On Fri, 16 May 2008 07:52:55 +0100, Jill wrote
(in article <694p60F2vghhjU1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>):
> Sally Thompson wrote:
>
<snip>
>>
>> However, we have about an acre of fairly wild land which I would like
>> the hens to have free access to at all other times - ie, when we are
>> around during the day. One boundary has a 6 ft close-boarded fence,
>> and two others have stock fence which is rabbit-proofed. I hope that
>> will be sufficient to stop them wandering into the lane, the reed bed
>> next door and so on.
>
> Chickens will meander around their locality during hte day but aren't
aiming
> for the great escape, If the area around their housing is interesting,
they
> will use that well and not stray.
> Their food should be kept ina hopper inside the house, and the nestboxes
are
> there, with their water outside, so they have a locus to return to
during
> the day. They don't 'go off' and away, they explore from their base to
which
> they come back at intervals. It tends to be where they will come to
shelter
> in inclement weather too.
I'm really looking forward to seeing them pottering about. I hope also
that
if they get to know me they will tend to stay more in my area than
venturing
too far. Certainly when I feed my neighbour's birds they all rush up to
greet me, whether it is feeding time or not.
> However, our back boundary slopes down to a
>> stream, which has a couple of husband-made bridges over and then just
>> stock fence the other side of the stream (not our boundary). The
>> bridges are both reached down some rough steps. Are the hens likely
>> to go down the steps and over the bridges do you think? If they go
>> over to the other bank they can of course then wander down the
>> opposite bank of the stream, possibly never to be seen again.
>
> While they 'could' they probably won't.
> Site the their house at the other end of the garden and it will have
little
> attraction for them in comparison to the rest of the great sounding
ground
> you have.
>
> Have fun with your new birds.
Thanks as always for your good advice Jill. It has been a long wait!
--
Sally in Shrop****re, UK
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