Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[Donna]

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of the best way of keeping chickens out of the house. My three girls free range most of the day and are very nosey. In this lovely weather I normally have the patio doors and kitchen doors open but the chickens love to come inside, sometimes leaving little presents on the carpet and I am struggling to keep the peace with my other half who is trying to insist that they no longer free range.

Has anyone used a bead curtain - would the chickens be brave enough to tackle one of those? I don't particulary want to close the doors in the summer but neither do I want to put the girls into the run all day. I would be grateful for any ideas! Thanks ........ Donna

[Laura & CTB]

I'm sure I read that someone used a bead curtain to great effect but cant remember who

 

I use expandable trellis to prop up in from of the patio doors when they're open

[ChrisP]

My girls would run through the bead curtains, they run at the orange fencing i have round the garden thats supposed to keep them in!

 

Sorry I couldnt be more helpful

 

Good luck!

[Mrs Frugal]

We used expanding trellis too. Worked a treat.

[Donna]

Thank you to everyone who has replied so promptly - it looks as though I will have to go down to the garden centre later to get some expandable trellis!! It would be pointless paying out for a 'bead' curtain if they might walk straight through it!

[moochoo]

I use an old baby gate I bought from a car boot for £2! They pop their heads through but have made no attempt to go over the top of it!

[ajm200]

We tried the expanding trellis idea and it did work but lately we haven't had to bother as the girls seem to have got the idea that the house is out of bounds. The most they do is sit on the sill of the patio door looking into the front room and have a 'chat'

 

It might have something to do with a reluctance to end up in a confined space with our boisterous toddler though..

[Chickaboo]

I am having this problem - but admittedly I do allow them in the kitchen (stone floor!!) if I'm not cooking etc They just love to be around us. Does anyone else do this? However last week, Phoebe got through into the rest of the house and upstairs, I found her sitting next to our bed She was very good, and no little presents were left, but it won't be happening again!

[Laura & CTB]

My two try and get into the living room at every possible opportunity. It is all stone tiled so I dont really mind but when they get excited they tend to do a Torvil and Dean impression across the floor so now I dont encourage it

[Helly Welly]

Rather than a bead curtain, i have a net curtain. It's four wide strips of black netting and because it looks relatively solid, the chooks haven't even attempted it. I think i got it from Aldi but an internet search should come up with something. Mine would hop straight over a baby gate or trellis.

[Donna]

Thank you once again for all your help - I'm now thinking of an insect screen/net across the kitchen door and perhaps nets across the patio doors too. Hopefully they will get the message and not bother trying after a while.

[Katie]

we have weighted insect nets over the back doors. keeps them out! Found they just went straight through boxes/bead nets etc!

[Q.O.M]

We have a small section of omet netting with posts either side. The posts are in pots filled with concrete to weigh it down. It works well but Bertie tried to get through it yesterday and managed to get herself tangled up in it!

[Abbey Road Girl]

I tried to put mine inside the kitchen while my son was trying to put the Cube back into place after laying slabs. They would have none of it!

 

The best way to keep them out of your house may be to try to encourage them into it. Mine seem to think it's a den of iniquity (but then the oven is a central feature).

[Carol U]

I find that any sort of barrier, no matter how flimsy, e.g. 2ft high piece of cardboard, will keep them out, so I just prop whatever's to hand across the doorway. They don't realise they could just push it over, so don't even try.