thoroton Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Hello I want to keep chickens in an Eglu, but my partner is worried about our garden. It's closed off by tall 5'-6' hedges all the way around. They are pretty dense, but maybe small holes for the birds to escape to next door - when we leave them to run about free in the garden. Will the chickens do a Steve McQueen/Great Escape? Or will they tend to stay in our own garden to cluck around - it's actiually very big, plenty of space. I know other animals like dogs can be quite adventurous and want to get out - but are chickens similar? Will they find a small gap and squeeze through? Can anyone advise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 The trouble is, they like grubbing around under hedges - lots of lovely bugs and things - and I think there's a risk that they might just see a gap with a juicy plant on the other side, and head on through without realising where they were going! Generally, mine stay together and just peck about, they are not quite as adventurous as dogs or cats, but they'll do anything in search of food. I have a gap under my side gate of about 8", and one of mine squeezed under there the other day; I had an anxious moment persuading her to come back. If I were you I'd think about just running some mesh or fencing - if you got the green stuff it would be nearly invisible - across any gaps. Alternatively, you could get the Omlet netting and use that to keep contained? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I'm afraid to say my chooks have been to visit the neighbours on more than one occasion Infact when a wild malard hatched her ducklings in our garden earlier this year, and they kept popping through to next door, they didn't bat an eyelid as they assumed they belonged to us We are lucky to have lovely neighbours but now have mesh around the hedge line karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 You can use Omlet netting to fence off an area for them to petter about in. I think they probably would find a gap to squeeze through in the hedge. Welcome to the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 We have a large hedge on one side of us. Before we had the chooks OH wedged some chicken wire in the gaps and touch wood no escapees yet and they're always rooting around for the tastiest bugs under there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thoroton Posted October 21, 2007 Author Share Posted October 21, 2007 thanks for the advice guys, I like the idea of that green stuff and have some in the shed - My Mrs is warming to the idea now and has thought of the names for 2 chucks - Hilda & Hetty, so we are getting there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 well, if you're going to name one after a famous (amateur) detective, you're asking for trouble! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
