The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Bert on March 02, 2012, 08:44:36 am
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Last weekend in the rain we put up the chicken run. It always rains when you don't want it to. Half way through the construction proses we got the feeling we were being watched. We had a look around and saw these two sitting in a tree the other side of the field behind our house.
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w57/bobhastie/smallholder/IMG_7368.jpg)
Our local pair of white tailed eagles seemed quite happy watching us slipping around in the mud.
We got it finished under the watchful eye of the eagles. and the chickens moved in on Sunday.
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w57/bobhastie/smallholder/IMG_7372.jpg)
And here is a very fuzzy pic of one of my girls.
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w57/bobhastie/smallholder/IMG_7391.jpg)
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Where do you live to see White- tailed eagles? I hope they haven't got their beady eyes on your chickens :o
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your going to have some fit chickens running up and down that slope
is the top of the run netted to protect from eagles?
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When you do construct your roof for your pen you will make to make sure the wire is maintained well, no loose ends, and overly saggy parts.
There was an incident here in fife not that long ago, where a sea eagle got into a pen of geese through an old faulty wire pen roof and became trapped, i think it did kill a goose before realising it was trapped then went into a state of panic, then the goose owner released the eagle the panic stricken bird flew straight over his head, but it's talons clipped causing a few fairly bad cuts!! the sea eagle flew into the side of a barn knocking itself out, and was then removed by trained RSPB officials - sadly this sea eagle collided with a train not long after re-release
the rspsb did relplace the wire on the whole run as compensation, but in my opinion the wire should have been fit for purpose!.
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but also...
well done on completely a great chickne house, despite the weather!
the first one we built, it hailed - there was I holding up this shed side, hail running down my neck while my o/h was shouting "don't let go, we need to keep going!!"
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I'm a little worried Bert, according to your map, it's a
little very wet where you live ;D
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That's a very impressive piece of construction work Bert. I bet the chickens enjoy the slope as well, rather than a boring flat piece of land.
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There isn't net on the top of the run. The run is least then 5m from the house I'm 99% shore the white tails won't come that close to the house for, lets be honest, a pitiful snack of chicken when there is always a dead sheep or deer up on the hill witch is A) more substantial meal and B) they don't have to be brave to get it.
Penninehillbilly I may as well live in the loch to day It's blowing a hoolie and lashing down :(