The Poultry Keeper

cammyhen · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 4 Location: West Sussex

Hello - I keep my hens in a 6ft tall run covered with mesh about 10mm x 20mm. Do you think this would be classed as indoors or should we be making them more 'indoors' by covering with plastic or other tighter mesh? Your experienced opinions would be gratefully received! Thanks, Cammyhen x Rolling Eyes

Seaside Landlady · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 40 Location: Scotland

mmmh, from what I've read, it need to be a solid roof, not just mesh.

CP · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 12:06 pm Post subject:

Hi,
You will need some sort of solid roof on top, to stop the wild bird poo from landng in your run. Clear solid plastic sheets, or a tarpaulin would probably be best. As long as the wire mesh is small enough to stop wild birds getting in, that's supposed to be good enough on the sides of the run.

Hope that helps a little. Wink

cammyhen · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 4 Location: West Sussex

Thanks for your helpful comments, I do have clear corrugated plastic for the roof of the run to keep my ladies dry when it rains! It is the sides I worry about. My garden is really quite small I was thinking of completely covering it with bird proof netting as well as keeping my girls in their run and ark... not wishing to panic or anything! Whistle

NannyP · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:08 pm Post subject:

This is what we did early in Nov last year.
It's not great, but I believe it will meet with requirements for keeping wild bird droppings out.

The only problem with tarpaulin is, it is so hard to get it taught, so we have to go down and empty the water off every so often.

cammyhen · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 4 Location: West Sussex

Wow, fantastic run! Thanks so much for posting your pictures of it! Cammyhen x

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Can you put a pole up in the centre of the run, to lift the tarpaulin up, so it looks a little like a circus tent ~ then the water should just run off on its own.

NannyP · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:15 pm Post subject:

Mojo suggested that originally Summayah, but Mark thinks it will eventually wear a hole in the tarp with the wind blowing it more or less constantly Confused

Plus, the mesh is fixed to 2 x 2 across the top, so that would only stretch so far before letting go Sad

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Sorry, still there is one good side to you having to do it, you have a bit of control over where the water goes

NannyP · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject:

Hmm, not so sure, it tends to go to the nearest point, but we don't get too wet Wink

Nursie · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 162

Nanny, how many hens do you keep in your run and what dimensions is it???

NannyP · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 10:01 pm Post subject:

I have no idea really, maybe 10 x 6 x 6 but can't be sure. There are 8 hens and a cockerel (Pekin coq and hen), but they free range all day.
I think it'll be okay for them if they have to stay in, maybe a little crowded but will do I guess.

mojo · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:07 am Post subject:

for those worried about the support pole wearing the tarp the use of an 0ld foam cushion filler on top of the post will help.double it if you can

cammyhen · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 4 Location: West Sussex

Does anyone know where I could get one of those army issue camoflage covers cheaply? Like the one in NannyP's picture... if I cover the sides with plastic or corrugated plastic they'll need some shade in the summer!

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Probably from and army and navy stores ~ but I'm sure NannyP will be on soon and let you know where she got hers from