Views: 283 Author: Vickey Publish Time: 2023-12-06 Origin: Site
It's important to choose the fencing for your hens carefully. It should withstand the elements for a considerable amount of time and keep your hens safe from outside predators as well as from straying.
There are a few factors you should consider when choosing your chicken fencing to ensure that it is fulfilling its intended purpose.
Consider the following inquiries for yourself:
Will my hens remain inside the fence?
Will it keep raptors away from the area?
What is the duration of this, and is it transient?
How will the design of my chicken coop incorporate the fencing?
Now, let's examine a few of the most popular choices for poultry fencing.
There is no need to fix it if it is not broken. People have been using poultry netting or chicken wire for a very long time! And for good reason—it functions.
Galvanized steel braids into those all-too-familiar hexagonal gaps.
The chicken wire can make you think, "Hmm, that looks a little flimsy." However, the frame you choose to utilize matters far more than the actual fencing when it comes to how sturdy your fence is.
I enjoy using chicken wire because it is portable and lightweight when necessary.
Good ol' chicken wire has tiny "openings" that are too small for most poultry predators to slink into and too little for your hens to escape.
This traditional chicken fence has had a reasonable price, and it is likely to remain so in the future.
Hardware cloth, which is simply another term for standard rabbit-type fencing, is a better option if you want to take your predator-proofing game to the next level.
Manufacturers often use welded, galvanized stainless steel wire that is slightly thicker than ordinary chicken wire to make hardware cloth.
Hardware cloth usually comes in square or rectangle shapes instead of the usual hexagons.
Smaller predators will have a hard time getting into your coop or snagging through the wire to retrieve their meal because hardware cloth tends to be a little stronger and you can usually choose smaller holes.
Because hardware cloth is more durable than traditional poultry fencing, many hen lovers choose it over the former so they can sleep better at night.
Consider a chainlink fence instead of chicken wire if you're looking for something a little more substantial—perhaps because you live in an area where there are large predators.
For example, bears can tear apart the flimsy chicken netting, but they will find it much more difficult to enter your coop if you have a sturdy chainlink fence around it. It's likely to give up more easily.
Due to its solid structure and higher-quality materials than standard poultry netting, chainlink fencing will cost you a little more money.
That being said, it will be worthwhile if your hens are the object of the desires of numerous ravenous predators!
The thin fences you frequently see surrounding playgrounds and construction sites are known as safety fences. Usually composed of plastic, they have a lot of holes in them.
They come in earth tones as well as the typical brilliant orange color.
Keeping hens inside safety fences may not effectively keep predators out and may not last very long.
This fencing may work well as a temporary containment system if you need to move your chooks to a particular area so they can hunt and peck for a while or if you are in a hurry.
Not much more than that, though.
Simply put, plastic materials are not suitable for keeping or protecting chickens. This fencing sagged after my chickens began perching on it, even though I had only used it once.
I adore electric fencing so much. It's usually dependable and reasonably priced. Most animals learn not to try it again after being shocked once.
Our steers are fenced with electric, and we have to use a lot of gentle prodding to convince them that the fence has been moved when we want to move them to a new pasture.
But when it comes to hens, electric fencing mostly functions to keep predators out of your chicken run.
It will teach your chickens to stay away from the fencing, and they will get zapped if they touch it, but more importantly, it keeps the bad guys out.
You have two options for your poultry fence: an eye-catching solar-powered source or electric fencing that plugs into an outlet.
Using solar power allows you to easily move around the electric fence, allowing your flock to graze on a new patch of grass every day.
A word of caution: make sure your poultry fencing is tall enough to keep your aviators inside if your hens are well-known for their flying prowess.
The text extensively discusses predators and fencing, but it fails to mention aerial predators such as owls and hawks.
Yes, there is a fence in place to shield your flock from above!
Indeed, it's known as aviary netting. It's possible that you've seen this netting at the zoo, high above the animals.
It is just what it sounds like—aviary netting.
It's a delicate net that confines birds of prey and shields its occupants from airborne threats.
If you really want to go all out, you can keep your hungry predators out and your chickens safe by adding aviary netting to your run! For quail, avian netting is also quite effective.
Now that you are aware of some of the most popular varieties of poultry fence, allow me to share a few additional tips with you:
As previously mentioned, the quality of your fencing material is dependent on the frame that you use to build your chicken coop.
To keep your fencing securely in place, choose robust structural materials like wood.
Moreover, secure your fence with sturdy, deeply buried corner posts to prevent your run from collapsing under the weight of the fencing.
View above! Be sure to bury the fencing itself as well as your corner posts.
Bury your fence 6 inches or so below ground to ensure coyotes and foxes are kept out, as predators can easily squeeze or dig under most above-ground fencing.
Regularly inspect the fencing to ensure it is in good condition. Fix any new gaps in the fencing almost immediately to prevent destruction by tenacious predators.
Start with what you can afford and improve over time if some of the higher-quality fencing described below is out of your price range.
Hey, maybe selling some of your fresh eggs will help you start saving!
Most of these fencing alternatives will work to keep your chickens safe with a little adjustment and addition.
Some fences outperform others, while others are designed to last only one season.
Therefore, you should be able to rest easy at night knowing that your hens are safe with any of the aforementioned fences, depending on your budget, the birds, and the local predators.
