I'm really worried about my hens set up at the allotment. I have a small chicken coop which houses 3 hens which stands on paving slabs. It is surrounded by a very good electric poultry fence and the hens have free range within the perimeters of the electric fence during the day. The fence works well to keep the foxes out, but its the human invaders I'm worried about!!!
I think I was a bit naive in thinking that nobody would come and steal my fence energiser and maybe even the fencing, but have since found out that there are recent thefts on the site. Now I'm worried that if the fence energiser gets taken, then my chicken coop isn't foxproof.
I have a small chicken run which can adjoin the coop if there was an emergency, but that is wired only with thin aviary wire as the coop is as well.
I've been researching prices all day for thick wire weld and really I just can't afford it. Much as I can't afford to put up a high fence with dug in wire etc!
The only plan I can think of is......to board up the coop with thick ply which I can get for cheap so at least when they are locked up at night the fox cant chew through the weak wire.
After locking them in at night to take the energiser home with me and reconnect it in the morning when I let the hens out. Assuming that most thefts occur at night.
My question is.......if I board up the coop with ply, will foxes chew through the ply?