4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[little jerry]

Hi again,

Ok we are ready to resume, undettered by the tragedy we experienced a few weeks ago with local youths stealing and ultimately (directly or indirectly) killing our two girls. We have improved the garden fencing (by no means impregnable - but more of a detterant we hope. However we want to be able to lock up the eglu at night. A padlock on the run gate is easy, but the side hatch is a problem. Someone suggested that there was a way. Anyone know how we can do it? We would be grateful for advice. Thanks

[Guest]

Cant think of anything to actually lock the door but if u could afford it(here I go again electric fence queen)...I would electrify an outer perimeter fence via mains energiser..but it would have to be the mains...obviously this may delay them getting in.......turn it up high

 

perhaps some of those warning signs cctv etc wouldnt u like to get ur hands on them!!

Shame u cant borrow a big friendly ie german shepherd dog to be in the garden nice ferocious type

 

I am thinking of anchorage system with chain or something that u can pass round the housing but that is concreted in ground nearby :let me think here

[chelsea]

Shame u cant borrow a big friendly ie german shepherd dog to be in the garden nice ferocious type

 

 

Shame you are so far away as my Bracken would have obliged to come and bark at them!

 

Even though you havent got a german shepherd you could always get one of those signs from pets at home saying "beware of the german shepherd/rottweiler" to go on your back gate?

 

Some more deterrents -

 

That spikey stuff that goes on top of fences to keep burglars out, spikey plants in areas where a yob may get in your garden.. cctv as someone suggested and even if you cant afford a proper cctv camera you could get a dummy one.

 

Cant think what you could use to lock the eggport....maybe some chains and padlock???

[sandyhas3chucks]

can't see why you couldn't put a bolt on the port and a padlock. Maybe email James at Omlet for advice?

[craftyhunnypie]

I hope the eglu mk3 will have a locking system!

Please Omlet!

 

Emma.x

[Ash]

I have these in my garden

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31800&doy=16m4&C=SO&U=strat15

 

Has 3 settings.... 1 is a door chime noise, 2nd a continuous chime and the other is a constant alarm.

 

If anyone walks between them it goes off.

 

They are not waterproof though but I made a plastic hood for them and have hidden each one out of sight.

 

Even the door chime noise should spook an intruder so they run off.

 

Powered by aa battries

 

 

For the alarm you gotta make sure plants wont blow over it and put it high enougth so cats wont set it off.

Also cover the little red lights on them with blu-tack or something or people will see them.

 

[feemcg]

Hi LJ.......waves over to Wishy . Glad you're getting more chooks. I asked my cop pal if she'd heard anything, or if there had been any more chicken thieving in your area but she hasn't heard anything. I think securing you're perimeter is about the best you can do really. A big motion-activated flood-light is good too.

 

Where are you getting your new chooks from?......and where do you buy your feed and stuff?

I'm just being nosey......I use Galloway and McLeod in Stonehouse or sometimes take a wee run up to Lanark.

Edited April 16, 2009 by Guest

[cluckbok]

That's a tricky one, I wonder if there's a way of locking in from the inside, a way to stop the catch turning around. That motion sensor thingy looks good and a floodlight is a good idea too.

 

One more thing (sorry my sense of humour!! ) the Home Alone DVD has some excellant ideas!!

 

P.S. I'm glad those horrible people didn't put you off chicken keeping for good!

[little jerry]

Hi LJ.......waves over to Wishy . Glad you're getting more chooks. I asked my cop pal if she'd heard anything, or if there had been any more chicken thieving in your area but she hasn't heard anything. I think securing you're perimeter is about the best you can do really. A big motion-activated flood-light is good too.

 

Where are you getting your new chooks from?......and where do you buy your feed and stuff?

I'm just being nosey......I use Galloway and McLeod in Stonehouse or sometimes take a wee run up to Lanark.

 

Hi feemcg,

 

Well the local community police did visit a few times and said we could be assured that those responsible (they had two local high school youths names) would not do it again (dont know how he can say that, but anyway, its slightly reassuring). Bet they just got a stern warning

 

We went back to our original source, Julia O'Connor at Forth (recommended by Omlet) who is VERY helpful and I would readily recommend her. Breeds ducks too.

One person said to us - dont give up - in fact "crank it up", get some other animals too, so we are considering a couple of ducks as well! Why not!!

 

Feed - bought from Overtown Farm shop in Clyde Valley, but Pets Are Us in Hamilton are (surprisingly) as cheap.

 

Now we are looking for names again.

 

Geraldine (aka Little Geri) RIP

Florence RIP

[cluckbok]

Cor ducks go for it!! I love ducks! they sooo sweet. Well lets hope they've been very sternly told!! Pity you couldn't get a Billy goat to butt anyone that comes in the garden!

[feemcg]

That's funny, I found Julia's details today (Abbotsford Poultry) when I was looking for something else. She has Khaki Campbell ducks......I used to have a pair but had to get rid of them because the boy started attacking me......he would have been good at deterring intruders come to think of it, he wouldn't let me in the garden .I didn't know the farm shop down there did feed.......I had thought about buying some of their free-range eggs and trying them in the incubator though

[Redwing]

I feel my Eglu is safer in my Walk in run so perhaps you could consider building a small wooden frame around the Eglu which could have a lockable mesh door on the eggport side?

