Someone gave me 100-150 feet of ugly orange snow fence. I accepted it and thought I would just transfer it to the dumpster when they weren't looking but yesterday I got to thinking about how to make a larger run for the ladies.
I want to free range my chickens but am worried about the coyotes and my one neighbor who would probably run over them if he got the chance.
That being said, enter the snow fence. I ran it from the second door on the run (furthest from coop) out into the mowed part of the front yard and into the surrounding woods. I want to do more but this makes for a good start.
Took me about two hours to get it all set up and sturdy, during which time the hens were all gathered at that end of the run watching and stamping their feet, as if impatient for what they knew was coming their way.
When I was done, I opened the run door and they rushed past. There was an immediate thrashing of the leaves in the woods and scampering after all manner of creepy crawlies.
I checked back periodically during the day and they were sometimes in the run drinking, dust bathing in their new 'free range' area, or even in the coop.
Come dusk, I wondered if they would know to get back to the coop for roosting. I went out and there wasn't a hen in sight. I'll admit a moment of panic ensued as I imagined something had grabbed them all in the evening while I was away. I opened the coop door and they were all on the roost.
Here are two crappy pictures of their new "free range" area.
Will
I want to free range my chickens but am worried about the coyotes and my one neighbor who would probably run over them if he got the chance.
That being said, enter the snow fence. I ran it from the second door on the run (furthest from coop) out into the mowed part of the front yard and into the surrounding woods. I want to do more but this makes for a good start.
Took me about two hours to get it all set up and sturdy, during which time the hens were all gathered at that end of the run watching and stamping their feet, as if impatient for what they knew was coming their way.
When I was done, I opened the run door and they rushed past. There was an immediate thrashing of the leaves in the woods and scampering after all manner of creepy crawlies.
I checked back periodically during the day and they were sometimes in the run drinking, dust bathing in their new 'free range' area, or even in the coop.
Come dusk, I wondered if they would know to get back to the coop for roosting. I went out and there wasn't a hen in sight. I'll admit a moment of panic ensued as I imagined something had grabbed them all in the evening while I was away. I opened the coop door and they were all on the roost.
Here are two crappy pictures of their new "free range" area.
Will

