Re: Eglu pros and cons

On Mon, 1 Oct 2007 14:43:59 +0100, Jill wrote
(in article <13g1u6rm5f1943b@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>):

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.
<snip>

Chickens tend to roam 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.

That's reassuring to know. I will start the house off as far away as
possible from the stream at the bottom.

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.

Understood. Sheltered meaning against a wall? Under trees?

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

I've looked at the electric fencing, and we are dithering a bit. If I bought
a hen house with run (say like those you supply, although I know you are not
pushing me that way), would a fox (or badger) be able to dig underneath and
into the run?

Thanks once again for your very helpful advice.


--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church with conservation
churchyard:
http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk


.

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