Tales from the Coop
A life with animals was one I had long known well. The responsibility of their care came naturally and always held joy for me. For the most part, the change in routine that came with keeping chickens felt seamless for my husband and me, city slickers though we used to be. Overall, they fit right into our homebody lifestyle.
But mistakes are made, and nobody is perfect. The first time we experienced a fox attack was early one fall morning with our first flock of hens. I had failed to close up the coop the night before (we had been out to dinner), and the chickens were out roaming in the dewy, unmowed grass (a chore that my husband hadn’t gotten to the weekend before). Between the two of us, we had unintentionally set up the perfect conditions for a fox to have a chicken breakfast. By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late for Rita, our white Easter Egger hen. I caught a glimpse of the fox at the edge of our wooded property just as she was fleeing the scene. The vixen paused and turned to look at me, with Rita in her mouth. Then she gracefully dashed into the tree line.
It’s important to be as prepared as possible for the lifestyle changes that come with keeping chickens, but it’s equally important to forgive yourself when you do your best and accidents happen. Every chicken keeper will experience the loss of his or her birds sooner or later. We can then learn from our mistakes and become better wardens of our birds.
Fencing
Fencing used to keep chickens out of gardens need not be fancy or even heavy duty for that matter. It only needs to serve as a barrier to keep marauding chickens out (or in, depending on how you use it). This means most of your options won’t be terribly costly or difficult to install.
If your chicken fencing serves dual purposes of protecting your gardens from chickens and protecting your chickens from predators, turn to chapter 10 for a more detailed guide on predator proofing. If your neighborhood is home to loose-roaming dogs, it would be wise to consider dual-purpose fencing.
Assuming you simply want to deter your chickens from destroying your gardens, there are several simple fencing options.
Chain Link. Chain-link fencing is very durable and a common fencing option for many homeowners; however, it is quite expensive to use for simply keeping chickens out of unwanted areas. Consider chain-link fencing for perimeter use or for your own use. If you already have chain-link fencing erected on your property, it will work very well at keeping chickens corralled. Fortunately, for those putting up new fencing, there are many other chicken-friendly options.
Chicken Wire. Though the mesh is too thin for all-purpose predator protection, chicken wire fencing is one of the best options for keeping chickens out of unwanted areas. It’s inexpensive (comparable in cost to plastic), supereasy to find, and installation takes minutes. Farm supply stores will often sell metal posts for bracing that do not require hardware or the use of tools; wood posts also work well but will require some minor hardware to install properly. Chicken wire is available in a variety of lengths and widths, is easy to move, and looks clean and rustic in a gardenscape.
Decorative Garden Fencing. Decorative landscape fencing is usually available at home and garden stores and is manufactured in a dizzying array of styles, colors, height, designs, and patterns. Decorative fencing is commonly made from new or recycled plastic or metal. While inexpensive and pretty, decorative garden fencing is usually rather ineffective: Many styles are too low and chickens will simply hop over them. Others are tall but have wide openings through which a chicken can easily squeeze. Decorative fencing may work to deter new chickens for a little while, but they’ll eventually become curious and determined to investigate what lies on the other side.
Electric Fencing/Netting. Electric poultry netting has many pros: It’s easy to move and set up anew, it’s affordable, and it’s incredibly effective. Unlike other garden fencing options, electric netting will successfully keep predators out and chickens in. This is a favorite option for many chicken keepers, since it offers the peace of mind of knowing the chickens are safely enclosed. Of course, any electric fencing relies on electricity, so it is susceptible to power outages and other related snafus. If you choose electric netting, keep the weeds and grass mowed below the fencing, since overgrowth can cause the fence to short out. Also investigate solar-powered fencing to keep electric bills down and to have a reliable source of power. Electric fencing isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as some other options, but it does the job well.
Hog Fencing. Another handsome fencing option is hog fencing. With its large, square openings (about 4 in. [10 cm] per side), small predators such as weasels, snakes, mice, and rats, as well as tiny chicks and very young birds, may walk through freely, but it is suitable for keeping adult chickens confined to an area. Hog fencing panels are more expensive than either plastic or chicken wire and not very easy to move once installed, but they work well and make great garden fencing.
Plastic. Plastic fencing is popular for its accessibility, its ease of installation, and its low price tag. Made of vinyl or PVC, plastic fencing is available in a variety of mesh sizes, shapes, and colors and makes great temporary fencing. Unfortunately, plastic has several drawbacks: The material is incredibly flimsy and becomes brittle with the fluctuating temperatures of many seasons. Plus, any determined predator can knock it down or chew right through it, getting to your chickens quickly. What’s more, broken fencing leads to a lot of wasted material and money.
Wood. A great natural source of fencing material, wood may look beautiful in a garden. Unfortunately, wood privacy fencing is rather large and may require professional installation, adding a significant increase to the cost. Picket fences may be used to partition off gardens but are not easy to move once installed. Depending on the height, chickens may fly up to perch on wood fencing and fly onto the other side, gaining access to everything that is off limits.
Chickens will find a vegetable garden an attractive source of bugs, worms, seeds, and nuts, so installing a barrier is the only way to protect your valuable plantings.
Hardscapes: Concrete, Stone, Decking, and Gravel
Patios, decks, stone pathways, and other garden features beautify spaces and make outdoor living easy and comfortable. The chickens that share these spaces will navigate them in much the way humans do: They’ll come and go as they please, walking on any surface you or I might walk on. Hardscapes are rarely a deterrent for chicken traffic.
The major considerations when introducing chickens to hardscapes is the challenge of keeping them clean. As chickens graze and meander throughout the day, they’ll leave droppings in their wake. You’ll likely want to keep heavily trafficked outdoor areas clean to avoid tracking manure into your home or car. If you keep a small flock of hens, cleaning droppings with a cat litter scooper is a viable option but one that will probably become tiresome and tedious over the years. Instead, you may want to install only garden features with excellent drainage.
Deck railings, fence posts, and low fencing all make enticing perches for backyard chickens. As you’ll learn in later chapters, the preening and grooming that follows dust-bathing is a social activity that often takes place in small groups while perching. And as chickens perch, they poop. You can either restrict your flock to certain areas of your backyard or make your peace with poop.
Know the Cold, Hard Facts
Still wondering exactly what you’re getting into? Here are some cold, hard facts to think about before getting started with chickens.
Expect to get dirty. Chickens are messy. They eat like teenage boys, stand on every available surface, and they poop whenever (and wherever) the mood strikes.
Expect to give tours of your coop. For neighbors, friends, and family, your hen’s house will become a small attraction (as if you needed another reason to keep