waders Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Hi everyone, Just a few questions about summertime! I know it's a long way off (although we did have it in April last year!) but I'm thinking ahead My patio doors lead straight out of the living room onto the patio and I like to have all doors open in the summer. How am I going to keep the girls out? Would a bead curtain work or would they try and eat the beads? I don't think a stairgate would work as I have stable doors at the back and have left the top open only to find Betty on the inside creating merry hell because she can't get out! At the moment they keep trying to get into the kitchen because I open the stable door completely to stop the aforementioned ruckus! If I get any slower they will be in before me! Personally I wouldn't mind them in as the floor is easy to clean but we have no door from the kitchen into the rest of the house. Don't think OH would like that at all and I don't want to get them into bad habits. How do you lot deal with this little problem? Any ideas gratefully listened to. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 We used some expanding trellis to stop our girls coming into the house last summer, like this. It was quick to put up and take down (handy for when you want to get in and out!), allowed the air to pass through, and meant that the girsl didn't feel completely left out Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I agree. I've made a gate out of trellis like that using an old washing line stretcher cut in half and lots of cable ties to stop mine getting through a "doorway" in a wall. It's great because it's bendy and will concertina up too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waders Posted January 22, 2008 Author Share Posted January 22, 2008 Thanks Rob and Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody here, Have your girls got there wings clipped? Mine aren't and I worry that Betty will get over the trellis, I don't really want to clip them. I can always put her out again..... and again........ and again! She really is the naughty one, always where she shouldn't be! Yesterday she was actually in the grain bin having managed to knock the lid off I really don't think the others would bother to be honest, they come over when the light is on and stand on the sill pecking the window. If you ignore them they go away! I don't mean I leave them out in the dark Our house is west/east facing so you need the lights on sometimes to read! I'm waffling now aren't I? Sorry! Thanks for the ideas, you don't think the bead curtain would work? Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 there's only one way to find out about the bead curtain! Let us know if you give it a go. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I've got two bits of trellis, one on top of the other (overlapping a bit) so it's quite high. I think if there isn't a decent sized ledge for them to jump onto first, they'd be unlikely to get over it. Mine certainly have never tried to get over mine. I'll try to get a picture of my gate so you can see what I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Here's my gate. It's not a thing of beauty but it works well. The wind goes through it so it doesn't blow over and the girls haven't worked out how to get over it (yet ). (The attractive brush feature is to hold it up as it's only held in place by one brick.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Rather than a bead curtain which may get eaten, what about one of those insect netting ones? I got two from Aldi last year, one for the back door and one for the greenhouse. No chicken has got past it yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Oh yeah mosquito net, that would also stop flies and wasps and stuff flying in. Prob want to put some weigts on the bottom otherwise any gusts of wind will just blow it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 We made a frame filled with the sort of trellis that is made of twigs, it fits into the gap when the doors are open and is held in place by blocks of woodthat slot around the door frame. I once left the doors open without it and came downstairs to find 4 chickens exploring the lounge, fortunately they hadn't left me any gifts so they can't have been there very long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Our girls tap on the patio windows when we are in the lounge, I think that they know that it is warm and cosy in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
