The Poultry Keeper

woollylegs · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 84 Location: North Kent

I'm new to hens- got a FAB penthouse and run- but am feeling that I am putting my hens at risk of Mr Fox if I go away a night- and don't shut the peephole- I guess a fox can burrow under in 24 hrs if he wants? Twisted Evil

At present,I let them out am and secure them in pm.

So, what size weld mesh for bottom of run is good (the bigger the better?) and any advice- a couple of non-fixed-to-ground sheets that I can simply "roll" my cage onto?

Complex is 5x4x5 foot with a penthouse suite at top- 4x2 foot- this means it's very heavy so I use a piece of plastic drain pipe inserted under the lighter end and roll the complex about every week or so.........

19 gauge weld mesh for cage.

Must say, I find this forum really helpful as a novice woollyleg-

THANKS to everyone! Very Happy

mojo · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:29 am Post subject:

hole size not critical just strong weldmesh.............tent pegs will hold it down ......... a pair of wheels attached to one end will aid movement try for the wide plastic ones so they dont get stuck in the mud(look out for a broken kids toy motor or tractor to save buying wheels............good luck.............there are NO silly questions only silly answers ......regards mojo

woollylegs · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 84 Location: North Kent

Thanks Mojo Very Happy

mcleod-girls · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:37 pm Post subject:

what hens have you got woolylegs and can we see photos? we started in September 2006 and are addicted Very Happy

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1356 Location: Leicestershire

Sorry Mojo, hole size is critical as I once had a fox try to pull a Muscovy duck through the mesh once it had got hold of a bit of toe or whatever, course it killed the duck and it was in a right old mess too, I've also had chickens heads bitten off when they've poked them through the wire presumably to get a better look at the fox that was pacing up & down, it's no fun finding a dead headless chicken underneath the coop where it has run to before it died. Smallest you can get is good.

Itsybitsy

woollylegs · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 84 Location: North Kent

Thanks IB, will use a small one and get it permanently secured to the bottom of the run- 19 gauge weld mesh OK- it's what the cage is built with?

I've been reluctant to under-mesh it- as I like the idea of them scratching on grass rather than wire- am I being too soft?

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1356 Location: Leicestershire

Well, I know what you mean, I started out with a big ark and underwired that, but it soon got clagged up with poo, but then I started letting the girls out so I took it off, I now have to make sure someone can let them out and shut them up every day, I've a lot more birds than I started with so things have changed, but if there are times when you're not around then it's got to be done. I used to buy birds from a man with a town garden and he had pens that were paved around the outside, he had foxes digging under the paving stones to get to the pens and they did that overnight. Course if you're not moving yours the grass will be gone within a week anyway.

Itsybitsy

mojo · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:31 pm Post subject:

i did meen a sensible size and i was talking about floors(which should have no occupants at nite) for sides use the smallest you can afford