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

[alligg]

Hi

We got our 4 girls about 4weeks ago now and they have been free ranging all day with complete run of the garden.my partner has now decided he wants to section off an area of the garden just for the chickens.i'm quite happy for them to have the run of the garden but we've had to reach an agreement over it.just unsure how the best way to section it off would be and would appreciate any help.also they are still not laying so any advice on this would also be much appreciated.

thanks

Alli

[legend21]

The omlet fencing is great, we sectioned off a part for our girls. There was a thread before about fencing types and prices, you should do a search it will be really useful

 

Cant help with the egg laying suppose it depends on age and breed

 

cheers

Jackie

[Ness3103]

congratulations on your girls you could get some omlet netting and keep them off the grass that way. i ended up building a wir but was going to use the netting.

 

as for laying, how old are your girls one of mine was about 24 weeks old when she started but it does vary. do they crouch when you go near them thats generally a sign they're getting ready to lay. mine were crouching and within a week to 10 days they started laying. i'm quite new to this still but i'm sure the experts will be along soon

[Plum]

I have omlet netting and it is great for a movable fence but when I had it dividing the garden the girls got excited and tried to get through it one got stuck . I also caught a cat, the mesh is just a bit too wide. I'm not knocking it I use it for movable area all the time.

To divide the garden I used wire fencing and posts from B&Q the 1.2 metre one

 

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?isSearch=true&fh_search=wire+fencing&fh_start_index=10&ts=1248721598078

 

I've not caught any animals since but a cat did panic when I went in the chickens area and scaled it .

[alligg]

thanks for the advice

We did get the stuff from B&Q in the end(I get a good staff discount)

My partner has used 5 met posts with 1m posts and wire,he has made a gate with a latch and he has done a really good job.they are now in the bottom end of the garden with a huge mound in the middle which is covered in bark chip,there are loads of plants and shrubs and they have a sheltered spot at one end where they have made a dust bath.the coop is at the other end and is sheltered next to the hedge.

I know they will be fine but its not the same as them having the run of the garden,I loved them running up to the back door when they heard me unlock it or sitting on the back doorstep and having a chat to them.

 

the girls are now 20weeks old,a couple of them have been crouching a bit but only when I go to stroke them,is there any extra food I should be giving them to help them lay? they have their layers pellets available all the time and in the afternoon/evening when I get in they have a handful of mixed stuff that we have put together ourselves-pellets,sunflower seeds,mealworm,pomegranate seeds,corn,granola cereal with raisins.sometimes I mix it with natural yoghurt which they go mad for.they have access to grit and eggshell and cuttlefish.they have apple cider vinegar in their water.

they have been doing the most enormous poos,wasnt sure if that was a sign or if thats due to the amount of food lol

 

Alli