Ammonia smell in coop-first time owner

[katieD]

Hi all

 

I'm going to be renting 4 acres soon for my horses. I'm going to be buildi g stables etc and was hoping to get some new chickens to keep there, was planning on using electric poultry netting to create a large square which I will split into a few breeding pens with chicken houses freestanding in each pen. The land is secure but was wondering if you think the chickens will be safe from foxes etc with the electric netting? Don't want to invest loads of money on fencing, houses etc if mr fox will get to them was planning on having them just as pets and selling some hatching eggs.

 

Thanks for your help x

[Egluntyne]

I'd say probably not, to be honest, and they'd be even less secure from the predators of the two legged variety. I'd go for the biggest Walk in Runs that you can afford.... and padlock them.

[chicken bark]

I'd say fine as protection from foxes but as Egluntyne says not from two legged predators.

 

My hens have been behind an electric poultry net for about 10 months now - they are meant to be very reliable as protection from foxes.

[Minnie&Moose]

We've used electrified netting in an urban garden for over 2 years without any problems. We know we have almost daily visits from several foxes because we see them - we even have cubs playing in the garden sometimes! But occasionally one or two of the hens get over the netting so I don't think I'd want to rely on it as the only means of protection if the birds were at a distance from us. At least in the garden, if a chicken gets out and we're at home, we're likely to spot her - we did lose a bird last year when the neighbours were supposed to be looking after them. Myrtle obviously got out of the chicken fence (it had been pulled out at one side, perhaps by someone coming over the garden wall) and, because the neighbours forgot to come and shut up the hens for the night, she tried to roost on a garden bench and got caught

[Redwing]

If you are going to shut popholes each night then it may be ok

 

If you arent planning to shut the houses then I'd say no

 

You'd be better off making 6ft high enclosures and using electric wire strand top and bottom and netting over the top. Heras panels are very good fences

 

I have a field with pens in but mine are wired underneath and over the top so fox proof

 

It would be lovely for the chooks to have more of a run of the land but as we arent around to shut the coops every night we chose to give them less space (but still enough) but make sure they are secure