Will the hens cross the bridge?

Some of you may remember I posted some questions here a few months ago while
planning my new role as a chicken keeper<g>. I haven't got much further
forward but I have a particular question.

I plan to keep two or three hens in a decent-sized house with a good
fox-proof run (probably electric fencing) which they would be safe in if we
are out for any length of time. Of course I would shut them in at night.

However, we have about an acre of fairly wild land which I would like the
hens to have free access to at all other times - ie, when we are around
during the day. One boundary has a 6 ft close-boarded fence, and two others
have stock fence which is rabbit-proofed. I hope that will be sufficient to
stop them wandering into the lane, the reed bed next door and so on.
However, our back boundary slopes down to a stream, which has a couple of
husband-made bridges over and then just stock fence the other side of the
stream (not our boundary). The bridges are both reached down some rough
steps. Are the hens likely to go down the steps and over the bridges do you
think? If they go over to the other bank they can of course then wander down
the opposite bank of the stream, possibly never to be seen again.

Sorry for the long posting but I hope I have explained sufficiently. It is
not possible to fence off the stream, nor would we want to.

--
Sally in Shropshire, UK



.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Will the hens cross the bridge?
    ... have stock fence which is rabbit-proofed. ... stream. ... The bridges are both reached down some rough ... Chickens aren't looking to hitchhike ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Will the hens cross the bridge?
    ... stock fence the other side of the stream. ... bridges are both reached down some rough steps. ... Are the hens likely ... opposite bank of the stream, possibly never to be seen again. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Will the hens cross the bridge?
    ... husband-made bridges over and then just stock fence the other side of the ... The bridges are both reached down some rough ... If they go over to the other bank they can of course then wander ... the opposite bank of the stream, possibly never to be seen again. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Will the hens cross the bridge?
    ... husband-made bridges over and then just stock fence the other side of the ... The bridges are both reached down some rough ... the opposite bank of the stream, possibly never to be seen again. ... Mine have a ramp to go up to get into their house from their big outdoor run, ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Disabled folks and RoW
    ... The problem isn't so much mud as foot-deep water - where a stream crosses the path, ... I don't think many crips are going to want to ... with wooden bridges across the streams and back and forth ramps on the steep bits.. ... A hillside with the trees and gorse cleared and a zig-zag path, complete with safety barriers, steel hand rails, warning signs and lighting is many things, including wheel-chair friendly, but it certainly isn't unspoilt beauty. ...
    (uk.people.disability)