Sooo much pooping

[lynnemaria]

Hi there all, can anyone suggest a fast economic way to build or find a walk in aviary?

 

I am fairly new to hen keeping and had only had my chooks a couple of weeks when on Boxing day this year i was with my hens in the field where they are kept and was hand feeding them corn when my neighbours husky dog escaped and jumped into the field where i was feeding them and right in front of me decapitated Clara and badly mauled Molly my lovely Blue Star, who died 18 hours later. I was horrified and extreamely upset. The neighbour called and apologised and said it wouldn't happen again.

 

Last week I went away for a couple of days and my father-in-law was looking after them for me. He stayed in the field with them and saw the lady with the same husky dog and another husky dog. She was clearly struggeling to keep them under control so he put them back in the run and bolted the door. Seconds later the two dogs, still with leads attached, jumped into the field and were trying to get into the run. I am so upset that my hens can no longer free range, even supervised, due to these dogs who are hardly ever exersized and are cooped up in a small two up two down.

 

I would very much appreciate any suggestions on how to build or purchase a substantial sq. footage of protected run. They are currently confined to a run which although is the recommended size per bird, is in my opinion way too small.

 

Has anyone else had a similar experience? and if so how did you resolve this.

 

Many thanks in advance

 

Lynne (New to Omlet)

[sparkysmum]

Lynne, Hello & welcome to the forum.

 

I am horrified at what has happened to you and your hens. I can't imagine how you must be feeling. My own feeling is that dogs and hens just don't mix, unless they are your own. I have dogs & after much training over the years would say with reasonable confidence that the hens are safe but couldn't be 100% certain. I think for the majority of dogs their instinct to chase/kill just takes over and it is the responsibility of the owner to keep their dogs under control.

 

Having said that why on earth was this person exercising her dogs in a field with hens in it. If the field is open to the public I'm afraid I would think twice about keeping my hens there. If the woman with the dogs should not have been there I would report her However that doesn't solve your current dilemma. If the field is yours or are using it to accommodate your hens with the owners explicit permission would you consider using an electric fence. I know they are costly but it might be a method which enables your hens some freedom but keeps them safe at the same time.

 

Truly sorry this has happened to you and I hope there are cheerier days ahead. Alli xx

[lynnemaria]

Hi there Alli, many thanks for your reply. Is a comfort to speak to someone who understands how attached we get to our girls! I do own the field but the dogs jumped in as the road is set about three ft higher than the field. I will look into getting an electric fence but it will have to be at least 5ft high, will check out cost.

 

Thank you so much again for your reply and concern. Kindest regards Lynne xx

[mollyripkim]

Hi Lynne, welcome, what a really horrible experience for you, especially to witness that happening as we are all so attached to our girls. I hope it doesnt put you off though as it's such an enjoyable hobby. I have three dogs of my own who happily mingle with my girls and it just annoys me that some owners just have dogs that are obviously unsuitable for them and need some training. I don't know how you can fix this quickly but I would at least speak to the owner - the dogs are a danger. Sending you lots of hugs.

[lynnemaria]

Many thanks, i am determined to carry on keeping chickens, it's such a great hobby. I will find some way of keeping those dogs out. Three sides of the enclosure are surrounded by a three and a half foot fence topped with a row of barbed wire. Does anyone know if a dog could jump over a fence of this height with barbed wire?

 

Many thanks for the hugs xxx

[..lay a little egg for me]

I think that the electric fence idea is the best. It does not need to be 5 foot high as the dogs will not try to jump over it without sniffing at it first, as it is so wobbly on top, when they sniff it they will get zapped and will likely never try again. We had a problem with a neighbours dog when we first got our chickens. No deaths but the dog went wild when she saw the chickens and was running round and round the coop trying to get in, biting at the wire etc. We quickly purchased some electric fencing! After we got the fence, I am sure the dog must have got zapped (though I didn't see it) as she had been in the habit of wandering over to our place most days (her owners seem to let her just wander out on the road as she likes) but after we got the electric fence we never saw her in our driveway again, though I have seen her out on the road. She clearly learnt her lesson. As a result, our chickens are now allowed to free range during the day, but they are always shut up inside the fenced area at dusk, if we are going to be out until after dark, are going on holiday, or if we have visitors with dogs or see any strange dogs about. So the fence is very useful still. The fence is also the best protection against foxes. As you have a field you should have enough room for 50m of electric fence. Just make sure you leave about 1m between the electric fence and any solid fence so no dogs/foxes can use the solid fence as a jumping off point. The standard fencing kit from somewhere like Flyte so Fancy would do you fine.

 

Glad you are going to keep on with the chook-keeping!

[lynnemaria]

Hello there, many thanks for your advice. The only problem is that the forth side to the field is the major problem area. The sectioned part of the field (that has three and half ft of fencing round) would be ideal for electric fencing but this side is approximately three feet below the road level and this is where the dog leapt in from the road right over the fence (at this point the fence virtually becomes none existant because of the slope of the field. Really sorry but it's quite hard to explain the layout!

 

I will purchase some electric fence and place maybe three or four rows to reach the height of at least 4ft this should then make it far harder for a dog to just leap in.

 

So nice of you to reply, appreciate your advice xx

[lynnemaria]

Molly Evie Annie Cuckoo Emilia

[Egluntyne]

Might be worth considering electric netting.

 

Did your neighbour recompense you for your loss?

[..lay a little egg for me]

Hello there, many thanks for your advice. The only problem is that the forth side to the field is the major problem area. The sectioned part of the field (that has three and half ft of fencing round) would be ideal for electric fencing but this side is approximately three feet below the road level and this is where the dog leapt in from the road right over the fence (at this point the fence virtually becomes none existant because of the slope of the field. Really sorry but it's quite hard to explain the layout!

 

I will purchase some electric fence and place maybe three or four rows to reach the height of at least 4ft this should then make it far harder for a dog to just leap in.

 

So nice of you to reply, appreciate your advice xx

 

Oh, I see. Is there no way the electric fence could be positioned far enough back from the slope down from the road that the dog could not just jump over the top?? I know it would reduce the free-ranging area, but it might be that a couple of zaps would be enough to put the dog off jumping over even if the fence were later moved closer to the road again. Sorry if this is a stupid idea...I think I can picture your set up from your description, but I realize I may be completely wrong!

[lynnemaria]

Oh no not silly at all, is just so difficult to explain. I totally understand what you are saying and that would be a fantastic idea but my shed (their home) is right up against that wall. I will try to move the shed a couple of feet forward this weekend and i'm pretty confident that this will work.

 

Many thanks again, kind of you to take the time. xx

[pips_pekins]

Hi. Just read your posts. What an awful experience. I really feel for you. Not sure if I have misunderstood your set up but could you put a double fenced wall on the more vulnerable side. If they were about a foot apart and of different height (maybe use a piece of trellis) that might make it a greater obstacle to clear?