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

[madchickenlady]

....give the girls their own area to free range in For the last year, they have wandered wherever they like in the garden when they're out, but the flies/smell is just getting too much. I can't poo pick the entire garden, so I have finally bowed to pressure from DH and have ordered some movable netting so that I can get some of the garden back for us to enjoy without the stench of curry poo and flies I feel soooooo guilty, though!

[Olly]

Don't feel guilty - they'll be fine and you will enjoy your garden more. I have a big garden and my girls don't get much free ranging time, if they were out a lot then I'd have to restrict them.

 

 

They won't mind as long as they can stretch their wings, dustbath and peck around a bit.

[Mutrix Farmers]

My garden would be mud and twigs if I let them have free rein of the whole plot. The moveable netting gives them quite a sizeable area, so don't feel too bad. You could always let them out for half an hour while you sit in the garden with a glass of wine on a sunny warm evening.

[C&T]

We got some netting, and have to say it has been brilliant.

 

Some days they can still have access to the whole garden (except the veggies... ). Other days just a part of it.

 

1) Gives me a break poo picking

2) Saves the garden looking like a war zone after they have propelled soil all over the patio and path from the borders

3) Gives the plants and/or grass a break from having their roots attacked!

4) Lets me leave the patio door open, without the risk of chickens coming in the house and poo'ing on the carpet!!

 

(Although OH gets upset when the chickens can't come to the back door to ask for treats... )

[sparkysmum]

I'm with you on this My ladies are confined to their hen garden for much of the day. It's an area about 10m x 3m with mature shrubs. They can do all the chickeny things and they still get an hour or so when they can access the whole garden. I'm happy but I'm afraid my feisty ladies make their displeasure known

[Egluntyne]

I keep mine confined to their own area of the garden.

 

No need to feel guilty.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mine are confined to a fairly small area with netting and it's the best thing I ever did (apart from my walk in run, of course ). They seem perfectly happy and I never have to poo pick, which makes me happy too .

[Torrin]

I'm just doing something similar. Have had them free ranging over the whole garden , but apart from the poo it's not fair on the dog. He still sees them as a possible dinner treat and so has to be tied up everytime they're out. Doesn't seem right as it's his garden too and he's been around a lot longer!!

 

Was feeling a bit guilty about it, but have now decided not to - they will still have a reasonable size area and can occasionaly come into the main garden, and as a bonus will probably be out more often cos I won't have the same dog problem.

[chelsea]

Well after 3 years of free ranging the whole garden we have put some Omlet netting up.

 

 

Soooo much better, I can walk out to the garage without stepping in poo and the dog can sit outside the backdoor in peace without the girls drinking out her bowl.

 

OH says I am mean but the chickens rule our lives!!