And every evening we could count on the flock returning to their chicken coop as darkness set in.  It was such a joy to watch them find their own way into the coop that occasionally, Becky and I would head down a bit early with a glass of wine and just watch them.  It was very peaceful.  

And right from the beginning, we somewhat bonded to them, and they to us.  

The likely possibilities is that predators (coyotes? Owls?) were carrying them off to eat their catch in privacy.  Or the chickens were following the creek away from the orchard only to pop their heads up into industrial agriculture land down stream.  This is not a safe place for a chicken.

Shortly thereafter, our growing chickens really found their wings and started to roost up in the branches of the apple trees.  There was now no-way to capture them at night so we were forced see how they might fare against predators on their own.   It looked hopeful at first but then we started to find the remains of one, maybe two chicken per night.  We soon realized that we needed to figure out a way to protect them better day and night if we hoped to have any chickens left by the fall.

It took us several days, but we came up with a plan.   We brought over our laying hen coop from last year (very secure, high and dry, and not in use) and connected our original 150-foot chicken wire fence to it.  We ran the fencing around a couple of healthy trees to be certain that the chickens had shade and additional shelter.  We also put their triangular coop inside the fence at the drip-line of a tree where we intend to put in an understory of perennial plants.  Once again, we will let the chickens prepare and fertilize a bed for us.

Once the new chicken camp was set up, a team of of us captured all of the chickens in one evening (before they roosted) and put them into their new home.  We decided to clip their flight feathers on one wing (commonly done – does not hurt them at all)  so that they can no longer fly up and roost in the trees at night nor fly over the 4-foot fence.  They didn’t seem to mind the clipping and it has really worked.  Not one chicken has flown the coop since we did this about 5 days ago.

Needless to say, our remaining flock of birds are beautiful and growing slowly with their healthy diet and exercise (the largest are about 4 lbs. now).  We will have to move the pen about twice a week as they eat down the grasses, but if it keeps them safe, we will gladly do it.  

It appears that for these heritage breeds, roaming the orchard will have to end about the time they start to fly and roost.  Then we will graze them around the orchard in a protected fence to minimize predator pressure and to keep them from wandering away.

If there is one thing that has been reinforced in us, it is the confirmation of just how much experience, skill, and attention to detail one must have in order to raise large quantities of food when choosing to work with nature rather than against her.  

It is also important to remember just how much more time it takes to put an activity that requires two or three visits a day when that activity is happening in what we call ‘Zone 4’ in permaculture.  We are walking or riding our bikes back and forth way too much.  

Our hats are off to all of you who care for the land and our fellow creatures in a conscious and compassionate way.

We will post again in another month…. Living, Loving and Learning…  Bill Wilson and the Chicken Crew

Interested in visiting Stelle and seeing our chicken venture up close?  
Join Us This Sunday – July 15th,  2012

CSC Open House in Stelle, IL