We're new to chicken keeping and have been lurking round reading this forum for a couple of weeks now and getting some great advise - thanks.
We got 2 hybrids and 3 bantams just over a week ago and have been loving the whole experience. I could watch them for hours
All such great little characters.
We have built a completely enclosed run that is 2.5m by 5m. The idea being that we could leave them locked up for a couple of days if we are away and then they will still have plenty of room to move about. But we planned to let them free range in the garden when we are around.
So yesterday was the first day that we let them out in the garden all day. When I got home from work I found my other half frantically searching the garden - we only had 3 chickens.
2 bantams were missing.
We started searching the neighbours gardens and found one them hiding under a bush obviously in a state of shock because she hardly moved but no signs of injury. She seemed to recover when we put her back in the run with the other chooks.
In another neighbours gardens we found a pile of feathers but no chicken. And a very content looking cat. :evil:
So now we are in a real dilemma. We want out chooks to have a good life and be able to free range but if we're not in the garden with them we'll be constantly worried about the bantams. I think the 2 bigger girls will be able to hold their own against a cat. We don't want to have to separate them either.
We're wondering whether we should clip their wings so they can't get into other gardens but then will they be able to get away from predators. Our garden is surrounded by 5 or 6ft fencing so we thought that would keep them in - apparently not!
I guess this is just a fact of life with chickens but its not a great start so any advise would gratefully received.