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

[docsquid]

My DH has a question. In a couple of days we'll be allowed to let our chooks out into the garden This is good because they are already very keen on getting out and congregate at the door of their run whenever I'm outside.

 

But, we do have some gaps under our gates, and my DH wants to know how easy is it for chickens to squeeze through gaps? We have some wire we can staple on to block the gaps, but he isn't keen on it going right to the ground (I'm not quite sure why, but who am I to argue!).

 

They won't be able to dig under the gates as the gates are situated on concrete slabs.

 

Should we take the wire right down to the ground? Can we leave a 1, 2, 3 or 4 inch gap?

 

My suspicion is it should go to the ground, but I'd really appreciate confirmation on this.

[Plum]

I would go an inch or two above the ground so you can open the gate but don't worry if you block the bottom they'll just jump on the top. Ooops said wrong thing. They will find your garden so interesting they won't want to leave and if they do they always want to come back.

[Space Chick]

2 of my girls are escapologists, and managed to get through holes in a trellis fence, so now all holes are filled

 

I would ensure all gaps are closed to be on the safe side

[sjp]

a 3 or 4 inch gap should be small enough mine have gone under a 6 inch step but havn't tried digging under the fence were there's a gap that the hedge hogs made last year

[speckled hen]

We don't have any gates and the girls just wonder around where ever they like they don't go too far, they could go down the drive but would rather dig big holes in the borders and roll about in them Bulbs?????? What Bulbs

 

I would just see how you get on and put up a barrier if you need to

[Egluntyne]

If there is a chance that they can escape....they will.

[docsquid]

I would just see how you get on and put up a barrier if you need to

 

I'm kinda reluctant to do that because the road is very close (i.e. about 10 feet from) the gates and it is a busy road. It is a 20mph road, but people go much faster than that, and one of our cats was killed there earlier this year.

 

It sounds like a small gap to allow the gates to open freely is good, but otherwise best to be safe. Blodwyn already pushes against the run door when we open it and tried to shove DH's arm out of the way yesterday when he blocked her in! So she looks like she's ready to escape at the earliest opportunity.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I think this job might be done tomorrow along with temporary fencing around my garlic bed.

[Plum]

Chickens are rather fond of garlic

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I'd fill all the gaps especially near the road once they get used to your garden being home they won't try to escape...well my lot haven't at least, and if they are really determined they'll go up anyway

 

Sha x

[whoopsie]

Mine will wriggle under gaps in fencing, but once they know where their boundaries are supposed to be they tend to stay in them - well mine do so far. If you are out with them when they are free ranging you should be able to shoo them into the right bits until they are used to them.

[coco]

It depends on the individual chicken. two of mine got grounded yesterday for bad behaviour. Two of them got into the vegetable patch twice but came running as soon as the mealy worm container appeared. the third time I couldn't find one of them anywhere and was starting to get worried while thinking she won't be far away. I went round next door and there she was happily scratching away in their front garden, she came trotting back when she saw me. if they can get out they will.

[docsquid]

Chickens are rather fond of garlic

 

Oh dear, that was what I was afraid of. Good fencing needed methinks!