Unsecure chicken perches

[sparkysmum]

Immediately behind our garden is a large field owned by a megabuck company. They have said that I can use a small area for then hens but have imposed numerous conditions. The most onerous condition is that I can't access the field via gate or stile The hens would have to find some other means of accessing the field. I have a couple of questions I would love your thoughts on before I sign up to their agreement

 

1) Do you think the hens would learn to climb a ramp/walkway/ from our garden into the field. The boundary fence is standard stock fencing about 36ins high.

 

2)Poultry fencing. The compny will not allow permanent fencing in their field, but any fencing I erect would have to be dog proof as dog walkers occassionaly use it. Do you think Omlet netting is dog proof If not can you reccommend fencing/netting which would be temporary yet dog proof.

 

There are numerous other conditions which I think I can deal with but would love you thoughts on the two points above.

 

Many, many thanks for reading. Alli x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I love that I know exactly what you're describing, having actually seen it .

 

Great news that you're being allowed to use the field . Seems a bit mean not allowing a gate though . Could you create a kind of cat/chicken flap to let the girls through? I'd worry if they had to go up a ramp that they might see the wide blue yonder and make a bid for freedom.

 

I'm not sure I'd trust Omlet netting to keep them safe from dogs although if you had it really well pegged down it might be OK.

[Olly]

I think they would learn to use a ramp, after all hens learn to use the Cube ladder - and there's a type of chicken-house, can't remember which one, which is actually on a pole and relies on the hens climbing up to go to bed!

 

I don't think the Omlet netting would stop a determined dog, though. It's hen-resistant, but would give way under a bit of force, and a large dog might be able to jump it.

[Redwing]

foxes have chewed through my omlet netting several times so I wouldnt hold out too much hope that it would keep a dog out

 

Electric fencing would be ideal but with walkers coming through the field you'd be on dodgy ground with that one if the company are already twitchy

 

You could try sheep hurdles with fine chicken wire on the inside or wood and weldmesh panels that can be held together with pins like this http://www.littleacre-direct.co.uk/acatalog/Run_Panels.html or perhaps trellis with chicken wire

 

the trouble with some dogs is that when they get excited the can jump clear over fences, ideally you'd want it to be 4ft rather than the usual height of temporary fences which tends to be 3ft

 

If the back fence is yours then I'd maybe put a pop hole in it but yes they should cope with a ramp up and a ramp down the other side

 

I'm not sure how practical their conditions are, if one of the hens gets in to trouble or goes missing would you be allowed in then?

[Cheeky Chooky]

Just to comment on the Omlet netting; a dog we had chewed his way through it in no time...and in several places! Little monkey