The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: sallyw on May 30, 2008, 09:48:20 pm
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Dear All,
Can someone please advise. We have newish chickens which are a total delight. We keep them in a run that is 3m long that has small gate into a larger run (about 15m by 25m) so they can virtually free range. The larger run is fenced with a 90cm wire/wooden post fence.
Now that the nights are lighter the chickens stay in the larger run until night fall which is very nice for them but I am worried about foxes. So far so good but I do feel we are being lucky. The run is next to our hay field and we are very open. Everything I read suggests that foxes will scale anything if they want to. Most fences seem to be 7 feet high, barbed wire etc etc.
Can anyone recommend a good solution?
Do I need a 7 foot fence?
Can you buy wired panels that can be joined to create a pen, If so where?
The pigs have demonstrated that taught wire fences are not my forte so I don't want to do this unless it will make a difference. Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks
Sal
:chook: :pig:
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two quick options.............raise fence height to 2 metres and/or make a upside down L shape profile with short leg face out of pen ............or look for weldmesh panels in your yellow pages for longer term view.........remember foxes roam about in daylight too
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My chickens haven't moved out of the pig pen since I put in two strands of electric nylon rope. The cockerel got a shock and I think he told the hens about it. Total cost for the whole outfit was around 110 pounds new,(and I had the choice of rope or netting) but you can get it cheaper if you're prepared to keep an eye out for secondhand stuff......... Ree
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electric fencing will keep chickens in but not foxes out unless set just right............they will jump it or dig under it if they can