Hello everyone! I've gotten myself into a predicament...

[ChicoryBlue]

Yes! Do you have a link to this solar powered fencing ?

They said it came from Premier 1 -- "The electric netting's from Premier1 and came as a kit with 100' of fence and the solar charger. "
Here's a link to their electric fencing, I got a kit w/solar charger from them, you'll have to poke around to find the kits. As the batteries wear out after 2-3 years (can't charge well after awhile) and I have too much shade and trees around me in Spring and Fall I ultimately have changed to a plug-in energizer, got one of those from Premier 1 too. They are very helpful on the phone!
https://www.premier1supplies.com/list.php?mode=list&cat_id=139&species_id[]=6&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsIejBhDOARIsANYqkD1PEb0R6SylpHsM9AHmhO83hPT_yuw7eZ4Bw9QTA3p6r_YeHOf6VvwaAq8OEALw_wcB

 

[QODTMWTD]

https://www.premier1supplies.com/c/fencing/

That's their main page. Under "poultry" you can find their different styles of fencing grouped by how permanently it's intended to be installed. Some is easy to move around and some is intended to be more or less permanent. It comes in different colors, too, so don't be dismayed by the thumbnails that show it in white. Mine's green so it's less obtrusive. If you don't buy a kit that includes the corner posts, consider adding some to your order because they make a big difference in how the netting stands up. For 100' of netting, 4 of the corner posts have been adequate. The all-inclusive kits supply them, but if you order a la carte they're additional.

 

[The Confused Chicken]

Found a better coop, this one is about 8x4 feet in run footprint and has more ventilation/higher roosts. Thanks for all the help!

 

[fuzzi]

Found a better coop, this one is about 8x4 feet in run footprint and has more ventilation/higher roosts. Thanks for all the help!

Pictures! Pictures!

 

[The Confused Chicken]

Here it is. It's from Producer's Pride, which seems to manufacture at least somewhat better coops than other builders. From what I can see they manufacture both tiny little cardboard coops that would be better suited for rabbits, as well as medium-sized ones that are alright for hens. I'm planning on building a predator apron, putting a few screws in the walls to make it more secure, and adding better locks, as well as anything that needs changes once it arrives. I'm willing to do some DIY expansion/modification if needed. It'll just be for my current hens now, but next year once I've returned them I'll go with 3 chicks from a hatchery, or maybe 4 if they're smaller breeds. The actual dimensions are more like 8' 9" and 4' 4", and I don't think any of the less active/smaller breeds would care much about missing half a square foot.

This isn't my picture, it hasn't yet arrived.

 

[fuzzi]

Here it is. It's from Producer's Pride, which seems to manufacture at least somewhat better coops than other builders. From what I can see they manufacture both tiny little cardboard coops that would be better suited for rabbits, as well as medium-sized ones that are alright for hens. I'm planning on building a predator apron, putting a few screws in the walls to make it more secure, and adding better locks, as well as anything that needs changes once it arrives. I'm willing to do some DIY expansion/modification if needed. It'll just be for my current hens now, but next year once I've returned them I'll go with 3 chicks from a hatchery, or maybe 4 if they're smaller breeds. The actual dimensions are more like 8' 9" and 4' 4", and I don't think any of the less active/smaller breeds would care much about missing half a square foot.

View attachment 3509116

This isn't my picture, it hasn't yet arrived.

It's a start!

 

[The Confused Chicken]

UPDATE:

Picture of the chickens in their makeshift run. I've been trying to give them at least 15 minutes or so of outside time daily. They should be moving into their new coop sometime in the near future.

Luckily, they seem to be fine for the most part (aside from being cramped). Both are eating well, and they've each laid an egg a day for the past week. No predators so far. I've been moving them every two days, I think regularly having fresh grass/dandelions to pick through has been helping them with any issues of boredom.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

UPDATE:

Picture of the chickens in their makeshift run. I've been trying to give them at least 15 minutes or so of outside time daily. They should be moving into their new coop sometime in the near future.

View attachment 3515190

Luckily, they seem to be fine for the most part (aside from being cramped). Both are eating well, and they've each laid an egg a day for the past week. No predators so far. I've been moving them every two days, I think regularly having fresh grass/dandelions to pick through has been helping them with any issues of boredom.

The portable nature of this is very nice for them!

If you can erect some overhead netting against hawk attacks they will be safer. Looks not too hard, going from the coop out to the fence, adding a few step-in poles.

Chickens won't necessarily run to the handy shelter in an attack. They are panicking and will be running directly away from the direction of attack, wherever that goes. I have made this mistake sadly. So they may get pinned against the fence by a hawk, especially one that knows this strategy.

Everything wants to get our chickens, I'm afraid. OK maybe not mice and songbirds, they want the feed lol.

So be aware also that the run fence won't stop a fox or coyote, or especially a mink/weasel/fisher, once they discover you have chickens, which will be soon. Do you have a pet dog that likes the chickens (won't attack them) and can roam around outside the run fence? That can be a good deterrent in the daytime. I have seen both fox and fisher out and about hunting in the daytime.

If a predator tests the fence and finds it wobbly or non-electric you are vulnerable. A fisher can easily fit through those openings. Coyotes can climb or jump a six-foot fence.

I use aviary netting that I tie or stake to the ground over a moveable framing and pole system, and that contains the chickens. Then I have electrical poultry fencing surrounding that for ground predators. It's worked well so far, but this system has only been in use for two years. The coop I have (Omlet Cube) is very predator-proof also, it is vulnerable in winter but in summer is behind the electric fencing. I have had a bear test it in late winter, scratched it and gave up.

 

[The Confused Chicken]

The portable nature of this is very nice for them!

If you can erect some overhead netting against hawk attacks they will be safer. Looks not too hard, going from the coop out to the fence, adding a few step-in poles.

Chickens won't necessarily run to the handy shelter in an attack. They are panicking and will be running directly away from the direction of attack, wherever that goes. I have made this mistake sadly. So they may get pinned against the fence by a hawk, especially one that knows this strategy.

Everything wants to get our chickens, I'm afraid. OK maybe not mice and songbirds, they want the feed lol.

So be aware also that the run fence won't stop a fox or coyote, or especially a mink/weasel/fisher, once they discover you have chickens, which will be soon. Do you have a pet dog that likes the chickens (won't attack them) and can roam around outside the run fence? That can be a good deterrent in the daytime. I have seen both fox and fisher out and about hunting in the daytime.

If a predator tests the fence and finds it wobbly or non-electric you are vulnerable. A fisher can easily fit through those openings. Coyotes can climb or jump a six-foot fence.

I use aviary netting that I tie or stake to the ground over a moveable framing and pole system, and that contains the chickens. Then I have electrical poultry fencing surrounding that for ground predators. It's worked well so far, but this system has only been in use for two years. The coop I have (Omlet Cube) is very predator-proof also, it is vulnerable in winter but in summer is behind the electric fencing. I have had a bear test it in late winter, scratched it and gave up.

The netting sounds like a good idea. I've mainly been letting them out while they're supervised, only going away for a minute to grab them treats. No dogs, but I do have cats. The cats are terrified of the chickens and they're a bunch of softies, so I don't think they'll be doing any shifts as livestock guardians. Given that next weekend (give or take a few days) they'll be moving into a 38 square foot run with a 12 square foot coop, I don't foresee any major changes to the current system in the next few days unless it's absolutely needed for their health. Thanks for the advice though!

 

[KyCoop]

I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the renting chickens concept. What happens to the chickens when they take them away? Do you get the option to keep them if you want?
I mean I guess it would be good for someone that decides chickens are not for them to be able to just have someone take them.