Re: Eglu pros and cons
- From: "Jill" <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 14:43:59 +0100
Sally Thompson wrote:
Yes, I am well aware of that. I should have been more specific I
suppose, in that any run or fencing is not just to keep the foxes at
bay, but to keep the hens within our own land. We are mostly fenced
with either solid timber fence or stock fence, but not entirely.
Also, our bottom boundary is a stream with steps down to it and
bridges across. I'm not sure how far hens wander and if they would
venture over there. Obviously, if they get across then they can
happily venture up or down stream. <snip>
Chickens tend to raom back and forth from the house.
The house has the attractions of the feed, and the shelter, and the
nestboxes.
While they can cover over 50 metres easily they don't tend to GO places.
Unless there is a handy muck heap!!!!
Its a good idea to have a house you can move easily as in an area as large
as you have you will want to put the house in various parts over the year.
This means that the more heavily used area around the house each time gets a
chance to really rest and recuperate. It also means you can put the house in
more sheltered areas in the winter.
An electric fenced paddock would be far more suitable, if you REALLY
think you have a daytime predator threat.
It's a lot of electric fence! Also we have cats who do of course
wander off into the adjoining fields, and I wouldn't like to prevent
them from doing so.
No problem ;)
You have an electric netting "pen". For 3 birds a 25m net is plenty, a 50m
net gives an area that will last longer but may need a mow or two between
moves.
You mow beneath where the netting is going and put the house within that
area. Then you erect the netting. This is easy if you chose the right
netting.
As the grass grows up or that area gets tired, you mow out a strip for a new
area and move the whole kit and caboodle.
This way your birds are on clean fresh grazing all the time and the paddocks
get well managed but not knackered.
Cats and fencing are no problem either
You have lots of space, chickens do not care where their humans are.
If you have daytime predators, it will make no difference to them
whether you are at home or not. They will strike.
I know other people round here have lost hens during the daytime.
Electric netting is your friend. and theirs
;)
--
regards
Jill Bowis
Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk
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