Chicken Massacre: Protecting our animals (

Chuck and I are at our wits end after almost all of our chickens are killed. Major cleaning and reinforcing of our coop is accomplished for our new chicks.

[@michelleblandine]

Hello Anderson family so good to see you guys again 😊, so sorry about the loss of your chicken I hope they are very safe now 🙏 will definitely watch the movie and spread the word.Enjoy the rest of your weekend ❤

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

Hello Michelle! Yes, it has been a hug bummer losing all of the chickens, especially the babies 😢. We are praying the new reinforced coop keeps all the new babies and the two hens safe from here on out. Praying for you and your family and hoping all is well!

[@michelleblandine]

@@freedomranchhomestead7961 Hello 😊we are well by God's grace than 😊 for the prayers we remember you too in our prayers my daughter was so mad at the racoon! enjoy your new week ❤️

[@denisedavis6596]

I love how much you care. I’m very sorry about the loss of all your chickens. Wildlife can be rough sometimes. I had chickens YEARS ago, I would sit and “visit” them for hours at a time. I only had 8 hens and one rooster but they entertained me each day. Sound of freedom was a very moving film.

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

I love the chickens so much! Especially when they see you coming and start running to you...cracks me up every time. It has definitely been a learning experience on how to keep them safe from predators, but we seem to have it figured out now! Thanks for watching Denise ❤️

[@MichaelDoering-js2gl]

Hi guys, sorry for the loss. That chicken wire is garbage, it is only good to keep your chickens in not predators out. I use corn crib wire, you use fence staples to secure it and it will be for the life of your chicken tractor. Good luck and take care. 🇨🇦

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

Thank you for the suggestion! We are learning, but unfortunately at the expense of our chickens. We will definitely invest in some corn crib wire! Thank for watching 😁

[@Cindy-xc4ig]

Sorry about the chickens. Glad you came up with a solution! Just saw Sound of Freedom! Thanks for promoting it! Such a tragedy. It needs to be exposed.

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

Hi Cindy! So far the solution has kept all our new chicks safe! Glad you saw the Sound of Freedom! Such a tragedy😢

[@themafusa]

I live in Seoul Korea (one of the most populated/dense places on earth) working as an attorney but grew up in Virginia so I’m a huge fan of your channel and love your stories and it’s my dream/goal to do what you doing after I retire from law practice. Thank you so much for the tips and motivation. Hope to meet you one day. Cheers.

[@chuckanderson1770]

That is so cool! Hopefully you watched the video on Peter (our South Korean refugee from Ukraine. Crazy story, but our world is not that big anymore. I hope you get to live your dreams soon. Life is short!

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

You have no idea how much this brightened Chuck & my evening to read this! We pray you can make it back to VA and make your dream come true. I'm sure you saw this, but Peter, our "exchange student" is from Seoul. He was pretty blown away with how different things are here in the country 😆

[@rogercox1051]

So sorry about your chicks! Our bear is back, we thought it would be safe to put the bird feeders back as the berries are in, lasted 3 days, one torn off today. Love the videos.

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

Oh no! I'm sorry it is back. We hadn't had any sightings or occurrences here in the last couple of weeks. He just loves those seeds 😁

[@Highgear145]

Put a game cam on the chicken house

[@ktmac7610]

I use one that sends pics to my phone.

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

We definitely know it's raccoons (we have caught 3 so far), but if something breaks in again, a trail cam will definitely be going in!

[@CCRider5312]

MY FAVORITE VIRGINIA KZbin HOMESTEAD FAMILY !!!! 👍🏼😁👍🏼 👏😁❤️

[@chuckanderson1770]

Your so kind!

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

We appreciate you so much!!! Chuck and I always love hearing from you

[@househen1]

Oh no my beloved chickens 😢. I know you two will get this figured out soon.

[@chuckanderson1770]

We hate that they cannot free range but at least they are safe now. Glad to see you back :-)

[@gcranch9913]

Unfortunately more homesteaders that have no idea what they’re doing

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

We never claimed to know what we are doing, just that we are willing to do everything we can to learn. We are trying to show that no one is perfect at this and that there is a major learning curve, which we are experiencing first hand.

