Night time lodging for the free range chickens Keeping some chickens on rural Florida property can create lots of problems if you want to let them free range. But if you are primarily seeking a good supply of fresh eggs for your family, free range chicken eggs are far superior to others. I guess it's just about chickens being able to "stretch their legs" and move about actively that makes a big difference.
We used to have a constant problem with "varmints" including raccoons, possum and the occasional coyote getting through the outer fencing to our property with an occasional disaster results. We came up with the perfect solution when we acquired two Great Pyrenees puppies, half brothers, two years ago. Now full grown, they patrol the grounds religiously during nighttime hours and the problem has been completely solved, or at least we thought.
Today, however, we came upon an unexpected problem in the name of Murgatroyd, a young male cat that my wife rescued several months ago. He's really an indoor cat but sometimes he just likes to sit out on the porch. At least we thought that's all he wanted, but this morning I caught him in the uncovered chicken yard in the picture and watched closely to see what he would do. Cats don't normally go after chickens, in fact they usually give them wide berth, particularly if there is a rooster nearby. But Murgatroyd just decided he was going to try his luck. I decided to stand nearby and watch, ready to jump into action if things got to dramatic.
Murgatroyd is definitely a curious cat just like the saying goes and curiosity almost got him. He walked over to several hens and they got nervous and started clucking away. Then he walked away and just stretched out in their territory for a few moments before again leisurely strolling their way. Well, now a cacophony of sound erupted, catching the attention of Mr. Roo Roo, their guardian roosterwho was nearby but on the other side of the low fencing.
He came over the fence and squared off with Murgatroyd, who didn't know what to do. He backed off and they stayed that way for a short spell, then Roo Roo came after him, chasing him around the enclosed area for a couple of laps. Now the hens were in one far corner, Mugatroyd in the other, and the rooster dead center just keeping his eye on the cat. Poor Murgatroyd didn't move a muscle, he was afraid to go over the fence fearing that any motion would rile up the old boy. Even as young as this mischievous cat is, I think he saw the spurs and didn't want any part of them.
After things quieted down, my wife who I affectionately nicknamed "Dr. Doolittle" went in the pen, picked Murgatroyd up and brought him back inside. Did he learn anything? No, because he still tries to sneak out whenever he can but at least he now knows what a rooster is. Chances are he'll never go back in that chicken coop pen again.
Just another casual day on the farm. Always some new animal adventure to observe and later chuckle about. But we love them all and they are really better than TV and the script is always original with no rehearsal. God bless them all and God bless you.
We used to have a constant problem with "varmints" including raccoons, possum and the occasional coyote getting through the outer fencing to our property with an occasional disaster results. We came up with the perfect solution when we acquired two Great Pyrenees puppies, half brothers, two years ago. Now full grown, they patrol the grounds religiously during nighttime hours and the problem has been completely solved, or at least we thought.
Today, however, we came upon an unexpected problem in the name of Murgatroyd, a young male cat that my wife rescued several months ago. He's really an indoor cat but sometimes he just likes to sit out on the porch. At least we thought that's all he wanted, but this morning I caught him in the uncovered chicken yard in the picture and watched closely to see what he would do. Cats don't normally go after chickens, in fact they usually give them wide berth, particularly if there is a rooster nearby. But Murgatroyd just decided he was going to try his luck. I decided to stand nearby and watch, ready to jump into action if things got to dramatic.
Murgatroyd is definitely a curious cat just like the saying goes and curiosity almost got him. He walked over to several hens and they got nervous and started clucking away. Then he walked away and just stretched out in their territory for a few moments before again leisurely strolling their way. Well, now a cacophony of sound erupted, catching the attention of Mr. Roo Roo, their guardian roosterwho was nearby but on the other side of the low fencing.
He came over the fence and squared off with Murgatroyd, who didn't know what to do. He backed off and they stayed that way for a short spell, then Roo Roo came after him, chasing him around the enclosed area for a couple of laps. Now the hens were in one far corner, Mugatroyd in the other, and the rooster dead center just keeping his eye on the cat. Poor Murgatroyd didn't move a muscle, he was afraid to go over the fence fearing that any motion would rile up the old boy. Even as young as this mischievous cat is, I think he saw the spurs and didn't want any part of them.
After things quieted down, my wife who I affectionately nicknamed "Dr. Doolittle" went in the pen, picked Murgatroyd up and brought him back inside. Did he learn anything? No, because he still tries to sneak out whenever he can but at least he now knows what a rooster is. Chances are he'll never go back in that chicken coop pen again.
Just another casual day on the farm. Always some new animal adventure to observe and later chuckle about. But we love them all and they are really better than TV and the script is always original with no rehearsal. God bless them all and God bless you.
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