Cube Mark One Run

[docsquid]

I've just got some Omlet netting to try and restrict the chickens to part of the garden. They won't like it, but we really do need to make it easier for DH and his brother to get in and out of the house while they are working, and carrying heavy stuff, as chickens underfoot are quite a hazard. He is getting fed up of being mugged when he leaves the house.

 

It will also keep them clear of the decking (reducing the poo issue), the compost heap (reducing the compost all over the path issue), and the veg pots and beds (meaning I can actually grow something).

 

I want to fence off part of the garden, but need to fashion a sort of gate near the back door, so I can get into and out of the area to clean and feed and so forth.

 

I was thinking of a sort of overlap. You split the netting then put in the two parts, with one bit overlapping by about 3 feet, and use four posts - one at each side of the 3 ft overlap on each bit of netting. This would make the overlap a bit more secure, but you'd only have to move 2 posts a bit to be able to get in and out. However if you wanted to close it temporarily, moving one post back to close the gap would mean the chickens don't all rush out and get in the shed while I'm cleaning them.

 

Has anybody done anything like this? Or do you make the gate out of other stuff? Or do you only overlap by a little bit and just move one post?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I have .

 

This is it open so the girls are contained in the right hand side of the garden, leaving the path to the veg patch free (the trellis folds up and we step over the wall).

 

We open their area up by putting the middle pole over to the left side of the large slab. It works really well .

 

[docsquid]

That looks pretty much like I was thinking. Sometimes they'll be let out into the main bit of the garden, but otherwise will have to content themselves with half of it. This will save my herb garden and garlic crop from being mangled.

[Patricia W]

I must do this. At the moment, I lean it forward and climb over - inevitably 9 times out of 10 getting my foot caught. Not dignified.

 

We've just bought the kit to electrify it so I'm going to have to do something!

 

Tricia

[laurmurf]

we cut the netting, put a pole down either side of the cut, put the ends in the ground next to each other and overlap some loose netting from one side to the other. To open wide, just pull the pole up and leave open to the next pole. To open narrowly (to step through without escapees) then just unloop the netting from one pole to the other and spread the bendy poles apart while walking through. Works brilliantly.

Edited January 16, 2010 by Guest

[Patricia W]

Has anybody done this when it's electrified?

 

Tricia

[Eggasperated]

I was worried that the hens would be able to fly over the top of netting this high, do most people keep their wings clipped?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I think they have trouble flying over it unless they have a launch pad (like an eglu!).

[Eggasperated]

How far away would it need to be from the wire to prevent take-off?

[Patricia W]

I actually have an eglu quite close to it, ( 12 inches?) but mine don't bother to try. Their wings aren't clipped either. In fact, I'm using it to separate two sets who don't get on yet, and in one section it has sagged to only about 18 inches high between them, there is nothing for them to launch from - and they aren't harrier jets!

 

 

 

Tricia

[Ain't Nobody Here]

The trouble is, it depends on your chickens . One of mine is a bit adventurous, the other 4 never bother trying to escape at all.

 

I would watch your girls and you'll soon get an idea if they're likely to try to fly or not .

[TAJ]

have a look on www.flytesofancy.co.uk they sell the netting, but also sell a specific gate section and some great corner spike posts - it will give you the ideas even if you want to make your own.

 

Tracy

[GillC]

I think they have trouble flying over it unless they have a launch pad (like an eglu!).

 

Mine used the eglu as a lunch pad - and they had clipped wings So I decided not to bother with the wing clipping any more. I use the overlapped meshing and I have to use a bamboo cane to weave through the mesh as mine tend to slither between the two layers!

 

I've seen one of mine simply take off and fly over the mesh - but mostly they don't bother. They seem to know where they are supposed to be and they do have quite a large area to themselves. They just enjoy the challenge of squeezing through gaps in the netting

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I actually have an eglu quite close to it, ( 12 inches?) but mine don't bother to try. Their wings aren't clipped either. In fact, I'm using it to separate two sets who don't get on yet, and in one section it has sagged to only about 18 inches high between them, there is nothing for them to launch from - and they aren't harrier jets!

 

 

 

Tricia

 

You obviously don't have Pekins!! Blossom went straight up & landed on the roof of the WIR from a standing start about 6 inches out from the wire...........mind you I was trying to catch her & am thoroughly terrifying!!!!

 

I tried to keep another pair of Pekins contained with Omlet netting & they did a little jump & poured themselves through the holes abut 3 rows up..........maybe I just have escape artist Pekins..............

 

Sha x

[tom123]

Tis' not just you Sha, Daisy squeeeezees through the bottom hole in the omlet netting