The Poultry Keeper

Christine · Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 64 Location: somerset

Having finished the new chicken run, the girls are nearly ready to move in.

Ground wise the base and all supports are concreted down 2 foot, and have slabs and bricks, together with chicken wire folded back underneath to act as an extra barrier.

The roof is covered with a chicken wire frame, and a huge tarpaulin over that, anchored down with ropes and ties, and that too is folded back on itself for extra security.

Im pretty sure the fox cannot get up or under it, but can it force its way through chicken wire?
Each section is built individually, and the wire is secured at 2 inch sections.

my problem is we are going away next weekend and my mother is looking after them, and I would hate any hiccups.

christine

jubilee · Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 125 Location: nottinghamshire

should be ok for a while as the fox will proberbly be wary of it. how thick is the gauge of chicken wire you have used? as they can chew, but again, it would take some time.do you have a problem with foxes in your area, sorry, i'm new to this site, but not new to foxes and chickens!! Very Happy

and you've proberbly talked about this before. if you have a problem with foxes, why not put your local shoot on to it? they're usually more than happy to bag foxes.

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1402 Location: Manchester

if it's a thin chicken wire with relatively large holes there's more chance a fox will get through than if it's thicker weldmesh with smaller holes - do you know which one it is? Chicken wire usually has hexagonal shaped holes and weldmesh has squares.

Christine · Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 64 Location: somerset

thanks both of you.

I don't think we have a huge problem with foxes, but I'm not prepared to chance it., when we first got the eglu I recall one frosty morning there were some unusual paw prints near it, and also some scratching marks in the grass, It was the same night my neighbour, (several doors away) had the fox to investigate his chickens.

The chicken wire we have used is the hexagonal, I'm now thinking we should re inforce the bottom half half of the run, ie the firsr 3 feet in height which will be up to the first strengthening bar with galvanised mesh.

think I will be able to rest a little better then.

MaisytheDobe · Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 58

Hexagonal is chicken wire and is not fox proof, you need weldmesh and the smaller the better. I was told if it was small the fox could not get a secure grip with its teeth to get through the wire.

HTH.

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1402 Location: Manchester

Most pens I've seen have the 1" x 1" square weld mesh.

Christine · Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 64 Location: somerset

Thanks....................of to Mole Valley to get some mesh, could'nt bear the thought of my babies being fox food!

Woodburner · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:13 am Post subject:

Local shoot? How would I find out if we have one/who to contact?

jubilee · Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 125 Location: nottinghamshire

finding the local shoot isn't hard mate, just go down the pub and ask about!! Laughing

elmer_fudd · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

To find local professional vermin controllers (including myself Very Happy

) Fully insured, all relevant certificates and BASC members.
www.verminshooting.co.uk

Elmer.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3427 Location: Monmouthshire

Heavy gauge 1" netting is fox proof as they can't barge through it and cannot get their lower jaw through to chew it. It is also extremely expensive compared with 'chicken wire' which is usually 2". The really importatnt thing is a belt and braces attitude - shut them up at night if at all possible.

gibralmoro · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Worcestershire

Have you thought of electric fencing as an extra barrier ? I have no personal experience of its use against foxes, but I understand electrified mesh with support posts have been on the market for years. I doubt a system is cheap but is it worth while long term ? Perhaps there is good reason why it has not been suggested by the much more experienced members of this forum ?

Timbo · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 206 Location: Cranfield, Beds.

I have just added an electric fence to my run - the bottom tape is 6 to 8 inches off the ground to stop any digging, the next at waist height and the last at shoulder height, this will hopefully stop him getting near the fence to get through or climb over. All in this cost about £120 which is peace of mind really.

You are all right about the 2" chicken wire - I have had a fox tear a hole in it with his teeth one cold winter when I lived in Wales.