Take part in study on PFAS 'forever chemicals' in eggs

[dottychicken]

Hi

 

I'm still in research stages of becoming a chicken owner and buying an eglu!

 

Had lots of questions answered on the Chicken section of forum and a very warm welcome!

 

I thought I would post here to ask specifically about how to go about erecting a fenced off area for the eglu and run to go in for me to let them out into to free range but stay off our nice new lawn we will be having done!

 

The omlet chicken netting is a bit too casual for what I want. I want it to be 5ft high like is recommended, some way for me to get in, no roof and see through so we can see each other!

 

Fox proofing optional but would be good to have an extra barrier as well as the run being on slabs so maybe the ability to attach a foxproof skirt, but I would still supervise them while in fenced area if not fully fox proof.

 

Some kind of rigid poultry netting or a trellis fence?

 

I have a builder family friend I can call on to put it together if necessary but if I can do it myself then even better but I am useless at erecting things!

 

Please help!

[Olly]

Afraid I am no expert on fencing, I think I'd just go with what suits your garden, after all if it's 5' high you're going to have to look at it! However, if you have fencing with no roof on, then it will NOT be foxproof no matter how high you make it - foxes will climb over it just like a cat can. If you want a foxproof area for them to be in while you're out, then you really need a WIR of some sort.

 

If you just want to keep them contained so they don't trash the lawn, something a bit lower would do - I use Omlet netting but it's not the prettiest stuff, admittedly. I'm sure someone else will be along who's done this,with some suggestions!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I find the Omlet netting pretty u"Ooops, word censored!"trusive . Depends where you have it, I suppose, though. My girls don't generally manage to get over it (although I very occasionally find a chicken on the lawn but I've never witnessed how they do it ).

[karlotta]

I'd agree that netting is visually low-impact - from a distannce you can hardly see it and you get a great view of your chooks.

 

If you get some extra posts you can keep it nice and taut so it looks less floppy and messy.

 

I think a solid fence will always look more obtrusive and will obscure your view of the girls.

[Lorimer73]

I have had problems with the omlet netting. Nessie can get in and out of the enclosed area at will, she squeezes through between the last post and my garden fence. I have tried moving at different angles it but she bends it back or she fly’s at the fence pushes it over and squeezes through the large holes at the top. Claudia can get out but can't get back she squats right down behind the fence and propels herself over (quite impressive). Also it does stretch. All now safely installed in a WIR, looking back I wish I had done that to start with.

[coco]

I use Omlet netting nad I can't really see it but can see te chooks. They do manage the odd escape however although I have never seen them do it.

[Plum]

What about this stuff

http://www.meshdirect.co.uk/Garden-Nova-Fence-Green-PVC-Coated-1830-mm-high-x-20m-roll-6ft-x-66ft-pr-484.html

 

I have a shorter one from B&Q and they haven't got over it since I moved their launch pad (bush)

[Christian]

Not sure of your garden set up, but I sectioned off a corner of the garden, behind the veggie plot, like this -

 

 

Through the gate is the chicken area, 2 eglus on slabs, a dust bath house and space to free range. 5 foot fencing all around with a further foot of trellis on top of that. The front is only 5ft and they have never managed to get over it. I have expandable trellis that I open and close above the gate to get in. Makes sense?

[Eggasperated]

I use electric fencing, which has the same look as Omlet netting, it is 4ft tall and reasonably u"Ooops, word censored!"trusive - I have only had one escapee who then had her wing clipped.

 

All a matter of preference.

[chicken bark]

I spent ages trying to decide what would be best.

 

I started off with the omlet netting and on the first day one of my chickens walked through it. Haven't had any such escapes since though and it has been used every day for about 3 weeks.

 

Yesterday I went the next step and have electrified it so I can now leave my chickens in the free ranging area all day.

 

I find the fencing u"Ooops, word censored!"trusive - from a distance you don't notice it really. Okay it is not a 'neat' solution but for me it was better than alternatives.

 

Hope you find what you want.

[sids mum]

our girls live under the apple tree which we fenced with normal 3 foot wire green large square fence on a roll you can get from any garden centre or wickes

this is fence no 3!! we tried mesh and they jumped over it, tried chicken wire and they jumped over that too!

this wire seems to high for them to jump over and we can see in. we've attached it to the deck posts you can get from wickes about 2"square and have placed scaffolding board around the bottom to keep most of the bark in the area and not on the path.

their runs are on bark on earth and we have no probelm with smells as they seem to like pooing in the nesting box!

we cover the run with a mattress bag available from pickfords etc as it is clear and they can see out, held down with bungee cords.

as for kepping mr fox away - we have a male dog that is allowed to cock his leg all around the boundary fence - as is husband!! has worked so far . . .