NY chicken lover!!!!

[jennianne]

Found this picture while I was trying to find the one that my friend sent me. These would be cool to have.

Aha, picture explains the 'connectable' part, I was having trouble imagining it! I have seen these tunnels used in permaculture and thought they were a little over the top for my purposes, but if they are moveable that means I can create a few daytime run areas/paddocks around my yard and switch them off which would be PERFECT for my purposes---thanks for the idea!


PS I am working out how to build an open run area for my girls for this winter. I had posted in the chicken run board, but I thought I would throw my questions out to you all too in case you have any ideas. I am wanting to do a non-electric fence, probably to the left and in front of my coop from the front left corner of the run over to my fence. Wondering how high I have to make it, pros & cons of materials (looking at wood slat snow fencing, plastic chicken fence, or welded wire), and experience/thoughts on clipping wings. Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[horsekeeper]

Wondering how high I have to make it, pros & cons of materials (looking at wood slat snow fencing, plastic chicken fence, or welded wire), and experience/thoughts on clipping wings. Thanks in advance for any input!

I have all sorts of wire around pens and garden beds. The plastic chicken wire failed under the snow weight, as did regular chicken wire. Will have to make sure I get it straitened up when it thaws or they will be into the spring plants destroying everything.

The chickens and turkeys do not challenge a 5-foot fence, even unclipped, so I use that height as a rule of thumb to keep them in (or out). The best fencing for me has turned out to be what they call "yard wire". It is a 2" x 4" lightweight welded wire and has enough body to resist snow and weeds. It comes in rolls 2 to 5 feet tall and is not too hard to cut. The wire is pretty easy to roll up and tie for storage and light enough to haul around even with a 50 foot roll. Zip ties lets you attach it to almost anything and then clip them off and use it someplace else. Because it is so flexible it would work great for the tunnels, too.

For chicks I fasten 1" chicken wire to the lower part to keep them in. Yard wire works great for making "sandwich doors/gates" using 1x4 or furring strips. Measure out the dimensions of your door and lay it on a flat surface (kitchen floor for me). Lay the wire over it 1/2 to 1 inch from the edge and tack to hold it in place with a few small staples. Cut the top layer of boards so the seams alternate and screw it all together.

 

[Beer can]

I put up a 50 foot fence four feet high, a brown leghorn and a EEgr bantam were still making it out. I was suprised on how small a space it made, and I used about ten foot of their coop for part of it.
Suggestion on clipping wings, only clip one, it will make them fly lopsided. If you clip both they just flap harder and make it out.
I have them in their old run now on the other side of the coop 8'x16', and put extra old wire on top to keep them in. Need a better plan come spring cause I'm getting more birds, thinking long hoop house for the new ones, I want it bullet proof so not even a weasel can get in.

 

[sarahandbray]

Having electric poultry fencing, 48" high, has been a godsend!! Only one Leghorn ever has tried to get out in 3 months of having it. And when I walked over to her, she flew back in.
Hoping Santa bought me another section or two, plus an incubator!! My, my, how my Christmas list has changed!!!!

 

[rancher hicks]

Found this picture while I was trying to find the one that my friend sent me. These would be cool to have.

His are similar but I like these better. I suspect his are more work but cheaper. These are sturdier though.

 

[rancher hicks]

Chicken tunnels, awesome! Wish I could aford to run one around my garden. I really like that underground one, dairy farm down the road from us has one for their cows, goes under the road.
I've heard they are putting them under highways now where deer accidents happen alot.
Hmm, going to have to think about one around the garden. Might not take as much fence as fencing a large area. Don't dare let them free range anymore, lost too many.

There used to be one near where my aunt and uncle lived in Interlaken I think. They are so cool and I'd like to see more of them. The cow tunnels that is.

If people had any sense there be more rural breaks between these blasted housing tracts they build. Crazy fools don't get that every time they build one of the stupid things people move farther away.

 

[rancher hicks]

Having electric poultry fencing, 48" high, has been a godsend!! Only one Leghorn ever has tried to get out in 3 months of having it. And when I walked over to her, she flew back in.
Hoping Santa bought me another section or two, plus an incubator!! My, my, how my Christmas list has changed!!!!

Well now if your parents are divorced you can make a list for your mothers house and one for your fathers house. I used to answer Santa letter and kids would include TWO lists.

Bring this to my mothers.
Bring this to my fathers.

Greedy Smurfs the lot of them!

I used to say when they said they're leaving milk and cookies that my favorite was Oatmeal Raisin, or something the stores didn't sell.

