Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: adrian p on July 17, 2017, 10:58

Title: chicken coop problem
Post by: adrian p on July 17, 2017, 10:58

Hi all, this is my first post after taking on an allotment late last year its doing well.. my problem today is i have purchased a chicken coop..i have put wire mesh on the underside off the coop floor  as we have a fox problem here in kent..would you say this was safe for the chickens to walk over..i want to care for the chicken as well as keeping them safe,,any help would be great.. i have not bought the chickens yet just getting everything ready for them,

Title: Re: chicken coop problem
Post by: New shoot on July 17, 2017, 11:12

Hi Adrian and welcome to the site  :)

Chickens will walk over mesh but it needs to be sturdy and fixed well to the floor.  I don't want to worry you, but I have heard horror stories of foxes pulling at the legs of poultry through tiny gaps and even biting off limbs.  If you are not sure the chickens will use the roosting bars, I would suggest you use a liner.  This could be a piece of wood or a gravel tray from the garden centre.  If you can pull it out, it will make cleaning out very simple.