Di Gib below beat me to it. Everyone I know has had at least one chicken massacre, usually from raccoons. I've considered getting chickens several times, but with an electric fence, and fortified fences, I still can't keep the critters out and away from my bee hives and apple trees. We are stymied. I just can't stand the thought of a chicken blood bath. I offer this to let folks know that it's worthwhile, but very challenging.
I've had chickens off and on several times in my life. When I first heard of the Bird flu a year ago I decided it was best to get back into them. I now have 8 hens that started laying last fall. The dilemma is whether or not to keep them pinned or let them free range. If you let them range and you have a garden you have a problem, chickens will wreak havoc on a garden, so you either pen your chickens or fence your garden. I keep my chickens penned up under my meat rabbit cages, it works wonderfully, the constant scratching of the chickens aids in the composting of the rabbit shit and they eat the dropped food and hay. Good luck with the cattle, I've got a dozen cow/calf pairs and feed and hay are through the roof right now.
Di Gib below beat me to it. Everyone I know has had at least one chicken massacre, usually from raccoons. I've considered getting chickens several times, but with an electric fence, and fortified fences, I still can't keep the critters out and away from my bee hives and apple trees. We are stymied. I just can't stand the thought of a chicken blood bath. I offer this to let folks know that it's worthwhile, but very challenging.
Just be ready for every predator within miles to show up, hard!
I've had chickens off and on several times in my life. When I first heard of the Bird flu a year ago I decided it was best to get back into them. I now have 8 hens that started laying last fall. The dilemma is whether or not to keep them pinned or let them free range. If you let them range and you have a garden you have a problem, chickens will wreak havoc on a garden, so you either pen your chickens or fence your garden. I keep my chickens penned up under my meat rabbit cages, it works wonderfully, the constant scratching of the chickens aids in the composting of the rabbit shit and they eat the dropped food and hay. Good luck with the cattle, I've got a dozen cow/calf pairs and feed and hay are through the roof right now.