grahamrhind Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I'm experiencing an issue with the fencing around our chicken run, and I wondered if anybody can provide any further insights or advice. We bought fencing from Omlet and it was fine for the first year, but after that holes started appearing around the bottom of the fencing that the chickens simply walked through. As fast as I could patch them up, new ones appeared elsewhere. The chickens haven't developed teeth, I've never had one killed or injured by predators, and (though we're not around during the day and they are enclosed in the Eglu at night) we've never seen any creatures in the chicken run apart from wild birds and evidence of a mole. So at first we assumed that it was a manufacturing fault and bought a new fence from another supplier, this one made of plastic. Within weeks the holes started appearing again. Five or so a day. We first thought of rats, and further research suggested rabbits (there are a lot of wild rabbits around here). We do scatter salad vegetable bits and pieces around for the ladies to enjoy, but they're normally gone by the end of the day and the rest of the run looks like no-man's land during the Battle of the Somme, so we do wonder why the rabbits would want to get into the run for a few manky lettuce leaves when it is surrounded by more easily accessible lush grassland. We don't want to deprive the chickens of their fresh veggies, so our current thinking is to try to remove any temptation by putting the leftovers into a mobile feeder which we can remove at night rather than scattering them around, though we don't know if the presence of the food will attract the mysterious fence damagers anyway, even if they can't get at the food in the feeder. We've considered putting up a fixed fence of chicken-wire, but that takes away the advantages of having a mobile and easily erected/removed fence and means a lot more expense. We can't afford a new fence monthly, so does anybody have any ideas what might be making the holes, and what steps we might take to prevent the issue recurring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 How odd! I wouldn't have thought it's just falling to bits, as I've had the regular Omlet netting for over 18 months now and that hasn't happened. My fence has one hole at about a foot off the ground which has clearly been caused by mammalian jaws. About an inch and a half away from the broken strand you can see where the other row of teeth have almost got through. It could have been a cat (they certainly use the hole to jump through) but my money is on a fox. It sounds like yours are lower down though. I reckon you're probably on the mark with the rabbits. You could try sprinkling something on the ground on a dry, still night to see if you can id footprints. Or better (but more expensive) still (and this is what I want to fo) - get a trail cam! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I don't have a fence like that but would you be able to put a skirt of wire meld round the bottom? It does sound like a predator that nibbles so I think rabbit. I presume it's not electrified? Would that be an option? I have a WIR and although expensive it is keeping predators out and gives great peace of mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamrhind Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 (edited) Thanks for these responses. The reason I don't think its a predator, @mullethunter, is because the chickens are completely unstressed and untouched - if predators were getting in I'd expect to be losing birds and/or for them to be stressed and fazed. At the moment I'm leaving the run door open (because my chickens may be lovely but they are also moronic - when they get out through the holes they can't find their way back in ...) so now they can roam all over the garden, in fact all over the village. But they remain untouched. Hence the assumption that it's rabbits. I was considering a trail cam, though it's a lot of fence to keep under surveillance. @grandmashazzie The current fence allows for a current at the top and bottom, but I don't have it on - I don't like electric fences. We're about to get a new fence around the garden, but I would then still need to use a mobile fence to block off the exits. I'm mainly worried about the chickens wandering off and spooking a horse with rider or somebody on a bike - Germans are a litigious lot. I suppose if I started losing chickens I could get a walk-in run, but I'd rather not have to get to that stage as they're currently used to wide open spaces ... Edited February 11, 2016 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I had a similar problem with my omlet fencing, but it was my dogs ruining it. I replaced the netting with wire welded mesh fencing. It comes in a roll. I sill used the omlet stakes, but secured it with cable ties. It worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 My guess would have been a fox. I don't know what it's like in Germany but in the UK they are everywhere and the fact that you haven't seen one doesn't mean there isn't one around. My fence has so many holes after eight years or so in that it's almost unusable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamrhind Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 @Chickabee, thanks, that's really interesting. I'd considered using chicken wire but didn't like the idea of having to sink wooden fence posts to which to attach it. If it works with the Omlet fence poles, that's a real plus. Is the wire flexible enough to easily turn corners, and would the Omlet gate, where you pull the posts apart and step in, work with the wire? @Olly Yes, I'm sure there are foxes around, especially in this semi-rural part of Germany, though I also never hear them at night (they have a distinctive cry, as any watcher of Midsomer Murders will know ) - I should probably get that wildlife camera to check it out for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Yes it does bend. You have to do a bit of fiddling, but you can make a gate. I either got mine from eBay or Amazon. I'll see if I can find out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamrhind Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 An update, should it be useful for anybody else. I was able to fairly easily put up a chicken-wire fence, using the plastic poles that came with the Omlet netting, and it's working well. The ladies stay in and nothing has been able to gnaw its way through it. (There was a warren of rabbits within the run and they tried, but failed, to chew through it. They went under, instead). I've had a wildlife camera going for about 6 weeks. Apart from dogs, birds and rabbits, the most vicious thing its captured has been the postman and a runaway horse (followed by a very panicked-looking pre-teen - that's a fab photo!) - which explains the damage to one part of the fence. All in all, though, very much to be recommended (but probably not much good against foxes if that's a problem where you are). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
