Mamade marmalade - what is nice to add to it ?

[Seagazer]

OH has finally lost the plot with the girls messing up the garden. He loves them to bits and finds them hilarious but he paid a lot of money a couple of years ago to have the garden 'done'. He just keeps moaning at me about the mess. So I'm trying to think of what to do.

 

If I get rid of my greenhouse I will have a lot more space to play with. The cube is currently in front of the greenhouse. If I get a big run built, fully enclosed (because of the foxes around here) will it be ok if they don't manage to free range any more?

 

Or I could get an extension for the run and somehow fence off that bit of the garden by the shed and cube and just let them free range there with something like foxwatch on. The trouble is there is no grass there as its concrete and pea shingle.

 

I'm so confused really. I want them to be safe and I don't want them to be bored. At the moment they get out for about half an hour or so every day but its quite hard when its cold. I

 

What would be the best thing?

[SAB]

We went down the fully enclosed run route due to local foxes as they would rarely have had chance to freerange due to us being at work (or not wanting to stand outside on guard for foxes due to the notorious Scottish weather!). They are always in the run, and don't free range in addition to this and seem perfectly happy. It is on concrete, but with hemcore, and wooden bench to perch on, and dustbath. I also hope to add some plants (in the full knowledge they will likely be destroyed!) - probably rosemary, lavender, etc that smell nice and deter flies.

 

If you think of an enclosed run, made interesting for the chooks, as a bit like a small garden then you may not feel so bad about them getting out into the rest of your garden.

[fowlbird]

Seagazer, I'm sure they'll be fine. Ours don't free range much at the moment so we're thinking of a big enclosed run with the two eglus inside it. As SAB said, if you make it interesting enough they'll be happy. Sometimes I think we all spoil our girls

 

SAB

I also hope to add some plants (in the full knowledge they will likely be destroyed!) - probably rosemary, lavender, etc that smell nice and deter flies.

our girls destroy any lavender they see but they'll leave rosemary and feverfew alone and curry plants too. They may just take a bit off each but on the whole these plants are indestructible.

[Snowy]

Mine have a large, enclosed run. I do still let them out (because they make me feel guilty ) but they do not get out much now it is winter - I couldn't afford to replace the lawn, and can't be without it! They are fine - they have lots of branches to perch in, plus I throw in lots of greens, and dry leaves in autumn. There are lots of things you can do to make it interesting for them. You could also still let them out, maybe with some omlet netting, just on certain areas for short periods of time.

[Egluntyne]

I try to let mine free range every day, even if only for an hour, but don't feel so guilty if the cant, now that they have the big run.

[Seagazer]

Thanks everyone, I think it will have to be a big run with the occasional bit of supervised free ranging. I will admit to taking a few chances now and again and leaving them out (with Cookie as protection) but yesterday I saw a fox in a neighbour's garden so I know I can't do that anymore. I shall start saving my pennies.

[bronze]

Mine dont freerange. DH agreed to the run so that the garden wouldnt be trashed.

[chelsea]

our garden is mostly decking, gravel and pebbles with a tiny patch of grass (which is now mud!) so am not worried as nothing much to trash. Even though I have the big run they still free range 4 whole days out of a 7 day week - lucky things! They still manage to make me feel guilty when I go to work.

 

Dont worry, I dont think the chooks worry one bit....its us!

[Couperman]

 

If I get rid of my greenhouse I will have a lot more space to play with. The cube is currently in front of the greenhouse. If I get a big run built, fully enclosed (because of the foxes around here) will it be ok if they don't manage to free range any more?

 

:

 

Why not take the glass out of the sides of your greenhouse and fit mesh panels and use that as your run?

 

Kev.

[Seagazer]

 

If I get rid of my greenhouse I will have a lot more space to play with. The cube is currently in front of the greenhouse. If I get a big run built, fully enclosed (because of the foxes around here) will it be ok if they don't manage to free range any more?

 

:

 

Why not take the glass out of the sides of your greenhouse and fit mesh panels and use that as your run?

 

Kev.

 

I've thought about this but I don't think it will be secure enough. It is a rigid plastic type frame with pvc plastic panels (we bought plastic for child safety). Trouble is if you push up against it, it all moves. I think if a fox was determined enough it would be able to get through. I will chat with OH about it and see what he thinks. It would be a cheaper option.

 

I definitely need to do this as I feel so bad about the girls not getting enough exercise but since having the fox in the garden I just don't feel safe with them out, even with me in the garden.

[no1smiles2000]

my friend who has chickens has advised me not to let them freerange otherwise they exepect it all the time.

I am in 2 minds because i have a cube and extension but am rehoming 4 ex battery so would it be fair to keep them in there all the time?

would love to build a walk in run but we just dont have the space in the garden.

[laurmurf]

my friend who has chickens has advised me not to let them freerange otherwise they exepect it all the time.

I am in 2 minds because i have a cube and extension but am rehoming 4 ex battery so would it be fair to keep them in there all the time?

would love to build a walk in run but we just dont have the space in the garden.

 

a cube with an extended run will be like heaven to ex-bats - don't underestimate your provision for them! From everything I've read as long as they have plenty to keep them busy in the run, they'll be fine. If you do want to free range them occasionally then I would imagine that would be fine too, even if they do grump at you about it they'll still be fine.