Chickens.

They are not dictating to me and are not unreasonable but have raised there point as has the wife. I get on really well and I mean really well with the neighbours so I don't want it to be an issue. As they can see from in the house as they are raised above the garden then I
would rather them say now and I can sort it from the start rather than trying to sort it later down the line. The wife has come up with the idea of putting some brushwood screening against it to cover it and it will still let some light through.

Rusty

 

Hi All,

I thought I would give a bit of an update on this thread as I have actually been able to do a bit of work on it. The coop is virtually complete, just needs perches and nest boxes making. I cut all the nest boxes earlier out of some 12 mm ply in the garage, but on closer inspection it has all split, so I need to get some more. I have got 3 sides of the run up and built the panels for the third side. I now need to fit then, put the roof on and slab the run. I managed to get all the slabs for free of my brother inlaw when he did his patio.

The back, I was only going to feather board half and mesh the rest, but this is the route mr fox uses to get through the gardens. I decided to board the lot. Do you think I will need mesh on the inside?

Pictures of the rest of the run.






Rusty

 

Badger damage:

 

Not much stands in Mr Badger's way does it.

 

There are no badgers here. But I think I may put mesh on aswell.

Rusty

 

I would if i were you Rusty just to be on the safe side....also seen as you say Mr Fox passes by if you have any mesh spare i'd be inclined to put a top on the run....i've seen foxes sat on the roof of mine before today eyeing my 'girls' up.....

 

Mr Badger kept tearing holes in my 'chicken wire' anti-rabbit fencing until I put some weld mesh over the hole, and instead of simply going through beside the weldmesh, Mr Badger found an alternative route acceptable to both of us.

I've heard too many stories of Mr Badger tearing open rabbit & guinea pig hutches in order to eat the occupants. I've got steel weldmesh all the way round the run at low level. Anyways, those timber fence panels always fall apart fairly quickly.

Also stops Mr Rat gnawing his way through in a few minutes, although, unless there's a sealed roof, they'll simply run up & down the perimeter fencing to gain access to the run and eat the hens' food.

 

I am putting weld mesh under the onduline before I fit it.

Rusty

 

I put chicken wire under the corrugated roofing sheets (rather than weldmesh) to the hens' run as I thought only foxes or rats might get up there, but not badgers.

 

Remember that old 1980's advert?

 

I cant see the photos to clearly as they are at a distance,we had our fence wire at the bottom longer and tent pegged th excess approx 12inch outward to the ground(was nailed flush to fencepost also) so that if a fox thought about digging to get under it would be a longer process.
Its looking great rusty,nice job

 

Hi All,

Managed to get the third side on and the roof structure today, also managed to get most of the wire on the roof before fitting Onduline.








Need to put Onduline on now, I have all this, but I am worried it may made it to dark in there. When roof done I need to dig out the ground and put down the slabs. Not looking forward to laying slabs as they are 3x2's and weigh a tonne.

Rusty

 

Are you intending to put (opaque) Onduline over their run (as used for coop roof)? If so then yes it will be very dark. Why aren't you using clear corrugated plastic sheet roofing for the run?

Covering the roof with opaque material will make the hens think it's winter all year round and that will seriously reduce egg production (unless installing electric lighting underneath).

 

Yes I was intending to use the same as on coop roof. Reason being I got them for £5 a sheet. I think I will have to get some clear sheets , and do the front half in these and the back half on the dark stuff. I can then try and sell the sheets I already have.

Rusty.

 

Found some sheets in B&Q so I can do the front 2.8m in clear and the back 1.2m in the dark Coroline. This should allow enough light through and give a shaded area if it gets too hot. It will cost about £45.

Rusty