This way someone would have to MAKE cookies.

"But Mom Santa said he likes these kind! ".

Of course there were the heart breakers.

 

[jennianne]

Having electric poultry fencing, 48" high, has been a godsend!! Only one Leghorn ever has tried to get out in 3 months of having it. And when I walked over to her, she flew back in.

Do you use the elec fencing in the winter?

Hoping Santa bought me another section or two, plus an incubator!! My, my, how my Christmas list has changed!!!!

I hear you on that one! I was looking at a small ebay incubator and mentioned to DH that would be a great bday present--he has hinted that I will not be disappointed so I am sure I am getting one, soooo excited! Also on my list is a few nicer battery powered tools to replace my old (very old) B&D's, a sewing machine, and a pair of winter muck boots. Nothing like wish lists of my past.

I have all sorts of wire around pens and garden beds. The plastic chicken wire failed under the snow weight, as did regular chicken wire. Will have to make sure I get it straitened up when it thaws or they will be into the spring plants destroying everything.

The chickens and turkeys do not challenge a 5-foot fence, even unclipped, so I use that height as a rule of thumb to keep them in (or out). The best fencing for me has turned out to be what they call "yard wire". It is a 2" x 4" lightweight welded wire and has enough body to resist snow and weeds. It comes in rolls 2 to 5 feet tall and is not too hard to cut. The wire is pretty easy to roll up and tie for storage and light enough to haul around even with a 50 foot roll. Zip ties lets you attach it to almost anything and then clip them off and use it someplace else. Because it is so flexible it would work great for the tunnels, too.

For chicks I fasten 1" chicken wire to the lower part to keep them in. Yard wire works great for making "sandwich doors/gates" using 1x4 or furring strips. Measure out the dimensions of your door and lay it on a flat surface (kitchen floor for me). Lay the wire over it 1/2 to 1 inch from the edge and tack to hold it in place with a few small staples. Cut the top layer of boards so the seams alternate and screw it all together.

This type of moveable/zip tie secured structure is right along the lines of what I was imagining. Good to know the plastic fails with snow. I was thinking of going the cheaper route but not wanting to have to replace the fencing or mess with it during the winter to keep it functioning as a chicken run. Great info, thanks!

I put up a 50 foot fence four feet high, a brown leghorn and a EEgr bantam were still making it out. I was suprised on how small a space it made, and I used about ten foot of their coop for part of it.
Suggestion on clipping wings, only clip one, it will make them fly lopsided. If you clip both they just flap harder and make it out.
I have them in their old run now on the other side of the coop 8'x16', and put extra old wire on top to keep them in. Need a better plan come spring cause I'm getting more birds, thinking long hoop house for the new ones, I want it bullet proof so not even a weasel can get in.

The best part about my setup right now is that with the birds confined, nothing non-human can get in/out so I have no worries about anything pilfering food or messing with my chickens. If I could build a large hoop house like the one posted on here (can't remember who was just posting about their hoop house on this thread) it would be great--they could have indoors and outdoors and be safe. But with frozen ground all I can do for now is get something set up where I can let them out for a few hours each day to stretch while I work on the chick coop etc.

I used to be able to get away with using a 30 inch wire dog fence to keep them in a certain area, but then my barred rock (my BIGGEST hen, lol) kept flying out. I would look outside and see her doing her thing on the wrong side of the fence. At least she had the sense to stay with her flock. So I would just open the gate and shoo her back in. But then "monkey see monkey do" kicked in and she would hop over and before you knew it, she'd have a buddy or two. And that's how they ended up being confined. Sheesh, they're like kids!

His are similar but I like these better. I suspect his are more work but cheaper. These are sturdier though.

This with the welded wire I thought might be okay in the winter with snow if it was the right gauge?



Thanks everybody for the responses!

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

When I first made my run area I just used 4 foot welded wire fence. It was the same that I used in our dog area. Then I added the small hex fence around the bottom to make it safer, but I had a few times that one of my birds got over the fence that they share with the dogs, so I knew I needed to make it taller. I got some of the cheaper chicken wire and just ran it around the top so make it 6 foot tall. I haven't had a bird get out since!

This is the one side that they share with the dog run. I put up the burlap along it too to help ease everyone into sharing a fence, but now are all pro's at it and don't care. So I have taken most of it down.

 

[Glasshen]

I have a five foot chainlink fence that some get out of routinely. They fly up and perch and strut on the solid rail at the top. I think five foot would be high enough if it didn't look so solid up on top.