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NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4626
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 16 8:29 am Post subject:
Wire as a "floor" under the whole pen is good until it rusts, or gets buried completely, or catches your shovel corner as yu muck out...

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 16 9:38 pm Post subject:
Having once kept ex-bats they did OK as free range on a sunny day, but stared miserably out of the door whenever it rained. So roof is a good idea for wet weather, but if they can get some sun too they'll love it. One in particular was a great character - in the habit of pecking our toes when we wore open sandals.

Woo

Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 787
Location: Mayenne, Pays de Loire

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 16 9:10 am Post subject:

NorthernMonkeyGirl wrote:

Wire as a "floor" under the whole pen is good until it rusts, or gets buried completely, or catches your shovel corner as yu muck out...

I found wire on the floor was a bad idea for the same reasons. I had a small run originally built for bunnies with a wire floor. I used it for my broody hens to keep their babes in when too small for general population. chickens as you know like to scratch for food
one got its foot caught in the hoop of wire.
also they poop on it and it rusts quickly.

sadly foxes will be a problem no matter what you do to keep them out. an allotment must seem like a fast food restaurant for them. waste fruit and veg and chickens to boot.
shutting them into the house at night has kept my chickens safe.
touch wood!

colettedeann

Joined: 11 May 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Chelmsford

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 16 9:14 pm Post subject:

I got a huge chuck of the coop done this weekend - and did a 13ft (4m) side of the run - with a 60cm 90 degree (doubled because I am sceptical and think maybe there is a bigger more agile devil fox out there with superpowere

Loads of work and aching arms now but I was pleased with the result

BUT after coming home and reading the comments, I am worried again - maybe I should have the whole area covered in chicken wire (the idea was to cover the wire 3-4 inches of earth)

so now i am thinking of covering the night/winter pen in concrete slabs instead - i have research and it seems that 30cm of wire turned out is sufficient, but what if it is a really determined fox?

colettedeann

Joined: 11 May 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Chelmsford

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 16 9:14 pm Post subject:

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46188
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 16 9:10 am Post subject:

if you cover chicken wire in earth even the stuff with thick galvanising does rust away quite quickly.

as far as security goes the more the better ,a determined fox can and will open almost any box.the idea is to make it difficult and time consuming so you get a chance to notice the attempt and take ant necessary measures.

a basic electric fence kit, battery and pv panel is about the same price as half a dozen "posh"chooks and can be another layer of security .if well thought out they can reduce climbing and jumping (i have seen one go 12 feet up a smooth rendered wall and with a run up a six foot fence is no problem, climbing chook wire fencing is quite easy but the overhang can foil most of them).

colettedeann

Joined: 11 May 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Chelmsford

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 16 9:50 pm Post subject:

another week's work done so back to getitng on with coop and run - nrly finished coop is on slabs and i have laid mesh 20 cm under the soil with 30 cm of wire coming out around the whole perimeter to attach to the fencing - there will be a 20 cm skirt around this run as well

- i am paranoid of sean reynard paying a visit!!

- this weekend I have to get the fence done that will be permanently accessible to the hens - as well as making a gate for the run - have looked at plans online and think i know what i need to do

Click to download file

colettedeann

Joined: 11 May 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Chelmsford

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 16 9:51 pm Post subject:
doesn't look like i managed to download coop pic i am so technocrap

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46188
Location: yes

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 16 1:54 am Post subject:
it seems to link to your facebook page rather than a specific photo.

colettedeann

Joined: 11 May 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Chelmsford

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 16 7:48 pm Post subject:

quick update - i have had the hen for 2 weeks now - i got 10 - and they all survived - no visits from fox or badger

we average 5 eggs a day - mostly i give them to other allotmenters and people at work - and use them for baking

they are a lot bigger than the ones from the shops

they are a lot more robust than i was led to believe - mainly through the BHWT site - they jump to the top of the ramp rather than walking up and jump into the coop when i take the ramp away to clean - so i feel their legs are strong enough to roost and i have put one in the coop - not they use it to sleep - occassionally they get onto it and sit there in the day - but they all sleep in the nest boxes i made!!! and lay in hte open area and below the roost!!

i will get my son to help me put a few photos up or i will just end up directing to my fb page

colettedeann

Joined: 11 May 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Chelmsford

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 16 7:56 pm Post subject:

colettedeann

Joined: 11 May 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Chelmsford

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 16 8:04 pm Post subject:
the coop is not pretty - but is very study - my concern is the roofing - but will only find out once the weather turns - it is all waterproof as it rained before hens arrived and there were 2 small holes i had to go over with blackjack thanks for all the advice while i was building/agonising

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46188
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 16 10:42 pm Post subject:
nice, hope they and you are very pleased with it, pretty is not as useful as sturdy but it actually looks quite tidy . the do look in pretty good health ,were they given tlc between the unit and arriving with you? my ones were strait from "work" and took a while to look that good or get used to an outdoor life.

chez

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

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 16 5:54 am Post subject:
That's great, so pleased it's worked out - they really are addictive!

colettedeann

Joined: 11 May 2016
Posts: 35
Location: Chelmsford

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 16 9:39 am Post subject:
morning the hens came straight from the farm - i think there is a difference between battery hens from the past and what they class as caged hens now - lol and coop looks tidy in pic as it was day they arrived - they are messy little beggars

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