Re: Leaving open the pop hole

Christina Websell <spamfree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"Sally Thompson" <spt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:0001HW.C50F851200E9B709F0182648@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Sun, 5 Oct 2008 23:21:09 +0100, Christina Websell wrote
(in article <6kssuqF9gb42U1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>):


"Sally Thompson" <spt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:0001HW.C50ED0C200E2F0FBF0182648@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My hen house stands in a secure fox-proof covered run.

<snip>


If you describe what your fox-proof run is like, I could tell you if I
think
it *is* fox-proof - and therefore whether it might be safe to leave the
pophole open or not.

<snip>

OK, well it is like a square cube with 1" x 1?2" 19g galvanised weld mesh
on
all four sides stapled to a wooden frame. The roof is the same material,
with an added waterproof cover (and guttering and water butts!). The whole
frame sits on a heavier wooden frame to which is stapled a very heavy-duty
weld mesh "skirt" which is covered in about 4 inches of gravel. The mesh
is
far too small for the chickens to get more than the tip of a beak out.


As long as the weldmesh skirt extends well outwards underground it sounds
pretty foxproof and I would probably leave the pophole open overnight. I'd
review it if the hens seemed spooked when I fed them in the a.m. in case you
have a fox that will circle around the run at dawn looking for a way in,
that will terrify them as they don't realise they are safe. In that case I
would shut the pophole in the evenings again.
I slabbed my runs to prevent foxes digging in, weldmesh skirts were not
feasible as I have so many trees and therefore roots ;-)
To think once upon a time my poultry was free range in the daytime <sigh>
those days are long gone.
<rant mode on> You know why? Because of the stupid people who actually
feed foxes in their gardens. This gets them habituated that humans are not
dangerous so they come out in the daytime and stroll around then bang go
your free range safely shut up at dusk chickens.
I blame the telly for this as well! All this "foxes are so nice" stuff.
Well, Mr Fox better believe that I am very dangerous indeed after a
devastating loss of 8 years work on breeding stock. 30+ have received a
piece of lead in their ear when actually in my (not safe then) hen run
skulking around overnight to try the pophole. And it's not like the fields
behind my house are not heaving with rabbits either..
<rant mode off>

Our way of being able to have our chickens free range all the time
around the house, even when we're not at home, was (see below) to have
a large, male dog who was safe with the chickens (well he never chased
or hurt one throughout his life) who ranged around outside the house
with them. I think it was probably as much down to his marking of his
territory as to his actual presence.

Sadly he died suddenly of a heart attack just ten days or so ago, he
was only about nine years old. We'll definitely think of getting a
replacement in due course. He was a collie/german shepherd cross by
the way.

--
Chris Green
.

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