Chickens Gone Wild!
About a year ago chickens we did not purchase or raise began to show up and
steal food we put out for our free range poultry. They decided to stay and sleep in
the trees near the chicken pen. The first 2 to arrive didn't survive long before they
fell prey to a stray cat that slinks around in the thick woods that make up much of
Boggybottom.
The 3rd chicken to take up residence is the hen on the left above. We named her
Blackie. The rooster next to her in the photo we call Ugly, (pronounced "yougly").
He arrived with a black hen we assumed to be his mama. He was black as coal
when he arrived but soon began to transform into the psychedelic outfit you see
above. He also began to crow and force his attentions on any hen he could catch,
with the result that we suddenly have 13 new chicks being attended by 2 mother
hens.
steal food we put out for our free range poultry. They decided to stay and sleep in
the trees near the chicken pen. The first 2 to arrive didn't survive long before they
fell prey to a stray cat that slinks around in the thick woods that make up much of
Boggybottom.
The 3rd chicken to take up residence is the hen on the left above. We named her
Blackie. The rooster next to her in the photo we call Ugly, (pronounced "yougly").
He arrived with a black hen we assumed to be his mama. He was black as coal
when he arrived but soon began to transform into the psychedelic outfit you see
above. He also began to crow and force his attentions on any hen he could catch,
with the result that we suddenly have 13 new chicks being attended by 2 mother
hens.
Above is Ugly's mama teaching 8 of Uglys children how to steal feed from the
duck's bowl. Chickens don't seem to concern themselves with moral issues.
duck's bowl. Chickens don't seem to concern themselves with moral issues.
Ugly turns on the charm.
Blackie with 5 of Ugly's children. He
never even calls.
never even calls.
It's difficult to know what our environmental responsibility is with these volunteer
chickens. Being a hobby farm we don't feel like killing the critters living here, but
as the number of chickens increases, (especially roosters) we may be forced to
reevaluate our position on the matter. Of course, during economic hard times it
could be a boon to have a mess of wild chickens running around the county.
chickens. Being a hobby farm we don't feel like killing the critters living here, but
as the number of chickens increases, (especially roosters) we may be forced to
reevaluate our position on the matter. Of course, during economic hard times it
could be a boon to have a mess of wild chickens running around the county.
These volunteer chickens sleep in the trees, and attempts to increase the height
of my chicken yard fence to 10 feet by adding poultry netting in order to capture
them did not work. I've watched them fly straight up 12 or 15 feet like some kind
of a flapping, squawking helicopter. The next step is to stretch netting over the
top of the yard. Ideally I should try to provide nesting boxes and perches before
the capture attempt in hopes of convincing the wild chickens they would be more
protected and comfortable in the chicken yard at night.
of my chicken yard fence to 10 feet by adding poultry netting in order to capture
them did not work. I've watched them fly straight up 12 or 15 feet like some kind
of a flapping, squawking helicopter. The next step is to stretch netting over the
top of the yard. Ideally I should try to provide nesting boxes and perches before
the capture attempt in hopes of convincing the wild chickens they would be more
protected and comfortable in the chicken yard at night.
Actually these chickens can serve a
similar function to the chicken
tractor idea with the advantage of
not having to move the cage every
day. With the chicken tractor I
always felt sorry for the chickens
being confined to such a small,
crowded space.
All God's creatures deserve some
enjoyment of life.
similar function to the chicken
tractor idea with the advantage of
not having to move the cage every
day. With the chicken tractor I
always felt sorry for the chickens
being confined to such a small,
crowded space.
All God's creatures deserve some
enjoyment of life.