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

[mole]

D-day is drawing ever nearer and thought id better get the garden a little more sorted.

 

what size gaps do i need to fill and which ones can be left? in other words how big a gap will a chicken fit thro?

[meezers]

Hmm, I suppose answering ' a chicken sized gap' wouldn't be much help ? We don't have any gaps in our garden as it's terrier proofed, but I guess the average chook could fit through a 7x7 inch hole perhaps. What height are your fences ? many hybrids and lighter breeds could get over a 5ft fence no trouble.

[mole]

normal fence height 6ft i think all the way round apart from a 5-bar gate. they wont fly over that if i keep their wings clipped will they?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hmm, depends on the height of the gate . They may well jump onto it and then over the other side. Perhaps wait and see if they show any interest in it, then you can chicken-proof it (a couple of canes and flimsy netting would probably do!)

[chicken bark]

You could always attach a mesh fence to your existing fence. If it just to stop your hens escaping then chicken wire would do. (rather than stopping Mr Fox getting in that is)

[Unit]

I'm working on the principle that any hole might be a temptation so we're replacing the fencing and patching up gaps around the entire garden! Better safe than sorry?

[mole]

these are the gaps im worried about

 

 

 

 

and this is the gate

 

 

 

 

what do you think? will they get over it? or thro the gaps?

[Tutti Frutti]

Oh yes, they'll be straight under/through/over those so you're right to be thinking this way!

 

Depending on the chook's nature, they can dig like mad - I know my Black Rock and Suffolk Noir (like Miss Pepperpots) would be straight under the gaps in the fencing I had the same problem so just bought some larch lap panels from Wickes and fitted it along the bottom of the fence panel.

 

I think any chook will get through the gaps of the black picket-type fence and yup, that gate is the perfect height for a cheeky chook to hop up onto and then over the other side

 

So... not too much work then

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to say, yes, to all of them . When they're young, they'll be little skinny things who could squeeze through gaps. As they get older and fatter they might not fit . It all really depends if they're happy where they are or try to explore further afield - I've only got one nosey chicken who will jump up on anything she can, the others don't bother.

 

A bit of chickenwire on the fences should do the trick (or even netting) and for the gate, I'd wait and see if they show any interest then do something about it if they do .

[Tutti Frutti]

I'd definitely chook-proof the gate. Or at the very least, make sure they're friendly, tame and catchable before you let them out for their first free range - you don't want them to escape over the gate and then not be able to catch them, otherwise they'll be out on that road in no time, then impossible to round up and they'll panic when they meet loud, noisy traffic and it could result in tragedy Sorry, doom mongerer there!!!

[mole]

well i have filled all the gaps with chicken wire and nailed it to the fence and tent pegged down the edges. que lots of crawling thro the undergrowth

 

the only thing left is the big hegde and metal bars - thats going to be a nightmare