tom123 Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 (edited) In November we are moving are hen house to the other side of the garden in the corner and next to the spot where the house would go there is an area about 3mx2m(ish!) which we are thinking off fencing of and putting a gate in and using for a run for the chooks when the dog is out in the garden! I'm thinking some nice picket fence with a nice little gate from Wyevale garden center or would 4ft be high enough??? And has anyone done this and has any tips??? Thanks Tom Edited October 31, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Hi Tom, 4ft will not be high enough. I have a privet hedge on one side of my outdoor area and a five ft fence on the other with a further 1ft trellis on the top. We use an expandable trellis over the gate, that folds away when we go through. You might get away with 5ft but I would go for 6ft to be safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 Do you have any pics christian??? Thanks Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Tom, watch this and learn from my mistakes . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 How high was the wooden 'pretty' gate??? Thanks Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 About waist height (I'm 5'6" ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Here you go Tom http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o272/christianl_bucket/IMG_0117.jpg The fencing at the front is willow hurdle, 5ft high, the rest is 6ft. All mine have clipped wings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 My mum said we can plant some willow all along the edge of the 4ft high fence to make it 5-6ft high! so problem solved Thanks for everything guys Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 I spent moths trying to reach a decision on fencing before getting my chickens. I looked a picket fencing because it looks nice, but doesn't really do the job without the height. I eventually did the fences at both ends with this. . . . . . . . . Not a particularly cheep option, but it will be there forever and blends into the garden quite well - no escapees either Planting Willow will certainly look nice but I'm not sure how effective it would be at keeping the chickens in. I have 3 willows and the branches arn't that dense and with all the leaves now gone for the winter it doesn't look like a very good barrier?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted November 1, 2008 Author Share Posted November 1, 2008 Thanks Sandychick Ye I know what you mean about the willow we have some elsewhere in the garden looking very bare How high is that fence? Thanks Tom EDIT- Sorry didn't read your post properly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 It's about 5.5ft but only meshed up to about 4.5ft. They haven't figured their way through the top two bars yet so I'm going to leave that without mesh unless they try an escape. It's not high enough to be fox proof but it does keep the chickens in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted November 1, 2008 Author Share Posted November 1, 2008 I REALLY like picket fencing (god knows why?) so now I'm thinking maybe 4ft high picket fence with 1-2ft mesh along the top I'm so clever What do you think??? Thanks Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 That should work ok. If you have the space you could grow an evergreen hedge behind it and remove the mesh when it is high enough - my chickens love scratching about under their conifer hedge as it is usually dry under there on a wet day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted November 2, 2008 Author Share Posted November 2, 2008 Good idea! Thanks for everything just can't wait to get started! Thanks Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 I love picket fencing too! my OH doesn't, as he's rubbish. It sounds like you have it sussed with the netting increasing the fence height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted November 4, 2008 Author Share Posted November 4, 2008 Thanks chickenanne!!! (Ye well it was my mum's idea! ) Thanks Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Tom, we did this Just a word of warning though. We did originally have weldmesh on top but one of the chickens got on top of it, got their foot stuck and fell. She ended hanging upside down by her foot and we dread to think what would have happened if we hadn't been in the garden at the time. I had to hold her up whilst hubby cut the wire so we could free her. Oh, and my blackrock has flown clear over that today!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
