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greentree
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 180
Location: Wicklow - Ireland
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 Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject: New Pen |
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Here's my new pen that I've put together over the last few days for my light sussex flock:
Its moveable so I can have the hens on fresh grass every month or so. A couple of strands of electric fencing around the base should keep the fox out. Hope he can't jump over! The fencing is security fences that they have on building sites - seems perfect for the purpose.
Now the hens are getting used to their new home...!
Mike |
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Welsh Duck
Joined: 18 Jul 2007
Posts: 2121
Location: Herefordshire/Welsh Border
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| Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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It looks really good- they will love all that fresh grass  |
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Woodburner
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Posts: 733
Location: Deepest Essex, well, a village...
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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Nice flock too!  |
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Itsybitsy
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 1452
Location: Leicestershire
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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That looks good - I've always though that security fencing would be good for a chicken run.
One thing though (- in my opinion), your electric fence is too high, you only speak of the fox jumping over, my concern would be him digging under, it's also possibly slightly too close to the fence. The bottom strand of wire needs to be in the second holder and then the next one two up, if you lower it to those you could also do with a few more stakes to stop it shorting on the grass.
Itsybitsy |
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jaydee67
Moderator
Joined: 14 Apr 2005
Posts: 5152
Location: Shetland Islands
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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| I think there are 3 strands itsy - one is nearly at ground level. |
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mojo
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 10986
Location: GLENAY north deux sevre FRANCE
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| Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:45 am Post subject: |
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| wot super panels.......wish i could find a supplier over here...............no luck so far anyone know the makers info?? |
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greentree
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 180
Location: Wicklow - Ireland
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| Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Itsybitsy wrote: | That looks good - I've always though that security fencing would be good for a chicken run.
One thing though (- in my opinion), your electric fence is too high, you only speak of the fox jumping over, my concern would be him digging under, it's also possibly slightly too close to the fence. The bottom strand of wire needs to be in the second holder and then the next one two up, if you lower it to those you could also do with a few more stakes to stop it shorting on the grass.
Itsybitsy |
Thanks - I'm hoping that if he starts nosing around the run he'll get a shock and leave. Hopefully, if he starts digging, he'll be getting constant shocks off the strand behind him and that should deter him. Yeah, its a trade off between having a low strand and having to constantly keep the grass down.
BTW - The hens seem to love it in there and seem healthier than ever!!
Mike |
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Itsybitsy
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 1452
Location: Leicestershire
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| Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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| greentree wrote: |
Yeah, its a trade off between having a low strand and having to constantly keep the grass down. |
Well it's hopefully not such a problem at this time if year (digging foxes) and in the winter the grass won't be growing so much, but if you get a few more stakes then the fence will follow the contours of the land much better and it keeps the wire tighter. Having owned goats and sheep that were capable of listening to the clicks in order to time their escape then I would expect a fox to be able to do the same, the tighter the wire the more secure the fence. They tend to go in nose first so the lower that first strand the better.
Itsybitsy |
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mark59mark
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 13
Location: Haute Vienne, Limousin
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| Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:42 pm Post subject: Fencing |
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Hi Mojo,
Tis mark (from the haute vienne). Heras make the fencing panels (security fences) www.heras.co.uk or www.herasreadyfence.co.uk, though do check out ebay and ebay france. I've seen these panels for sale over here somewhere at about 15 euros a piece (second or third hand) and at a brico somewhere, but I've forgotten where! - it may have been brico depot or tout faire - I will look out for them for you.
Mark |
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Camile
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
Posts: 96
Location: Faartan
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:22 am Post subject: |
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Lovely pen Mike ..
Hopefully that will keep the fox quiet now ..
if worst comes to worst ... you could always put a net over the fence .. so if he manages to jump up, or climb (I always thought that loose chicken wire was harder for a fox to climb because he can't get a proper grip) .. at least he will get tangled in the net and won't be able to escape so you can then sort him out !
Camile |
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Spana
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 2299
Location: North Cornwall
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:26 am Post subject: |
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They are great, and made a good pen for your girls
I have them round my main house on stoney ground and not had any sign of foxes digging under, but sometimes one of the girls will fly out, so be aware of that.
I've also made a cockerel rearing pen from them in one of the cattle barns. Bale netting is tied round the top and tacked to the roof to stop them flying out and hopefully to stop things climbing in  On one side where the cattle muck is a bit uneven I've tied a bit of old carpet up the side and out over the muck about 18 inches and put a ladder on to hold it down.
It should stop a fox digging in or at least slow him down 
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Spana
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 2299
Location: North Cornwall
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:38 am Post subject: |
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Greentree, just had another look at your pic at the top. If your girls stood on their house roof they'd be over the top easy peasy. Or have they had their wings clipped  |
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greentree
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 180
Location: Wicklow - Ireland
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Jan wrote: | | Greentree, just had another look at your pic at the top. If your girls stood on their house roof they'd be over the top easy peasy. Or have they had their wings clipped |
You know they probably could if they tried but they are a heavy breed and dont seem to be able to fly very high. I had them contained before this behind a 4 foot fence with no escapees. In my experience, if the hens are happy they dont really try to escape anyway.... |
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greentree
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 180
Location: Wicklow - Ireland
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Camile wrote: | Lovely pen Mike ..
Hopefully that will keep the fox quiet now ..
if worst comes to worst ... you could always put a net over the fence .. so if he manages to jump up, or climb (I always thought that loose chicken wire was harder for a fox to climb because he can't get a proper grip) .. at least he will get tangled in the net and won't be able to escape so you can then sort him out !
Camile |
Ha - Camile - the perfect fox trap! I am tempted....! |
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