Sustainable Living Practices: Free Range Flocks, Challenges and Tips

Sustainable living practices have seemingly grown in popularity over the past decade. This is partially due to the increased ease of access to informational resources. However, I believe more people are seeking these off the grid life styles and experimenting with sustainable living practices because we are beginning to acknowledge just how far modern day society has pulled us away from our roots. Communing with Nature is part of our human heritage. It bonds us to the land and gives us a sense of purpose and place in this life. It has the power to heal us both physically and mentally. Knowing Nature allows us to get to know our selves and, as the saying goes, the way of things. By putting our energies into learning more about the Land we live on and the Nature we’re surrounded by, we begin to see life on this planet in a new light. Living off the Land and learning to work with Nature doesn’t just happen. It takes time, patience, hard work, respect, and a dedication to learning.
The other evening I had an interesting conversation with a lady that has been experimenting with one of the many sustainable living practices. Maintaining free range chickens. I started to think about the challenges of sustainable living as she talked about wildlife poaching her free range chickens. She mentioned how the clearing of a wooded area near her farm resulted in an influx of predators preying on her flock. The logging of the tract of woods near her home forced the wildlife to seek out new habitat, and, in this case, easier food. Clear cuts are a common scene on the Eastern Shore. As more infrastructure is built to accommodate an ever increasing population, we will continue to see a loss of wooded areas. It stands to reason, then, that as we infringe on the habitat of wildlife, that wildlife will infringe on us.  Tackling the problem of population and our sprawl across the Land might be something to delve into further with a book. However, The Marsh seems a fitting platform to provide some helpful tips for our followers that have ran into the problem of predators preying on their free range chickens. After a little research, I’ve compiled a list of methods that may help some members of your flock by protecting them from common predators in the area. Many of you likely are aware of some of these methods. Some of them, hopefully, are new ideas that you can apply and see if they work for you. As always, comments and suggestions are welcome. Enjoy your day, and remember to get outside and commune with Nature….there’s a lot to learn.
 
How To Deter Predators And Keep Your Free Range Chickens Safe

1. First and foremost, knowing what kinds of wildlife are in your area will help you determine the kind of defense mechanism/s you utilize. Pay attention to your surroundings and take note of the various wildlife you see in proximity to your land. The Department of Natural Resources is also a nice site to glance through and see the many kinds of wildlife that reside throughout the area.
2. A good coop that serves as shelter and safety for your chickens is essential. The Happy Chicken Coop is a good resource for information, and they have put together an array of ways to build a coop and several elements that can be incorporated into your coop that will help keep wildlife out.
3. Keeping your property clear of overgrowth means one less place for a potential predator to hide and stalk your flock.
4. Maintain good house keeping. Excess feed can lure in wildlife, especially rodents.
5. Keep tabs on any potential snakes that may be near your chickens. They will rob you of eggs! If you find that snakes are present, try relocating them at a safer distance.
6. Similar to tip #5, be sure to gather any eggs that have been laid on a daily basis.
7. Motion sensor lighting has shown to be effective at keeping nocturnal predators away.
8. Hanging CD’s or reflective material in the vicinity of your chickens’ typical stomping grounds serves as a deterrent against birds of prey.
9. Install an electric fence around your properties proximity.
10. Having a safety shelter on the property will give your flock a space to take refugee if birds of prey are presenting problems. These can be erected much the same way as garden hoop houses, with a metal meshing/fence fixed over the pvc pipes to keep birds from getting to your chickens.
11. ROOSTERS! They serve to protect! Get a couple of these guys to accommodate your flock and many wildlife threats will be avoided.
12. Dogs also can act to keep wildlife away.

 

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