3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[chestnutmare]

In around a week I'd like to leave the chickens out of their , although they have room and seem happy with the extension I'd like them to have a wander. But I'm worried they'll wander too far and either a) not come home b) be dinner (fox).

 

We live on a small holding so we're off road, an acre paddock behind the house and past our paddock there is lots of farm land.

We had warrens before and with 23 of them we could never keep on eye on all of them on a small holding. They had a fantastic time free-ranging but the fox did take quite a few over time. (These were my parents chickens but I helped to feed/clean them).

 

It's going to be easier keeping an eye of three chickens (rather than 23!), I know. And we are shaking corn in a container along with whistling so that they should come to call when we eventually leave them out.

 

I could section off part of our paddock but I imagine that would be costly and it will take up turnout space from the horses.

 

I admit to worrying about how they'll be!

 

What are your thoughts?

[docsquid]

You could get some Omlet netting and set up a smaller area for them to explore. Also, before letting them out, train them to associate you with treats - e.g. a handful of mealworms. Then when you appear in the field they will come running for their treats, and you can easily get them back into the run.

 

The Omlet netting can be electrified (including with a car battery) to provide protection against Mr Fox.

[C&T]

Docsquids ideas are great.

 

If the first time you let them out, you do it just half an hour or so before they usually go to bed, you won't have many problems, as they will want to go back to their coop for bed - and will make you feel more confidant the next time! Just stay out there with them in case of Mr Fox at this time of night... Not that you are likely to leave them the first time!!

 

They are unlikely to go far the first few times you let them out - it's a big scary world out there! - and if you have them well trained to the "corn tub" then you should be ok.

 

Good luck! I know we were really nervous too.

[karlotta]

It sounds like electric netting would be perfect for you. It's not too costly to set up and gives such peace of mind. I'd thoroughly recommend it.

[megalin]

I think the net is a great idea, we've netted part of our garden as it's quite big and

it's worked really well. Not expensive either.

[chestnutmare]

Thanks for the advice.

I'm looking at the Omlet netting now. If I made it into electric netting, would the hens get a shock from the inside, or is it just the outside? I know they'd probably not do it more than once but they are small animals to get a shock...?

I've been reading the reviews and some say the chickens can fly over the netting, even with clipped wings.

[KateCooke]

Can not speak more highly about teh netting. Not got it electrified but its excellent quality.

[Eggasperated]

Thanks for the advice.

I'm looking at the Omlet netting now. If I made it into electric netting, would the hens get a shock from the inside, or is it just the outside? I know they'd probably not do it more than once but they are small animals to get a shock...?

I've been reading the reviews and some say the chickens can fly over the netting, even with clipped wings.

 

Yes, they would get a shock but mine only did it the once, they can be quick learners when they need to be .

Only one of mine has ever flown over the fence but that was before she had her wing clipped, I think they are more inclined to fly over non- electrified fence. Also it pays to make sure there is nothing near the fence they can use to jump up on and get over - such as log piles (works the other way too - nothing to help a fox leap over).

[chestnutmare]

Thanks Kate. Reviews are mixes re. keeping chickens enclosed though, which is why I'd want it.

Eggasperated - ahhh, poor little chickens! Oooph, I'd have to make OH test it before the chickens get a shock though, you know, to make sure it's not too nasty? I've got electric fencing for the horses - the posts were awkward to get in the ground, we have stoney ground. But we did it in the end.

These chickens are costing and I haven't had them long, not evena week yet !!

[Egluntyne]

They will get a shock from the netting, but they soon learn.

 

Sounds like the ideal solution for you.

[Alis girls]

TEH netting - whats that - i have an area sectioned off with chicken wire hopeless as they jump over it I want something secure but not unsightly.

[..lay a little egg for me]

Electric netting is great! We keep our hens behind it in the mornings when it is still a bit dark and I think the foxes are likely still to be hunting, if we have visitors with dogs or if we are going away so our chicken sitters don't have to be at our place exactly at dusk to shut the girls in. It gives great peace of mind so they can free-range a bit but are still protected. You can move it about to any place that's handy so we sometimes put it around the vegetable patch in the winter and let the girls eat all the bugs in the veg patch and rake the soil for us. Although ours are allowed to free-range for much of the time, I wouldn't be without it. It was also fantastic when introducing new chickens as we let the old girls out to free-range outside and kept the new ones behind the fence; in the evening the new girls put themselves to bed first and then we let the old ones in who didn't seem to notice the strangers in the coop at all!

 

If you have horses, you will be familiar no doubt with using an electric fence. The difference is that you need a "sender" that is powerful enough to electrify the net...the ones that are sold for horse electric fencing are not powerful enough.

 

We have set up our chicken run in the starvation paddock at the moment and when the horse was in there with the chooks, he avoided the fence with no problem. I think the "mixed species grazing" of having the chooks with the horse is probably a good thing too!

[chestnutmare]

Thanks. I'm liking the idea of electric netting. But I'm going to be spending around £200 for a basic, small kit. I don't know how my OH would feel about me spending this much so soon after buying the and all of the other bits and pieces that I've bought.

[karlotta]

Tell him you got it on freecycle/won it in a competition....

[Sam]

Tell him you got it on freecycle/won it in a competition....

 

Speaking from experience?

[Goosey Lucy]

I've just bought some netting as we're moving and need to keep the hens properly contained in a large back garden ( at least until the nieghbours decide that escapee hens in their garden is not a nuisance ) rather than in a small field.

 

Do you think it will acts as a deterrant to rats?

[karlotta]

Don't have the trouble of an OH at the mo thankfully... but years of being a daughter teach you these things!

 

The other classic trick is saying you want something bigger/more expensive than what you really want and then settling for the cheaper option!

[Goosey Lucy]

I like your style

[Eggasperated]

Thanks. I'm liking the idea of electric netting. But I'm going to be spending around £200 for a basic, small kit. I don't know how my OH would feel about me spending this much so soon after buying the and all of the other bits and pieces that I've bought.

 

But then you'll find you will be buying 'presents' for the electric fence . We decided to get a proper leisure battery, then we found we needed to buy a new battery charger for it, then I was worried about the time the battery was on charge so we bought another battery, next I found I worried about the charge on the fence so I got a fence tester, and what about if one of the leads to the energiser broke? - so I now have a set of spares leads; oh and of course the extra poles, tent pegs to hold it down and don't forget the electric fence polisher ( ) .

 

But really I wouldn't be without my electric fence, a worthwhile investment I think.

[chestnutmare]

Oh you naughty people! :lol@

I'm lucky that he doesn't comlain too much but these are turning into expensive pets already. But I never knew I could be so enthusiastic over chickens! They're lovely.

How about, 'it was on sale?' No one's thought of that one yet!

[karlotta]

That's a good one too!!