Chicken bald back

[KateCooke]

I would like to section off part of my garden so my hens can free range but without coming into my house if i leave back door open and without them eating all my veg garden. I have just had a quote for trellis with chicken wire and a gate but it is £250, bit too expensive. It can not be permanant as we only rent so it needs to be something that we can removed easily enough in a few years.

Any suggestions?

I have very young children so electric fences not suitable. 4 bantams all have wings clipped, how high does a fence need to be?

[Salop Chuck]

Hi KateCooke

 

Re: the fencing to allow your bantams to FR - I use temporary fencing supplied by Omlet. It is not particularly cheap but there is an offer on at the moment for 25m fencing with exta poles reduced from £90.48 to £62.60. With the VAT increase coming in January it would be great if you could buy it before then if you are able.

 

The link is here: https://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken+Keeping&sub=General&product_id=22&product_name=Chicken+Netting+-+25M+and+Extra+Poles

 

It is not fox-proof on its own without electrication but it will confine your bantams. It is very quick to put up and take down and you can take it with you if you ever move house. You can also buy extra poles if you need them. Hope that helps.

 

Cheers Sue

[migsy]

I saw a fox jumping onto a 2m fence in my garden yesterday. I have small children but I've ordered an energiser for my omlet netting. The current is not strong enough to cause any harm and the children will learn quickly. They would be a lot more upset if one of the chickens was eaten than they would be by a small shock. You can get a good value kit here.http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/25m_Electric_Poultry_Netting_Kits_Mains.html

[chicken bark]

I use the hotline netting. Mine is electrified and I have 3 children (5,4 and 2). I do have quite a large garden but they have learned not to go near it. I touch it regularly to check it is working.

 

If you do electrify it, it is not a cheap option but it does protect them from foxes. If you are supervising the free ranging then I'd just get the fencing and you can electrify it at a later date. It's not fool proof for keeping the chickens contained but it is pretty decent.

[KateCooke]

Hi KateCooke

 

Re: the fencing to allow your bantams to FR - I use temporary fencing supplied by Omlet. It is not particularly cheap but there is an offer on at the moment for 25m fencing with exta poles reduced from £90.48 to £62.60. With the VAT increase coming in January it would be great if you could buy it before then if you are able.

 

The link is here: https://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken+Keeping&sub=General&product_id=22&product_name=Chicken+Netting+-+25M+and+Extra+Poles

 

It is not fox-proof on its own without electrication but it will confine your bantams. It is very quick to put up and take down and you can take it with you if you ever move house. You can also buy extra poles if you need them. Hope that helps.

 

Cheers Sue

 

Can I ask you how easy it is for children to get through/over the netting, as we will still need to use the free ranging part of garden to play in with kids and my 3 year old will want to be in and out of there. I had considered buying that but was wondering if it was practical and sturdy. Fox proof is not an issue as they currently wander all of the garden in day light.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I have Omlet netting and think it's brilliant .

 

I have two "entrances", one beside the walk in run which is at the end of the netting and the other I've created by cutting the netting and having a moveable "door".

 

This should show how it works - easy for kids to use as long as they can stick the pole back in the ground to close the door .

 

[Patricia W]

I too love my Omlet netting, but can't use it with my bantams as they walk straight through it! I only have 3 though in a cube run so they have lots of space and so don't free range much. I keep meaning to get some smaller gauge netting to go at the bottom of the Omlet netting but just haven't got round to it.

 

I seem to remember that Tom123 found some non- Omlet netting that looked good and was cheaper.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I bought a roll of fairly cheap black plastic netting from a garden centre. Cut it in half along its length and attached with garden ties, make the Omlet netting totally chicken proof . It's almost unnoticeable too .

[chicken bark]

I think Knowles netting is a popular one. You will need to buy poles too.

[chuckmum6]

The netting is great, cheap and flexiable, so long as your chickens aren't too small. None of mine (except one small pekin, then only if determined) can squeeze through the bottom wire.

[KateCooke]

I have Omlet netting and think it's brilliant .

 

I have two "entrances", one beside the walk in run which is at the end of the netting and the other I've created by cutting the netting and having a moveable "door".

 

This should show how it works - easy for kids to use as long as they can stick the pole back in the ground to close the door .

 

 

 

Thanks very much for showing me the pictures, i think i will go ahead with that, looks good in your pictures.

[KateCooke]

Following everyone's advice I have decided to go for the Omlet netting which is currently reduced, I have ordered it and it will be delivered 4th Jan, very exciting.

 

Thank you everyone for your advice, i did think that the netting looked a bit feeble but everyone raves about it so i hope it is suitable for my needs.

 

Kate