We have been able to let the chickens have full access to the garden for quite a few days this month, whenever someone has been keeping an eye on them. On the days that we’ve not been able to let them out, however, it has become clear that the space in the run is not enough. Theoretically it is big enough, but we want really happy chickens and don’t want any squabbling due to the limited space.
There are two good reasons why we didn’t feel able to let them out when we weren’t about:
- They seem to have developed a taste for most things growing in our vegetable beds
- We see a fox in the garden most evenings (and even sometimes during the day)
We therefore ordered a Hotline electric poultry net and a high capacity 12V leisure battery. This arrived late last week and we erected it this weekend. It’s a 50m poultry net, giving a very generous run of approximately 12m x 12m (40ft x 40ft). The net was placed around as many points of interest as possible – Yucca plants, Pampas grass, trees, tree stumps. grass and bare earth for dust baths (although it will probably all be bare earth soon). The hens seem extremely happy with their new surroundings – sunbathing, having dust baths, destroying the plants. We can now let them out all day Knowing that they are safe from Mr Fox and that our vegetables are safe from them.