[@chrishamilton-wearing3232]

An idea for a quick and inexpensive enclosed chicken run which may be of interest to you. Check out a video by Nick Tamble - DIY PVC greenhouse. Instead of using a plastic cover use wire mesh ( hardware cloth ? ) and you have a run that is lighter than one made out of wood and therefore easier to move. Another video to watch is " DIY PVC greenhouse in a day" by Living the God life. Same sort of thing with a slight variation. Either way, I suggest you don't use chicken wire if you have raccoons as they can bite their way through without too much problem. Hope this helps.

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

Thank you for your suggestions! We will definitely look into the videos!

[@galewatts6349]

What are you going to do with all those eggs? Been there, done that…never again. Came home one day after being gone a half hour and my yard was littered with dead hens. The ACO said neighbor’s dog. Nothing taken and all were accounted for. So sad, they were my girls…

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

I am so sorry for your loss. That is so rough, especially knowing it was a neighbors dog and wasn't used for its nourishment. It truly is devastating 😩. As for the eggs, 50 of the chicks are meat birds. The remaining 25, we aren't sure how many are roosters yet. As for the eggs that will come from the hens in that group, they will be devoured 🤤

[@galewatts6349]

Good for you, those meat birds are the best. I am lucky here to live where there are farmers raising livestock humanely and processing them as well. I get the result with none of the work! Too old for that any more. I think what you are doing is wonderful, so rewarding. Hoping to visit your mom in the Fall, wherever she may be.

[@ScottAnderson-dz3hc]

Sorry to hear of the loss of your chickens! You’ve probably already thought of it, but a trail cam might help identify how and what’s getting into your chicken coop. We definitely want to see Sound of Freedom, we’ve seen and heard a lot of great feedback on the movie! Take care, we look forward to seeing your future progress!

[@chuckanderson1770]

I should do that, but we know for sure raccoons, possum and foxes. If this doesn’t do it we will get a camera:-).

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

Yes, it has been a bummer to have lost so many. We are hoping our reinforcements do the trick. So far the new chicks and two remaining hens have been safe!

[@user-gj1nc2hc4x]

it would be so nice to hear what the man has to say without being rudely interrupted........g

[@CCRider5312]

I’ve got a suggestion Brooke and Chuck: I know your German Shepherds stay in your house at Night. U guys need to get you a livestock Guardian Dog ! There are breeds of Dogs that are bred just for their life being that sole purpose! They will run off attack and even kill any predators that try to get to their family (which will be your livestock). You leave them outside Year round and they guard & protect all your livestock. They’ll pay for themselves in no time by keeping your livestock safe and alive from predators. Coyotes and bears are not a match for these protectors. The Great Pyrenees as the most popular, they have been known to kill bear, wolves and many other predators that don’t belong! These are gentle giants to their families and the animals they grow up around, but they’re fierce protectors against practically any predator regardless of size. Also a guard goose is a great asset to have with your chickens to wart off predators. Being in those mountains ⛰ 🏔 wouldn’t hurt that you guys had both living amongst and with with your livestock 24/7/365. 😁👍🏻

[@lytomagbato1688]

I agree on this one. Get atleast a couple of guard dogs.

[@ktmac7610]

I have an Anatolian Shepard he’s a pet/ guard dog. I let him inside during the day but even if he’s inside he knows when something’s up and goes out. I’m in Louisiana and that’s why I let him in during the day, it’s been especially hot. If it’s freezing outside you can’t get him to come in! 😂

[@chuckanderson1770]

Both great ideas! We have discussed both options but probably will start with a guard goose at some point. Not sure my shepherds would take too kindly to a guard dog. For now we think our chickens are safe.

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

I love Great Pyrenees! We have definitely thought about having one but Capone is not very friendly with other dogs (except for his girlfriend, Capella, of course 🥰!)

[@freedomranchhomestead7961]

I have never heard of an Anatolian Shepard...will definitely look into the breed!