Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[ChrisP]

Right

 

After my earlier post tonight about a fox attack I cannot bear the risk of it hapenning again, and am going to make a walk in run to keep them safer.

 

So, I have a couple of questions.

 

1. Am i correct in assuming that chicken wire is too thin and will be chewed through by anything determined enough to get in?

 

2. Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions as to how to go about this?

 

3. How can I keep the base fox proof (as the eglu run is?)?

 

4. If anyone else has any suggestions splease can they let me know?

 

Thanks all. I can't afford a even though I'd really like one with a run extension So need to make this as good as possible!

[moomin]

Hi ChrisP,

 

You need VERY strong weld-mesh - ours is 16 gauge, don't settle for anything less although it doesn't come cheap

 

To get it fox proof I would site it on slabs and have them sticking out all the way round so the fox can't dig underneath. If you stick a layer of aubiose or hemcore down it will still keep them occupied digging around and kicking it everywhere

 

Good luck, you will feel so much safer if you can do this for your girls

[chelsea]

we did a brick base around the perimeter of our run. What we didnt do though (and what I'd recommend if I were starting again) is also to do a concrete base - it makes cleaning the run easier and also after so much wet during summer and autumn we have found the wet seeping up underneath the run base. So if you can a concrete base would be good.

 

Doing a walk in run was the best thing we've done.

[Egluntyne]

 

1. Am i correct in assuming that chicken wire is too thin and will be chewed through by anything determined enough to get in?

 

It is

 

2. Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions as to how to go about this?

You need a good weld mesh.The Omlet weldmesh is 16g

 

3. How can I keep the base fox proof (as the eglu run is?)?

 

Why not put it on paving slabs?

 

[ChrisP]

Thanks all for your replies.

At the risk of sounding really stupid, where did you buy your meshing from?

 

Luckily its half term this week so I will be building the run all week, after buying the items needed tomorrow (I still can't drive and am on my own today)

[Egluntyne]

You can get weldmesh via ebay.

[attenbhp]

I got mesh from

 

www.meshdirect.co.uk

 

They were very good, and delivered.

 

P.S. If you're using a lot, use an angle grinder to cut it up rather than pliers. It'll save you a lot of bruised palms! (been there, done that)

[Bootscooter Nell]

Hi,

Just to add, my hubby put three bolts on the door, top, middle and bottom. The bottom one being very important because the foxes can push the door open if it has any give at all.

 

I bought the weldmesh from ebay, and put an ad on the free recycle website for garden slabs which we used to support the run so that the fox cannot dig underneath. We then put a corrigated roof on and guttering to catch the rain so that it doesn't flow into the run when it falls on the slabs off the roof. The floor is soil with easibed on top which gives them something to dig in.

[Jules.]

My run is on slabs- no foxy could get under it

I got my mesh from Hills of Devon, & sold my surplus to a forum member.

[Yolky]

I spent ages looking about the net for the cheepest mesh and hills of devon came out tops. Quick free delivery too.

[sparkysmum]

Hi another vote for Hills of Devon - free next day delivery Ours is on slabs too. Chicks seem to like it too

[ChrisP]

Will have to have a look at their webistes now then, thanks everyone

 

Thing is, there are no slabs in our garden, the only concrete is the drive I casn get paving slabs from a friends, but would I be ok putting these slabs around the perimiter of the run?

 

Also, being slightly cheeky, how much do you reckon I should put aside for this run? (I don't want to buy things unecessary, then again don't want to go cheap and regret it!)

[stoice]

Looked at Hills of Devon - looks good. I'm hopefully getting a new walk in run from my dad after xmas. One question, sorry if this is silly, how does the gauge system work? I mean, does 16 gauge mean 1.6mm wire? I've heard on here that 16gauge wire is best for stumping Mr Fox but Hills of Devon don't show it like that - just in mm. You can tell I'm not a DIY expert eh?

[ChrisP]

16g wire is 1.6mm, according to

http://www.meshdirect.co.uk/Wire-Mesh-25-x-25mm-Holes-1-inch-x-1-inch-c-23.html

which says it is ideal for fox protection...

 

I wouldn't worry, I had to google it to find out!!