Chicken run

Latest Articles

Chicken run
Page 1, 2 Next

Downsizer Forum Index -> Poultry

Author

Message

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Sep 02, 08 10:56 am Post subject: Chicken run

I need to make one, and I think it should be fox proof. I'd like to make it out of stuff we have lying about, mostly because that's just sensible, but partly because I'm too disorganised to get to a builders merchants if it can be avoided.

So, iIf I made a set of arches out of old water pipe, covered it with chicken wire (like a fleece tunnel for the veg) and pegged it down firmly do think that would keep A) the chickens in and B) the foxes out.

It would be nice and moveable, and I could continue the mesh along the ground a bit and peg it down (like the eglu runs have) to stop anything digging under. The only disadvantage I can see is it might be a bit light - pegging it out firmly should keep it in place though, and it will be very movable and easier to construct.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Tue Sep 02, 08 1:58 pm Post subject:
Yes, I should think so. I'd probably have a couple of feet of wire flat on the floor at each side, if it was me.

Northern_Lad

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere

Posted: Tue Sep 02, 08 2:16 pm Post subject:
The only down-side I can see from that is that it may going poing when you release one side from its tethers unless you join the 'hoops' at the ground. Have you not got enough lying round to build a stone-walled and slated-roofed version?

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Sep 02, 08 2:19 pm Post subject:
I could probably build them a brick enclosure with roof tiles and a wipe-clean tiled finish indoors. It's more a question of time. And portability! I'll put stakes in the ground, and slot the pipe over them - works a treat in the veg patch!

Northern_Lad

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere

Posted: Tue Sep 02, 08 2:28 pm Post subject:
Ah, me misunderstood. I was thinking of an entire arrangement that could be picked up and moved in one go, rather than an easily de-constructed and rebuilt version.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Sep 02, 08 3:48 pm Post subject:
Sounds like it would work. How robust will it be if a fox sits on the top? Will it collapse at all? We netted our strawberries one year and the fox rolled around on top of them ruining the crop anyway.

jamila169

Joined: 07 Sep 2008
Posts: 218
Location: North Derbyshire

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 08 11:43 pm Post subject:

This one is of interest to us at the moment, we are planning to have some chickens on one of the allotments in the furue , but we're at the stage of dividing the plots off from the rest - We need a dividing fence that's not too expensive, looks reasonably tidy and will stop chooks geting out when we are there (planning to make a large high sided run for when we aren't) .I'm leaning towards stock fencing, as there's no rabbit problem , what's the pros and cons?
other chicken keepers on the site have gone for a variety of methods, from the commercial weldmesh enclosure, to baffle fencing made out of pallets, only losses we've heard of were to nigel's cousin, whose plot looks like kansas after the tornado, he lost two in the spring .but none since(and he's very laid back about getting them in at night).

crofter

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 08 1:16 am Post subject:
I think chicken wire will keep the chickens in but you'll need something a bit more heavy duty to keep the foxes out.

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 08 10:13 am Post subject:
When I saw the title of this thread the words 'I don't like gravy' sprang into my mind.

jamila169

Joined: 07 Sep 2008
Posts: 218
Location: North Derbyshire

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 08 11:20 am Post subject:
The chicken wire is just for parcelling bits of the plot off - we're going to do a large, high enclosure with a roof so the pigeons can't get in either -anyone have any experirnce of using polyprop chicken netting ? seen it on harrod horticultural's website, maybe that with a low power electric tape at the bottom to discourage digging would work

tinyclanger

Joined: 27 Dec 2004
Posts: 190
Location: in the kitchen, baking

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 08 1:53 pm Post subject:

How about using the orange plastic fencing stuff you see on building sites?
We have that for our chooks so that they can roam about a big patch of garden. Husband works from home and I do as well (most opf the time) so there is always someone here to keep an eye on them. Recently I have been sitting ouyt in the garden (as I am now) with my laptop and a brew....chooks are about 20ft away.

We got 50m of fencing and 10 fencing pins for about �45, next day delivery, from these peoplehttps://www.signshop.uk.com/acatalog/Fencing.html
and we have loads of the fencing left...gona grow beans up some next year.

Tiny:-)

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 08 6:39 pm Post subject:
Coincidentally, the chickens arrived yesterday, and I will be making this tomorrow. I need to clip their wings before they get their full free range privileges, as the cream legbar can definitely fly!

Penny Outskirts

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 08 6:42 pm Post subject:
Pictures

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 08 6:45 pm Post subject:
After buying a roll of chicken wire recently I shan't be bothering again. 50 metres of rubbish that has been falling to pieces if you as much as look at it. I've been patching it with wire I've had for 30 years & I think the patches are going to outlive the new. Second hand weldmesh in future.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 08 6:51 pm Post subject:

Penny wrote:

Pictures

They're sulking a bit, really - they spending most of their time in their house, and only coming out when they think I'm not looking, and if they see me coming, they all rush back in again. I think it's a bit noisy for them here, they're used to more peace and quiet, and not being crashed around in the back of a car all day, poor girls. I have got a few pics, but I won't win any awards. I'll post them in a bit.

Where would one get second hand weldmesh...........

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Poultry	All times are GMT Page 1, 2 Next
Page 1 of 2

View Latest Posts