the-marks Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Hi all In order to give my 2 girls more space I was originally thinking of getting a WIR for my but having explored the costs, wonder if I would be better upgrading to a cube with 3m run and selling the classic (which would roughly work out the same cost as a WIR). Obviously, either way, I could get some more girls!!! Any thoughts / advice on my WIR vs cube dilemma would be really appreciated. Many thanks. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 what a problem Either way you could only get a couple more chickens. If you kept the and added a wir you'd be limited by sleeping space to 4. if you get a and 3m run you'd be limited by the run space to probably 4 again. If I were you I would buy a cube with no run and add a wir to that (or electric fencing like me which gives loads of space for much cheaper) that way you could add even more hens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 if you get a and 3m run you'd be limited by the run space to probably 4 again. Unless you do what kymberley did and put a mezzanine level in the run, which would allow, I would say, 6 chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 we went for the cube and no run, and stood it inside electric fencing - worked fine for a good while til the inevitable happened and foxy got in. as I had been leaving the cube door open in the summer heat, it was not good. so now we have a cube, a 12 ft x 12ft WIR, AND 50 m electric fencing! works a treat; they FR all day and I shut the WIR pophole at night which means I dont have to get up too early to let them out - I leave the cube door open. (I have just realised that a 12ft x 12ft sq run is 144 sq ft, not 12 sq ft as I used to think!! never was very good at maths... ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I do shut mine in the run at night but trust the electric fencing during the day. I'm worried now do you know how a fox got thru your electric fencing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 fluffy, it was last summer and it had been very dry for a good long time. I 'think' what happened was that the earth shrank away from the earth pole on the fence, thus weakening the charge and making it less effective against foxy loxy. which reminds me, I must go and chuck a bucket of water over the earth pole right now!! (someone on here told me this is what horse owners do to make sure their fences remain effective). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I wouldn't trust electric fencing on its own - does it go underground or have a roof? No. Therefore it's not 'foxproof'. A fox could stand back and do a running jump into the pen quite easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Don't forget that the minimum recommended 'floor space' is 1 sq m per hen. I'd go for the WIR and add an extra nest box. I've had up to 8 cram themselves into an Eglu ( their choice and in a spacious WIR with a Cube too before you reach for the RSPCA on speed dial ) so it depends really on how many more you are contemplating getting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I wouldn't trust electric fencing on its own - does it go underground or have a roof? No. Therefore it's not 'foxproof'. A fox could stand back and do a running jump into the pen quite easily. squiffs you have a point, BUT I guess it comes down to what you think is an acceptable level of risk. for me, the chooks' quality of life is vastly improved by being able to FR all day every day, I personally wouldnt be happy to keep them in the WIR all day every day, no matter how much I enriched the environment; nor do I want a garden that looks like Fort Knox (not to mention the expense of totally fox-proofing an area that size). So for us, it's the best solution: fox-proof cube, fox-proof WIR (which is actually electrified because both ends of the fence are attached to it), and the girls FR from getting up time (anything from 6.30 to 8am) til dusk inside a fox-resistant zone. tis the best for me and my girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Ah yes I throw water at it now and then (not had to much though ) I think the electric fencing works with fox behaviour in mind. They tend to sniff at the ground and will walk round and round the outside. They are generally fairly cautious to start with when investigating. After the fox has had a nasty jolt (and it is my Dad informs me ) they aren't likely to try that spot again so they keep testing the outside. They won't keep trying though. Also if they were to try and dig they would still get a shock when they try and put their head under it.As it is such a jolt they are also more likely to run and take cover than to throw themselves at it trying to get over. Having said that they could climb onto a shed etc and jump down pretty easily so you need to be careful where you put it. They may well not get back out but it's too late by that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 yes, and if there is one thing I would like less than a fox attack it would be to find one going mad inside my leccy fence unable to get out!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