 

Or how about hammering in two tree stakes deeply at an angle each side of the eggport and attaching a lockable bar across (like an H shape)

 

You only have to make it time consuming for someone to remove to put them off even trying

[Guest]

One of the best guard and noisiest intruder alarms is a donkey...they would tell the whole neighbourhood if anyone stepped onto your property....

 

Not sure if u have room for one of those ..good luck let us know how u get on

indie

[sandyhas3chucks]

oooo is there a donleylu?

On a serious not what about those cheap door alarms? the sort that squeal when opened, might take a bit of working out.

Like the idea of cage around the Eglu, got half an Idea seen a photo of that somewhere?

[*mummy_hen*]

I just wanted to say i don't understand how some people can be so cruel and small minded!! What is it with some people? and what an awful thing for you to have to go through.

 

Best of luck with your new girls.

[Guest]

I hope the eglu mk3 will have a locking system!

Please Omlet!

 

Emma.x

 

any feedback like this should really be mailed to johannes otherwise it won't get considered. I mailed him a link to a thread about the cube ladder, see eglus and cubes, and he responded.

[4Clucks-minusOne]

My partner who is a great problem solver, said it may be possible to replace the fixed handle with one you can take out with you., ( a bit like an allen key). I'll have him have a look at ours tomorrow in the daylight.

[Cooks]

what about a lock designed for a steering wheel? I might something that will be attached to the hand and prevent it forom being able to turn??

 

sorry it's late cant think of anything else.. LOL

[Margalot]

What about geese as a deterent?? they are suposed to be good at guarding and honk like mad!

[Toots]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this may be more of an issue.

 

On the radio last night was a feature about criminals and how they target highly priced comodities. They have moved from s"Ooops, word censored!" metal to oil, and now are livestock russeling(sp?) as the price of meat has increased

 

Farms are being targeted for bulk and they are harder targets, but pet chickens are being targeted as well. as chickens are becoming popular pets the oppertunist is seing it as an easy target. The police advice is simple. make it hard or unattractive and they wont risk it.

 

this means motion lights, locking gates, keeping the run out of easy sight from the road if possible.

 

they couldn't advise the use of electric fenses, glass on the walls etc as a deterrant as the burglar could get hurt and claim against you!

[Patricia W]

I think you'd be fine with an electric fence within your perimeter. I think you have to have signs on it if it's in an area to which the public have access- but they shouldn't have access to your garden.

 

I like the idea of a donkey - especially a miniature one.. Do you think I can use security as an argument to get a couple???

 

Tricia

[Guest]

they couldn't advise the use of electric fenses, glass on the walls etc as a deterrant as the burglar could get hurt and claim against you!

 

Hi

 

Interesting the police didnt have knowledge on this as Sir John Stevens advised Buck palace could use electric fencing as a non lethal form of protection for security etc after HRH Liz had intruders

 

I use electric fencing for horses on private land and i think its every 200metres u r supposed to put a yellow sign up to warn the public(need to check the distance)As far as I am aware that is the distance etc

Despite my field NOT having any public paths etc and a great big wacking metal gate locked u wil be suprised how many dopeheads still go in.

As long as they have been warned, they are trespassing so I dont agree entirely with the polices reaction as long as u are using it to prevent MR Fox and your animals straying(obviously not electricution of the intruders...Zap).

 

Its a shame the product cant be bolted into the ground ie like a quad bike securing device?

I would love to put my cube in the front of my house but just know someone will drive up and pinch the lot(we have had trailers on gravel drives taken round here..rural crime is quite rife)

 

Good luck u can beat them..wont let idiots stop us enjoying indie

[Redwing]

When it comes to Eglu security (ie theft of) you could put a bolt through the hole in the nestbox on to a concrete plinth below if you felt handy

[..lay a little egg for me]

One of the best guard and noisiest intruder alarms is a donkey...they would tell the whole neighbourhood if anyone stepped onto your property....

 

Not sure if u have room for one of those ..good luck let us know how u get on

indie

 

Or geese of course have long been kept to ward off intruders (and they also lay eggs )

[Woodcat]

Shame u cant borrow a big friendly ie german shepherd dog to be in the garden nice ferocious type

 

 

Shame you are so far away as my Bracken would have obliged to come and bark at them!

 

Even though you havent got a german shepherd you could always get one of those signs from pets at home saying "beware of the german shepherd/rottweiler" to go on your back gate?

 

Slight side issue here but i thought i'd mention it if you do have a dog in your garden be careful putting up signs like " Beware of the dog" if your dog bite somone even if they are sneaking in you can somtimes get done because " Your admiting that you have a dangerous dog" really really Silly i know but you know what some of the laws of this country are like.

 

Back on topic i think its really horrid that people could even think about doing that could you adapt the alams that are designed for windows they come in two parts and you put one on the window and one on the frame and then when they seperate they make a massive noise?