogspot.com Im glad that you were there to keep the hawk at bay! I do have a question. How do you get the chickens to go back into the pen at bedtime? I want to let my hens out while I am there to watch them and I am afraid that they won’t go back in when its time. We have 40 Partridge Rocks who just started laying. It’s so exciting. I love my girls and Samson the one rooster. He is a happy boy. Thanks for any help.
Kelly
MainelyEwesFarm.Blogspot.com

]]> By: The Mom http://backtobasicliving.com/blog/chicken-hawk-what-the/#comment-116 The Mom Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:32:00 +0000 http://backtobasicliving.com/blog/chicken-hawk-what-the/#comment-116 While we've seen many hawks around here, thankfully, we've not lost a chicken to them. I did wonder about the guinea keets when we let them out and I suspect they are still somewhat at risk, but I know the chickens are safe, as we've had them a long time. The guinea keets have spent one night alone outside, as we couldn't find them. It appears they were under the barn. Since then, they've not ventured out. All our chickens come in of the own accord at dark. We've not locked them up in several years. <br/>Blessings, Janet in Lacey While we’ve seen many hawks around here, thankfully, we’ve not lost a chicken to them. I did wonder about the guinea keets when we let them out and I suspect they are still somewhat at risk, but I know the chickens are safe, as we’ve had them a long time. The guinea keets have spent one night alone outside, as we couldn’t find them. It appears they were under the barn. Since then, they’ve not ventured out. All our chickens come in of the own accord at dark. We’ve not locked them up in several years.
Blessings, Janet in Lacey

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