Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[chicken-drummer]

Hi All,

 

For the past 3 years we have taken a calculated risk and allowed our hens free-range over a fenced off section of our garden. Unfortunately the fox paid us a daytime visit last week and killed our three girls. He didn't take any of them - which made a distressing event feel totally pointless

 

The garden feels empty without hens - so we will get some more. However, after this experience, we couldn't risk any more of our hens suffering such a horrible death. We will be building a walk in run before getting any new girls.

 

From looking at posts I can see that we need to go for 16 gauge weld mesh. My husband has suggested we go for 2" by 2" mesh size but it looks like most people go for a smaller sized mesh. Is 2" too big - and if so, can someone explain why (and suggest which size would be appropriate)?

 

Thanks,

 

Caz

[Jools]

We built our aviary for the last bird flu scare and the maximum recommended mesh size was 1in x 1in as that size excludes birds, rats and mice. The mesh on my Forsham arks is 2cm x 1cm and on my Bay WIR 1cm x 1cm. I'd say the smaller the better tbh.

 

Sorry to hear about your chooks

[Plum]

I've got the 16g and 1" x 1" because I feel that would stop a fox reaching through to get them if they were at the side of the run. I don't think it would stop mice but it would rats

 

Sorry to hear about your girls, glad it's not put you off trying again.

[chicken-drummer]

Thanks for your comments.

 

I hadn't thought about wild birds or rats. More importantly I hadn't considered the fox trying to grab hens through the mesh. I'll order some 1" by 1" mesh.