The Poultry Keeper

Belladonna · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 140 Location: Swansea

my OH has made a wire covered run out of wood and twilweld mesh which is open at the base. i have attached a 'skirt' of mesh about a foot deep all round the outside of the base of the run and hidden it under the earth round the edge or the run, in order to prevent anything trying to burrow. will this be secure enough to keep out foxy et al?

tia

belladonna Smile

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

That sounds good to me, but I'm only an amateur at this. Hopefully someone with realy knowledge will be along soon

mojo · Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 2:04 pm Post subject:

sounds good to me ..remember the fox is one of the world brightest predators so take every precaution you can think of then think again

bird_babe · Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 473 Location: wales

Word of warning!!! you might wan`t to put mesh on top off the run if you can. I found out the hard way predators can clime
if they are hungry enough.

Belladonna · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 140 Location: Swansea

thanks guys. the run does have a mesh roof, the only thing i worry about is whether the foxes will suss out how to burrow under the mesh 'skirt' of the run by starting farther away, iyswim. are they bright enough to uncover the skirt to see how far back it goes then know where to start digging? am i explaining this clearly or confusing you all?!

cheers,

Bella

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Bella,

I don't think their brains quite work like that, they start digging as close to the fence but you should easily notice if they have made an attempt Wink

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

Agree with George. Lots of people suggest the skirt thing, running out from the house ~ so thre must be something in that idea. Well done for doing that before it was too late.

andym01480 · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 131 Location: King's Lynn

You would be better off putting corrugated plastic on the roof, rather than mesh then the run would be DEFRA proof (I mean Avian flu - no flying poops should land in the run then). And it would be still be secure from foxy pests!

Wendy · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 111

Reading through old posts for tips etc. Thought I would add, that we didn't just do a skirt of mesh at the bottom, but decided to mesh the whole of the 6 x 6 run, which is attached to a 6x4 shed.
Sides and bottom, completely. With corrugated plastic at top. So any foxy trying to get under, will have real trouble.
I wanted to let them have access to outside in the summer, so when they woke at 4.30 they can go straight outside.

Saying that though I still worry every night!!

Wendy.x

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

It sounds like you have it all done properly ~ now just try to stop worrying

mojo · Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:21 am Post subject:

build a guard tower , install floodlights, hire the sas , and still worry about your chooks.............thats the pleasure of poultry keeping