Unsecure chicken perches

[Lorax]

We currently have Omlet netting, 25m, around our Cube. It's not really in use because the chickens get over it with ease. At the moment they have the run of the garden but we do want to section them off soon as we want to replant our herb and veg beds. Plus they poo all over the garden.

 

I don't want something too permanent as we're not 100% sure where they're going to go and we might move them. Ideally I'd like to section them off to the back part of the garden, so they still FR but not in the entire garden; but we need something that they're not going to be able to clear quite so easily as the netting we currently have.

 

Thoughts/advice? I'm not ready for a WIR yet as I do so like seeing them wander about.

[Daphne]

Have you tried clipping one wing on them? This unbalances them and is worth a try although some birds laugh in the face of the scissors and still manage to get out

[Lorax]

Hello Daphne

 

I haven't tried that yet, no. I'm hesitating because I think it gives them a better chance of getting away from predators if they can fly a bit. Am I being naive?

 

Also, tbh, I'm not sure it'd stop them!

[Daphne]

Just thought of another idea - would it be possible to buy some cheap lightweight netting (eg fruit cage stuff?) and spread it over your existing netting as a roof, putting more poles in and making the pen a bit smaller if necessary? I know what you mean about them getting away if you clip a wing. TBH it depends on the bird and the predator. If you have a very good flier and a fox, yes I think it would make a difference. Although if they can still fly and get away from you and then you can't shut them up safely it defeats the object! Tricky one.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Another option would be to cable tie canes to the Omlet poles and string lightweight netting between them to raise the height of the "fence" .

[chicken bark]

You may find just tying lengths of string over the top of the fencing in a criss cross pattern would do the trick rather than using fruit netting. I don't think you need to do lots of it - it should just be enough to give them the idea that flying over the top is not so easy.

[karlotta]

Have you thought about electrifying it? Apart from a very rare occasion where someone jumps over, mine stay back from it by a few inches which seems to put them off jumping over.