Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[ukspeedtraps]

Hi

 

We are going to take the plunge and get some girls. We have an area in the garden that’s always been a bit of a dumping ground and not used. I constructed a web page with photographs and a plan for you all to have a look at. (please note it on my main website, they will not be subjected to laser guns and gatso’s they can run round my garden as fast as they want!!)

 

http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/chick.htm

 

We have some questions as we are new to having chickens.

 

1, I think this area is okay in size, is it? (4 chickens)

 

2, On the boundary side there is a 12ft brick wall that comes up from the neighbour, a wood feather edge fence sits on that with a trellis on top of that. So unless a fox is a serious mountain climber then I think that side is safe. But do we need to do anything to the fence - Will the chickens damage the fence and try to make holes. Any advice here please.

 

3, the fence behind the garage will need making stronger as this does not have the brick wall under it. I will cover this in wire and dig some in to the ground as I feel this is the only way in for a fox.

 

4, Do we need a wire roof, this will be a major expense and job to do and I really want to avoid this expense. If we don’t have to do this we know a cube will be affordable.

 

Please do give any advice you can it will all help to make a safer home for the girls and as we are new to this we need it…

 

Thanks

Steve and Sharon..

Edited June 5, 2008 by Guest

[tiggerlady]

Dont know much about chooks as we are still waiting for ours but I work nights as a taxi driver and believe me dem foxes is sneaky critturs!! I have seen one scale an 8 foot wall easy peasy!!! couldnt believe it myself! think dog cross cat, so be very careful and dont assume anything!! good luck with your plan!

[ukspeedtraps]

I should have said we have a German Shepherd that has access to that area, but won’t have the access to the run. She has access to the path 24/7..

 

So it protected quite well from both sides.

 

There is only one spot behind the garage and we can make that safe with little problem.

 

Steve and Sharon

[*mummy_hen*]

Personally i would DEFINATELY put a roof on, if you don't want to use mesh, then use something solid instead which may reduce the cost.

I wouldn't take any risks where foxes are concerned but i just couldn't deal with it if something happened to any of them.

I also wouldn't rely on the fence to be fox proof - sorry!

[ukspeedtraps]

Well its all finished and we are quite pleased.

 

Some images for you all and thanks for the emails of advice.

Steve and Sharon and all the girls. (Pictures later)

 

The run from the outside and homemade hen house. Outside for easy access to the eggs and cleaning.

 

Close up of the hen house, roof (lift off both sides) and sides (slide up both sides) all come away and inside is a plastic tray with perches and then a nest box (x2), both easy wash. Egg door on back with mesh vent as an option. It’s made out of marine ply. Four wheels to be added soon.

 

View of ramp up to the hen house and gate.

 

Inside and some of the girls, the others are round the side. Dust bath is 2ft x 2ft plastic tray.

 

L shape run, all roofed. Overall size 15 x 5 and 14 x 5. Total cost inc birds. (6, 2 x Lavender Araucana, 1 x Peking Partridge, 1 x Barnevelder, 1 x Blue Orpington, 1 x Welsummer) Food etc. Just on £500

 

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[likeastar--x]

Wow its like changing gardens! Well done that looks great!

[Lewis]

Looking good! Any eggs yet ?

[Egluntyne]

It looks super, but without wanting to rain on your parade, chicken wire is no match for the fox.

 

Weldmesh is a much safer option.

 

Lovely set up though, you have obviously gone to a lot of trouble.

 

Gorgeous hens too.

[ukspeedtraps]

No eggs yet a few weeks or so we think.

 

The chicken wire will be fine in this case. All the green fence sits on a 18ft brick wall so unless we have a fox with a rather good set of climbing skills were safe there. There is no ledge for him to shuffle round either. The wire on the inside is for the hens as daft as it sounds so they don't scratch on the fence and upset the grumpy old man next door.

 

They go away at night and someone is mostly in anyway.

 

The wire on the path side is proteced by a nice big dog called Taz and she does not take to kindly to anyone being there yet alone a fox so we are confedent that we have done a good job.

 

 

Taz checking out lunch!

 

Thanks

Steve

[AJuff]

Wow what an amazing transformation. It would have taken months of deliberation for me! It looks fabulous, an interesting place for the chooks. If you know you have foxes then I would seriously consider replacing the chicken wire with weldmesh. That way you know they are safe.

[Olly]

wow - that looks amazing! I love the chicken-house, did you design it yourself or did you follow a plan?

 

I'm also impressed that Taz can be trusted to free-range with the chickens, she must be very well-behaved. It looks like a great set-up, what lucky chickens.

[ukspeedtraps]

Built on spec, no plans, I quite good at building stuff, must have been all that playing with Lego and Meccano as a kid..

 

Taz can only be trusted when we are there at the moment. She is very good though with them and just tends to ignore them, but she is still in training as they say.

 

Lot of time with her and treats and its working well. We even had a chicken sat on her back the other day as she was pretending to sleep!

 

We only get a reaction from the dog if they start flapping and running about and then it’s almost as if she is telling them to calm down..