The Girls need more room. Their 12 x 14' run hasn't had any grass in it for a while. I'm getting estimates to fence in part of the back yard, an area approx 55' x 230' Do you have any suggestions as to the type of fencing to use and the height? The guy suggested a fence that has 3 inch x 3 inch squares.
It seems like most of the livestock fence is only 48 " high and I'm pretty sure they could fly over that. Would clipping their wings help? I'm also getting an estimate on a 5 ft chain link but think it will be too expensive. I'm also just a little freaked out about having them "out in the open" with no cover on top of the fence (hawks). Maybe I should place some of those plastic owls around the field? Also, the area is full sun so I'll need to have a couple places for them to get under for shade and protection too.
The new fence will also attach to the fenced in back yard, a couple hundred feet extra for them! they are 4 months old today. I'm counting the days until they start laying LOL How soon should I put bedding in their nesting boxes?
Thanks for any suggestions!
Annie
Fence question
My chickens are enclosed by a fencing intended for horses. It is a woven wire mesh 2" X 4" and is 5' high. It is mounted on T posts except at the corners where there are braced wood posts. Altogether fairly inexpensive to build. I have only had a couple of pullets fly over it ever. I have plenty of hawks but never an attack, however my chickens are all of larger breeds.
Thanks Porkpal! I'll talk to him about a fence like yours today.
I think Porkpal's advice was excellent, Not terribly expensive yet basically effective. We also have a ton of hawks and never an attack, and I have lots of Seramas out there running around. I'm home most of the time so maybe that makes the difference. You could go ten ft high and if a hen was determined to fly over she could. Most don't fly unless terror sets in...Hay
Annie I would fill the nests at the end of their fourth month for early bloomers...
I've given the info to the fence company so he can give me a price on that too. Also checked at TSC for the 2x 4 inch 5 ft high fence and sure enough, they have it! I checked prices on those big plastic owls with bobble heads today, anyone use them? I want to make sure they're effective before I spend the $29.99 each!
Thanks, I wasn't looking forward to clipping wings!
What should I use in the nesting boxes? Straw, hay, pine shavings? I have a bale of straw in the garage just waiting... LOL, I'm pretty excited that it won't be too long now before they start to lay!!
I have used the bobble-headed owls to repel sparrows in the barn, and they seem to work as long as I move them about fairly often. I don't know whether they have any effect on hawks or not. I use hay or straw in my nest boxes. I don't think the type of bedding is critical; use what you find easy to clean.
First eggs are exciting!
Thanks PP, I bought two of them. If they work, great, if not they can be garden decoration.
Now that there is going to be more room for the chickens I want to get a few more! Through a friend of a friend there is a man who has a couple of 4 month old Welsummer pullets he'll sell me. He said they are NPIP tested. What exactly is NPIP? I forgot to ask if they've had the marek vac. Will it make a difference if they haven't? Mine have all had the vac.
I know I'll need to keep them away from my girls for a couple of weeks to make sure they're healthy.
I'm still looking for a Maran pullet or three!! My sister went to a weekly Amish sale and said there were hundreds of chickens, but felt like she should take a bleach bath when she left. So, going there to look isn't an option. I'm so afraid of bringing disease here.
Does anyone know of a Breeder of healthy Maran's in Ohio that would sell a couple of 4 month or older girls?
Thanks!!
Annie, I just read your post. I have a wonderful friend in Ohio that raises Marans. I don't know what she has available, but she is as honest as the day is long. I will dmail you her number.
Haystack! We need you to guess the breed of Smedgekles chicks! Sorry, Annie - off topic I know.
PP, Smedgekles thread has had me searching the internet and thinking about what breed it could be and looking at pictures of every chicken I can find! I haven't checked the thread yet today, I don't want to know the answer yet LOL, the guessing, genetics, and ruling out by breeds is fascinating to me. Didn't Smedgekles offer a grand prize to the winner?
Prize? Great fun in any case, join in, make a guess!
If you have coons in your area, just make sure whatever size fencing the holes are small enough to keep out their grubby little mits. They like to reach through the fence and grab away. Also, we had a 5' fence that they were able to "up and over". Didn't end well for a few of our girls.
For the hawks, for about $20 you can buy a roll of bird netting (designed to keep birds off veggies). Hawks will see it if they start an attack and should avoid it. Plus, it looks better. We actually covered our koi pond with it at the water level to keep out cats, coons, possums and the like.
Thanks, vnickdd, for the netting suggestions. I'm going to let my mom know about it too, their pond has had the fish removed by birds weekly.
Yeah, Porkpal, I think the prize was an all expense paid trip to Europe or something like that. I'm going over to look at the thread now, hope there is no answer yet as the guessing/reasoning has been so interesting and fun!
Annie
Thanks for the BCM info and contact Howie!!!
Annie
We use four-foot fencing, but for the small enclosure that we set up for our young pullets, before we release them into the larger yard with the older hens, we drape deer netting over the top. We do have problems with hawks but normally not as long as we run the geese in with the chickens. However the younger ones are more vulnerable, and since they're separate from the others they need more protection. Hawks won't risk tangling in nets. Just criss-crossing wires or string across the top would do it, too, I imagine.
Occasionally we have a chicken or two that hankers for greener fields and we clip one wing, or both. That usually takes care of it.
It would be pretty tough to cover the top of this area with netting. The criss crossed wire would work, thanks for the idea! I'm hoping if we put a few small shelters for them to run under if needed will help. So far they have't been out in the big area unless we're there too.
We clipped the wings on one side yesterday even though none of them were thinking about flying over the fence, yet.
They just GORGE on the grass, their crops are so full. When I picked up one of the girls to clip her wing liquid came out of her mouth, scared me! They are all fine, I guess they were just hungry for grass and bugs? They have plenty of grit available, plus the sand in their dusting box too.
It's so fun to watch the Girls!!
If you do the criss-cross wire, it would probably help to hang some plastic strips from it just to point out to any hawks that the barriers were there.