Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: AndyRVTR on October 31, 2008, 09:10
-
Hi all, I'm on the lookout for some mesh so i can build a pen for my soon to arrive chucks to runaround it.
One question I have though is, would galvanised mesh with a 2" diamond, in be ok to use, or will I need to go for smaller ie. 1"?
-
I use the 1 inch size, basically to keep as much out as possible :)
I also have an apron of it on to the grass to put stuff off digging in, the grass has grown over it so you can't tell, but if Rizo the Rat tried to get in he'd have trouble :lol:
Not really sure about the 2 inch - have to see these things to be able to gauge if ok or not.
I'm sure Rob or someone will be along soon to say if 2 " is ok :D
Sarah :)
-
Hi I would'nt use 2" mesh we put it around our veg plot and small rabbits could get through so rats etc would easily get in, 1" is much better.
-
I would use 1" not 2", also you need to make sure the gauge is high enough as fox's can chew through it.
-
Husband has seen a stoat in our garden a couple of times.
Are they a potential danger to the chooks and if so, what size mesh would I need to keep them out? Would 1" be small enough.
Thank you
-
Hi.
I read ages ago on a rat-keeper's site that he uses 1"x1/2" 19g mesh to keep his rats in, so I used that to keep them out.
Would guess it should keep other medium/large rodents out too. I know we have a few mice around because the cat catches a few but not yet a problem.
Rob
-
If you get 3/4" or smaller and cover the run, you will keep out wild birds.
3/4" is hard to find but it's what thatchers use.
-
Weld mesh, square/rectangular stuff welded at each corner, is stronger than chicken wire, hexagonal stuff twisted together.
Both types of wire comes in different gauges (thicknesses). The lower the gauge the thicker the wire. 19 gauge (approx. 1 mm) is the standard for bird aviaries/small animal housing but you can use 16g (approx 1.6mm) or higher for more protection.
You'd need to bury the edges or mesh the floor to keep out animals that dig underneath. Foxes will go over the top if there is no roof if that's a concern.
Tam
-
Succinctly put Tam.
There's been a fox attack recently where it went over the top despite having heavy gauge wire panels.
Not many actual fox-proof enclosures unless you spend a lot of time and money on it. I think most of us have to do the best we can and take a risk on a compromise. :?
rob 8)
-
My brother in law who lives in essex, on a built up housing estate, had a creature get into his hen house, he heard a comotion going on, quickly shut the flap down to keep everything inside opened the door and shot the thing, i think it was a stoat, it had killed all but two of his 8 hens, this stoat got in through the wire mesh, the next day he put another layer of much finer mesh, that was two years ago and its been ok, nothing elese has got in. TC
-
There's been a fox attack recently where it went over the top despite having heavy gauge wire panels.
rob 8)
A sturdy fence is actually easier for a fox to scale than a floppy one. :o
-
Well.. i
I think I managed to get myself a bargain off Ebay today.. a new 50 meter roll of 19mm 19g galvanised wire mesh 1.2m high... £28 inc postage... not too bad I dont think :D
-
Sounds a good deal.
Well done :)
Rob
-
Thank you for all the advice.
-
Well.. i
I think I managed to get myself a bargain off Ebay today.. a new 50 meter roll of 19mm 19g galvanised wire mesh 1.2m high... £28 inc postage... not too bad I dont think :D
Andy, could you please post pics of your hen house/run when it's built? I'm hoping to get chooks in the spring and will be building my own house and run, so am interested in how other people have designed them. Anyone else's pics obviously appreciated too!
-
This was sold for chickens but I keep my rabbits in it:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v61/tamdesign/IMG_0691b.jpg)
It's pretty simple (and cheaper) to knock up panels yourself, I was just being lazy :lol:
-
WoW thats an impressive run, looks very rat and fox proof too! :D
-
Good idea to make it modular too. Just unscrew the middle and insert another couple of sections when you want to increase your flock. :wink: :)
Wish we'd thought ahead a bit.
Rob 8)
-
Oooh thanks Tam! That's the sort of thing I will be attempting - a house in an enclosed run. How many birds is that size meant for?
-
I'm not sure how many chickens, mines 5'x7' and would house 3-4 rabbits. The standard size panels are 3'x6' but I got custom size to squeeze it in the gap in the garden without blocking off the back door :lol:
It was very easy to put together. Each panel has 3/4 screws going each way, locking them together. The mesh covers the wood on the inside and the roof panels are meshed too so it's pretty secure.
You can buy panels individually from various places start about £12 for a full mesh panel, bit more for the door sections/half wood/full wood panels etc.
Tam
-
Thanks! :D
-
[Andy, could you please post pics of your hen house/run when it's built? I'm hoping to get chooks in the spring and will be building my own house and run, so am interested in how other people have designed them. Anyone else's pics obviously appreciated too![/quote]
Hi Sal... I have been putting some pics of my construction on this site... I have a few more to add today, but up to now I'm pretty pleased with it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyrvtr/
Hope it helps
-
In that run as shown, you could theoretically get 3 or 4 hens in but ideally a bit bigger. And you might want to put a plastic roof on to keep the ground dry. Avoids mud and smells :)
3 bantams would prob be happy enough. If you could let them run free as and when even better. :)
Rob 8)
-
Thanks Andy, just realised I've seen your photos before so you must have linked to them previously, but hadn't seen the latest ones anyhow.
Cheers Rob, I'm only wanting 3 or 4 birds anyway so something along those lines should be good. Will be aiming to let them free range in the garden when I'm there to keep an eye on them, but ISTR there is only a low (waist high) fence between us and the neighbours-to-be (who I believe have a jack russell) so won't be able to let them out permanently!
-
I'd be tempted to put some wire mesh up on that fence too in case they decide to go and chat to next door's JR :shock:
Just enough to keep them safely in your garden.
Rob 8)
-
That's a good idea Rob. Will have a proper look when we've move in and settled a bit - have only seen it the once when we viewd it a few week ago so it's a bit hazy in my memory now! :lol:
-
We were like that when we viewed this place. Turned out we missed out an entire hallway !
It came as a nice surprise when we came back to view :)
Rob
-
Need to get some wire mesh now have realised that Chicken mesh is no good but just don't know where to get it from. Mole Valley don't seem to do it. Any ideas anyone (we are inbetween Holsworthy and Bideford).
Thanks
NDD :D
-
Always got ours from ebay. Some bargains if you spend a few days looking. If you need it yesterday, garden centres should sell it. Or pet shops, but you'll pay a high price for it.
Rob 8)
-
Thanks PG will keep looking on there. :D