Raising chickens in the mountains

[brokenscout]

Get a couple Anatolian Shepherds

[Limited GM]

I'm sure many here will frown on such practices, but many times predators like these can be dealt with a well placed conibear trap. (Look it up)

just have to keep in mind that they will not pick and choose. Whatever sticks its head in, is going to die. Placement is everything. I know a 78 yr old woman who was plagued with armadillos digging into her yard and ruining her fenced in garden. In 18 nights they caught 17! They've not had an issue since. Nasty ass critters. YMMV.

[Dave]

Well no, not really a beer fan but I do distill spirits. A little goes a long way actually. Just like the critters don't waste it all in one shot either when marking. Fence posts, trees, rocks, etc., its not a technique everyone will appreciate perhaps but its low tech, low cost and highly effective as I've not yet lost a chicken to a predator in all these years. As mentioned, once every couple weeks is sufficient. If its not something someone wants to do then pass.

Badger

Edit to add: I don't mark the entire property, that would be impossible. Only the regions of high concern. Again don't like it, don't do it. Was only posting for consideration.

Hope you're federally licensed for the still, or I would not be posting on the net about alcohol being in it. TTB might be watching. Might want to read up on Title 27 of US Code of Federal Regulations.

[Irving]

Hope you're federally licensed for the still, or I would not be posting on the net about alcohol being in it. TTB might be watching. Might want to read up on Title 27 of US Code of Federal Regulations.

Doesn't matter unless you are selling it. Or so I hear from a distiller that I know.

[Dave]

Unlike wine or beer, the laws and regulations governing distilled spirits contain no provision that would allow someone to produce spirits in their home for personal use. Under 26 U.S.C. Section 5171 operations as a distiller, warehouseman or processor may be conducted only on the bonded premises of a qualified distilled spirits plant. To qualify such a plant, a registration, application for permit and bond must be filed in addition to other supporting organizational documents. 26 U.S.C. 5178 places restrictions on where a plant can be located.

Merely producing drinkable distilled spirits without a license is a federal offense. Homebrewing and home wine making are legalized by federal law unless a state law keeps it illegal. Law also states that all stills in the US are limited to 1 gallon for use to purify water or extract oils from plants. Anyone who produces a still must register with ATF and TTB the name and address of who they sold it to.

[Irving]

That's what I thought from reading into this before. Sounds like the reality is that you won't attract attention unless you start selling. Seems like many laws that aren't an issue until you find yourself on the wrong side of it.

[Badger]

Hope you're federally licensed for the still, or I would not be posting on the net about alcohol being in it. TTB might be watching. Might want to read up on Title 27 of US Code of Federal Regulations.

Thanks for your concern, I have everything I need to be legit as was discussed in here years ago and beaten like a dead horse by google warriors who think they're in the know. Again, thank you, but everything is on the up and up on this end.

Badger

[MED]

My neighbor's spent a lot of time on fences both chain and electrified until they got tired of fixing it all the time and now use dogs. Their fence keeps the dogs in and the dogs keep everything else out. Two well trained GSDs will keep the predator's off of your property; you need at least two.

I have bear kills left on my property occasionally. Bears will destroy any enclosure if they want something.

[GilpinGuy]

I'm seriously considering getting chickens in the spring - never had them before so I'm doing a lot of reading and trying to get a plan together as well as know what I'm getting myself into.

I'm at 9000 feet, so I'm wondering: how you manage the run in the winter? Obviously it will be covered in snow most of the time. Do you just let them run around in the snow? Do you have to clear the snow out of there? Do you keep them in some sort of enclosed structure in the winter?

[ChunkyMonkey]

I hope this helps a tad. When I was young and skinny - I raised a flock of chickens. Where I was, we had mansoon seasons which lasted 3-6 months of almost daily rain. The trick back then was NOT to clean the coop, because the feces actualy insulate the cage.

In most Colorado winter, chicken should survive fine in an open coop (just like pigeon if you collect those). In extreme cold or thick snow, add a couple heat lamps. Same trick, dont clean the poop during the cold months.