Help Chicken Run?
Discussion
After reading the chicken posts, perhaps you can help. I am building a permanent run 7 meters by 5 meters. We have foxes even in the day time and possibly badgers at night? I have fixed the posts and will bury the wire 6-8 inches in the ground. It will be about 6 feet high. The welded wire I have is inch square and 19 gauge but the wire mesh doesn't look man/strong enough. Will it keep Mr Fox out???
19 gauge probably would hold off a fox BUT depends how determined the fox is, if left undisturbed it may be able to chew into the wire, and defo put a roof on the run, i have seen foxes and badgers climb a 8 ft fence with no problem, also make sure wire is small enough to prevent stoats/weasels getting through as they will have the hens.
I've got a kit like this one http://www.regencypoultry.com/electric_fencing/50m... you may be able to find one cheaper.
Plus a battery at £50ish. A leisure battery is the one to go for as it can be charged from dead flat multiple times unlike most lead acid batteries.
You can also power it from the mains at less than 1p a day (as I understand it).
I'm not overly careful with preventing my net from earthing (on grass, brambles etc) but the charge still lasts for two weeks even in the winter.
I've moved the net a lot and a tree even fell on it and its still as good as new. The tree incident happened in winter and I didn't see it until getting in from work until well after dark. The fence was still energised flat on the ground and hens safe.
I was at first doubtful of its effectiveness, it's not very high. I've seen a lot of foxes in the day and it's been fine. Having taken a few shocks off it myself I can see how one through a wet nose wouldn't be repeated.
My hens came from a farm with electric wire enclosures and seemed to know about the fence without touching it. I've seen cats and dogs approach and stop short so I guess they can tell it's not an ordinary fence.
I'd definately go for this over wire.
50m of fence makes for a pretty big run.
Plus a battery at £50ish. A leisure battery is the one to go for as it can be charged from dead flat multiple times unlike most lead acid batteries.
You can also power it from the mains at less than 1p a day (as I understand it).
I'm not overly careful with preventing my net from earthing (on grass, brambles etc) but the charge still lasts for two weeks even in the winter.
I've moved the net a lot and a tree even fell on it and its still as good as new. The tree incident happened in winter and I didn't see it until getting in from work until well after dark. The fence was still energised flat on the ground and hens safe.
I was at first doubtful of its effectiveness, it's not very high. I've seen a lot of foxes in the day and it's been fine. Having taken a few shocks off it myself I can see how one through a wet nose wouldn't be repeated.
My hens came from a farm with electric wire enclosures and seemed to know about the fence without touching it. I've seen cats and dogs approach and stop short so I guess they can tell it's not an ordinary fence.
I'd definately go for this over wire.
50m of fence makes for a pretty big run.
You might want to read this post, similar topic,
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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