The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: YoungRasher on March 14, 2014, 10:30:17 am
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Hi all.
My hens are in a home made run that is as far as i can make it, fox proof. (They have to be contained due to our neighbours veg garden) My question is do i still need to go in and close the door at night. They are in a place that is sheltered from the wind and have plenty of room inside and out. I just feel that they could be outside earlier if the door was left open than if they have to wait for us to open it.
I've seen lots of outdoor hen huts on poles with ladders up to them and presume these types are left open 24/7.
Thanks.
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Our poultry houses are in runs made from heras fence panels. We let them out into the fields all day and just put them into their run at night. Our houses don't even have doors.
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If you are 100% confident in your run security YoungRasher the door can be left open. No other reason to close it really. All ours are closed and in Summer they are fitted with secure mesh doors. I am not that confident about our main enclosure or the closed attached runs in front of the door. So at night we have 3 levels of security, then I can sleep easy.
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Also depends on how devastating it would be to lose them. Mine are in fox proof runs (as far as I can make them anyway) but I do still shut them in at night. Having said that, for me it's more about the ducks and geese who would run around outside all night shouting and drawing attention to themselves which I reckon is more likely to attract foxe. Given chickens head inside anyway, you're in a mich better position,
H
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Great, Thats the news I was hoping for. I'm happy that they are as safe as I can make them. 2 sides are a 6 foot high limestone wall and the rest is timber frame with 10mm weldmesh with chicken netting on the roof. all dug in and york stone slabs around the edge to help stop foxy having a dig.
Thanks for your help.
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Fort Knox then! ;D
You can only give it a try, thing is the light mornings in late May (so about 3am here north of the border) and they are up and about making noise etc early doors, dawn and dusk is Mr Fox's favourite time. bit of perfume or air freshner around the perimeter once a week should help too.
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perfume. is that another name for pee?
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we had a shed and foxproof run where we left the chickens out 24/7....then the neighbour complained that the cockerel was crowing at 2am so we had to shut them
up in.
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It would be tempting fate to leave the doors open at night as nice as it would be for them, you wouldnt get any sleep for worrying, I have seen me go out at bedtime in pjs and wellies because I cant remember if I shut them in.
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They had the door open last night and all is well up till now. It was good to see them out and about when I went out first thing.
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With mine being free ranging and far wandering, theywould all appear at the back door first thing in the mornings and trying to stop 100 chickens from trying to get in the feed bins when you are trying to get their breakfast would be nigh on impossible. It is nice to be able to let them do their own thing though
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Is the mesh small enough to stop little predators like stoats? I sold three pullets to friends and all was fine for couple months till a stoat or ferret squeezed in and killed them.
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the mesh is small enough but I'm sure a stoat or ferret could dig their way in if they tried hard enough.
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Have you considered an automatic door opener/closer? You can get them that either work on a timer or on a light sensor.
Mine opens a bit after first light and shuts just before last light. The hens all know to be inside before the door shuts and I have a really easy life without having to do anything in the morning or evening!
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any recommendations on automatic doors?
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I have had a VSB one for just over a year. Never had any problems with it.
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just to update. everything seems fine and egg production is up. Think the nicer weather has more to do with that though. Not to sure the neighbours campers will be happy, but if they don't like animals they shouldn't come camping at a farm.