Single hen

[AliA]

Hi,

 

My three pekin bantams currently live in an eglu cube with three extensions added on for extra space. I would dearly love to let them roam free in my garden when I am out there with them. I have two concerns - them coming home and Mr Fox. I have a large 4 acre garden and would hate to lose any of the girls. Do they automatically come home at night and will the fox try to get them during the day?.

 

I know these questions are probably very basic however I have never let them out before.

 

Any advice much appreciated.

 

Thanks

Alia

[chelsea]

Lucky girls having 4 acres

 

Although, if you have foxes I wouldnt recommend letting them out to free range when you are not around - even during the day the fox can attack at any time. Even when you are there sometimes the fox is so cunning it may wait for an opportunity when you might "pop indoors" for 5 minutes and then attack.

 

Have you thought about a foxwatch or electric fencing?

[little jerry]

Hi.

Foxes are big worry when it comes to free ranging. We have had our two chickens since last August and had become quite relaxed about lettiing then out the run unsupervised. 3 days ago I looked out my window and saw a fox IN THE CHICKEN RUN. Thank goodness the the chooks were at the other side of the garden. My advice would be let them out, but be in the garden with then. Thats what Im doing now.They had a lucky escape. WHEW

[chickenanne]

Assuming they've been in the house/run for a week or so, they'll take themselves off to bed with no problem.

Personally, I think it's much kinder to let them out of the run when you're around, they enjoy scratching about and exploring. Better taking a small risk with the fox (ie letting them out only when you're around) even if this means you take the risk of a shorter life, as it will be a happier life.

[Redwing]

Maybe you could pen off a large area for them instead? some low fencing would not keep out Mr Fox but would mean you could keep a closer eye on them.

[..lay a little egg for me]

4 acres? Electric fencing would be ideal...you can let them free range all day whether you are there or not, they are safe from foxes, stray dogs, stoats etc, you don't get rats under the hen house and they put themselves to bed and you can go and shut them in whenever it suits you.

 

We have a wooden house about the same size as the cube and with a mini run. We surround it with 50 m of electric netting and the girls free range all day. We move the house every week and every couple of months we move the whole thing to a new part of the garden. (We have 3 acres but most of that is for the horse) Over the winter the girls area has included the veg patch, which they have dug over and raked for us and (hopefully) cleared any pests and also fertilised too . Moving the girls every 2 or 3 months also helps to keep worm counts down.

 

As you can see, I'm a big fan of the electric netting system!

[The 3 D's]

I wish I had 4 acres. It is very difficult to know what to do for the best. Do you let them out on their own where they can peacefully do what they want, or do you let them out with you being their. Like a few others have said, I would section a small part of the garden off, so you can keep a close eye on them. We have foxes around where we are but they never seem to go in our back garden, however, im just waiting for a first time.