gavclojak Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 I am gutted to say the least. We have a very large enclosure, approx. 20 foot wide by 20 foot deep, due to the ground not being level we corrugated the back half of the roof and on the from half, the only thing that we could use was a strong fruit net. We worked on the assumption a fox wouldn't step on it for fear of falling through....four years on.....WRONG...I was sitting watching little house on the prairie (don't ask) at 7.30am thursday and there was a fox just sitting there watching my girls. He ran off as soon as he was me. We have planned to take the run back by about ten foot to the corrugated section and then secure the front but this will take a couple of weeks and during this time my poor four girls are going to be fostered out for to a lovely lady who has 20 pet hens in one enclosure. my girls are going to be popped in with hers, I am terrified they will get bullied, will lose each other etc etc but at least they will be safe. any advice would be welcomed. would you leave them with her if they settle? rather than unsettling them again, will they come together as one little flock again after being with 20 odd other? or would you keep them at home I the hope he doesn't return while we do the work on the run???? HELP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 Aweful dilemma! Can't you borrow a Classic or Go for someone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 30, 2016 Author Share Posted July 30, 2016 Do you mean for the enclosed run? problem I have is that they are so used to a large area I fear they will start feather pecking when confined to such a small area and just to add to the mix my ground is so uneven and the garden slopes:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 Well you could put a temporary go or classic run in your walk in run and let them in the larger run when you are home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 I think they would get used to being in smaller run. When we moved house my girls lost their big roaming area and had to be confined to walk in run. They used to look out from the WIR sadly, or was that my imagination! Eventually 6 months later we made them another ' play ' area which they enjoy,but I think they would have been fine in WIR. Obviously their safety is the main concern,if you could keep them safe at home I would prob go for that to prevent bullying, distress and reintegration problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 I agree entirely with Grandmashazzie Gavclojak. No doubt they will be bullied and even injured if they are just added to another flock without a proper integration process. Then they may come back with some nasties. They will be fine for a few weeks in a smaller run at your place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 30, 2016 Author Share Posted July 30, 2016 Thanks everyone, your help and words are invaluable as always....I can't let them go, I have been in such a state over the thought of them bullied. I don't know anyone with a free run, all the holiday homes where I have hired a run before are fill. We are making a start tomorrow and trying to secure at least a small area, it may take a few days and I may get an attack in the meantime but call me selfish...I can't let me sweet girls go:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Have you tried Gill at Mumbles Farm? She always looks after my girls for me, she is based at Borough Green so not to far away, maybe she could help you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 Thanks but I decided I couldn't let them go so.... We have taken it right back and secured the front with half inch wield mesh, made up anti dig skirts around the bottom and topped with concrete slabs. We have a little void on the roof at the moment that is chicken wire covered with fruit net but we ran out of timber but we are going to put another corrugated sheet to overlap that's asap. We now have the cube outside but attached to the enclosure securely, my only worry is the skirt of the cube, we have really uneven dry Earth at the moment and only 4 pegs but I have done what I humanly can and have order about a zillion omlet ground pegs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 we dug our mesh about a foot into the floor and then laid slabs on either side of it at ground level, as foxy is unlikely to be able to dig down and then about 3 foot across... fingers crossed it's worked - been 7 yrs! Hope things have improved for you. I do have a spare eglu if you need a temporary fix... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted August 2, 2016 Author Share Posted August 2, 2016 That's really sweet of you. Thanks so much. We are spending the weekend slabbing, they seem to have settled into the smaller area so happy days all round x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 Renovations now complete.....so happy I didn't let my girls go. They have half the room they had before but I think they are happy with their lot 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Looks amazing! Lucky lot you have! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 That is fan bloody fastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 Thanks guys:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 That's REALLY smart, you've done an excellent job. Your girls still have plenty of room and now you know here safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 You're hired That set-up looks amazing, I love the way it's good for the chooks and good to look at as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 Thank you all so much. Aesthetic's aside thank goodness my ladies are safe. One of my girls isn't too good at the moment, nothing I can put my finger in just not right....fingers crossed she is due a softie and nothing more serious . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Your set up is amazing, lucky girls. Hope your poorly one is ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Looks marvellous! What are the plants in the run? I presume the girls don't eat,them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 I was going to ask the same - I like your er balls (the green hanging things - not being rude ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 I was going to ask the same - I like your er balls (the green hanging things - not being rude ) Nothing better than a pair of hanging balls!!! In the run I have lavender, bamboo and another grass type thingy....I have used lavender lots of times and the girls don't like it at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 That does look fab and looks like a lot of space to me I'm sure they will be very happy in there - I think I would be if I was a chicken. I must admit I've been looking at those green balls ......... might have to get some now I see how smart they look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Yes I saw a woman with a pair the other day. Balls that is. Sounding more rude as I go on. Prob she had chickens too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippie Chick Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Amazing was my first thought too! I think I may move in there with them. I hope your poorly one gets over whatever is wrong quickly x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
