Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Molpet]

I've been reading through this thread for the last several weeks, from the very beginning. My chickens have far more than the recommended 10 square feet per chicken (280 sq ft for 8 large fowl, 100 sq ft for 2 Polish I had to separate) but I really want to give them some ranging space. My very large yard is not fenced and a giant junior high school just got built behind us in what was a cow pasture the first 30 years we lived here. It's so sad. I'm waiting until we can afford to put a good fence across the back and debating how to get them out for exercise in the meantime. This thread has made me determined to do better for them.
I was originally going to build some tunnels and a movable tractor type end point but that still doesn't give them the opportunity to go where they want - only where I park them, which is better than nothing. But a movable net or e fence could be great. We do have foxes, lots of coyotes, and mean dogs that show up in our front yard and attack my dogs occasionally (who can't leave because of shock collars). I would love recommendations on net fencing, e fencing or any other way to give the girls more space.
Below: their little faces . . . They want out!

I used https://www.premier1supplies.com/poultry/fencing.php?fence_id=156

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I may have mentioned looking at this fencing, but I haven't used it.

It's not going to keep chickens safe from foxes, coyotes, or loose dogs.

@Labsandchickens8, please note this!^^^

This is strictly a boundary fence for the birds, inside our fenced backyard.

We have 1” sq aviary netting over the first pic, the jungle-y area with lots of natural cover. (Currently pulled back while we rearrange things.) There’s a Coolaroo shade sail over part of the raised bed area, about to be augmented with a second sail. Both of these are to deter avian predators, specifically hawks. We are usually outside when the birds are out. We’re retired - we certainly wouldn’t turn them out at 7:30 in the morning, not getting home until 5:30 or 6.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

@Labsandchickens8, please note this!^^^

This is strictly a boundary fence for the birds, inside our fenced backyard.

We have 1” sq aviary netting over the first pic, the jungle-y area with lots of natural cover. (Currently pulled back while we rearrange things.) There’s a Coolaroo shade sail over part of the raised bed area, about to be augmented with a second sail. Both of these are to deter avian predators, specifically hawks. We are usually outside when the birds are out. We’re retired - we certainly wouldn’t turn them out at 7:30 in the morning, not getting home until 5:30 or 6.

Thank you. My husband found some hawk netting he wants to use. We not only have hawks fly over regularly, we have at least one eagle. Which is crazy in our location (one hour north of Houston, Texas.) I live close to a very large lake.

 

[fuzzi]

No, it is definitely not predator-safe. It’s strictly a portable/flexible fencing system.

Apologies for at’ing you, lol - I read about it here somewhere.

No worries. Didn't want to take credit due to someone else.

 

[Shadrach]

Have you tried turning them into chutney?

I haven't. Not sure I fancy courgette chutney.
I give them away.

 

[BDutch]

I used https://www.premier1supplies.com/poultry/fencing.php?fence_id=156

It says:

Some folks prefer to watch their birds during the day and take them in at night. They can use a non-energized fence.

. No normal person can watch their flock the whole day. Free ranging may even be safer than being locked in, in such a non-electrified fence if there are no proper hiding places and you don’t have an alarm system.
I don’t know much about the typical US predators. But foxes and dogs can easily dig underneath or jump over it.

It might work as an extended run to give the flock extra run space at the end of the day, if you are out and about, or working in the garden.

And what about aerial predators?

A multi-purpose netting with a chick-tight mesh on one side and electrifiable strands on the other.

… electrified for effective predator protection day and night.

I doubt this too. It certainly isn’t a fort Knox you can trust during the night imho.

I have a neighbour with a mini-pig in a pen with electrified netting. When the grass against the netting is high (reaches the first electrified thread) and its raining, it often fails to work properly. Can’t even remember how many times she broke out.

They started with a solar panel and a battery. But it didn’t charge enough in winter. Now it’s on electricity with a cable from the house.

 

[RoyalChick]

It says:

. No normal person can watch their flock the whole day. Free ranging may even be safer than being locked in, in such a non-electrified fence if there are no proper hiding places and you don’t have an alarm system.
I don’t know much about the typical US predators. But foxes and dogs can easily dig underneath or jump over it.

It might work as an extended run to give the flock extra run space at the end of the day, if you are out and about, or working in the garden.

And what about aerial predators?


I doubt this too. It certainly isn’t a fort Knox you can trust during the night imho.

I have a neighbour with a mini-pig in a pen with electrified netting. When the grass against the netting is high (reaches the first electrified thread) and its raining, it often fails to work properly. Can’t even remember how many times she broke out.

They started with a solar panel and a battery. But it didn’t charge enough in winter. Now it’s on electricity with a cable from the house.

You have to maintain an electric fence by keeping the weeds low so the fence doesn’t short out. I use a combination of mulch and clippers.
And yes a fox can jump over a 3’ fence or dig under but they don’t. The reason they don’t is they almost always investigate first with their noses, and they get zapped and don’t want anything to do with the fence after that.
Ideally you train them to the fence by attracting them to it (bacon grease on aluminum foil hung on the live wire). One sniff and they don’t return.
My observation is that the training lasts several years and several generations of foxes.
When charged, the fence makes a slight pulsing sound and they appear to know when it is switched on.
Nothing is foolproof of course, and extreme hunger will overcome the fear, but generally these flimsy poultry net electric fences are pretty effective.

 

[Shadrach]

Mine go mad for it, even when it's bolted and more bitter.

Some varieties are sweeter than others, and soil / watering / time of year can all affect the flavour too. I make a chard, new potato soup and chickpea that's really good - super lemony and lots of fresh herbs. Let me see if I can find a written recipe.

I've grown chard at the field just for the chickens. I'll eat it, but it's not something I'm particularly fond of.

 

[fluffycrow]

He died yesterday. Wasn't impacted crop, so went with treating for coccidiosis but it was too late. Should have listened to my gut 2 nights before that it odd. Treating the whole flock for coccidiosis at the moment.

He was quite odd in his appearance since he had a single allele for barring and dermal inhibitor. So his fibro was inhibited succesfully as he had light skin colour. But for some reason his legs and comb darkened up, which shouldn't have happened in theory. Wish I could have seen him grow up, now I will have to wait for new male chicks to hatch to discover why this is happening.

On a happier note, the remaining 4 chicks now also roost with the rest of the flock.

So sorry for your loss

 

[Perris]

Not sure I fancy courgette chutney.

They are very variable. But I can vouch for this one; it's really good.
https://www.thevegspace.co.uk/courgette-chutney/