|
Linking chicken wire
Hi,
I am building a chicken pen and intend to use weld mesh for the sides and chicken wire for the top as I don't think I need that to be so substantial. What's the best way to link the chicken wire lengths to each other? Strips of wood between each length with the chicken wire stapled to them is probably the best option but I wonder if there is some sort of simple wire linking device available - for instance small keyrings could be used to attach 2 lengths to each other so is there something like that I could get? Thanks |
Linking chicken wire
In article , TC writes: | | I am building a chicken pen and intend to use weld mesh for the sides | and chicken wire for the top as I don't think I need that to be so | substantial. That's some chickens you have! | What's the best way to link the chicken wire lengths to | each other? Strips of wood between each length with the chicken wire | stapled to them is probably the best option but I wonder if there is | some sort of simple wire linking device available - for instance small | keyrings could be used to attach 2 lengths to each other so is there | something like that I could get? Or just buy some thin galvanised wire and sew the chicken wire together. That is the cheapest solution, and easier to do than it sounds. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Linking chicken wire
"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , TC writes: | | I am building a chicken pen and intend to use weld mesh for the sides | and chicken wire for the top as I don't think I need that to be so | substantial. That's some chickens you have! You certainly don't need weldmesh for any chickens. 1" chicken wire is substantial enough. | What's the best way to link the chicken wire lengths to | each other? Strips of wood between each length with the chicken wire | stapled to them is probably the best option but I wonder if there is | some sort of simple wire linking device available - for instance small | keyrings could be used to attach 2 lengths to each other so is there | something like that I could get? Or just buy some thin galvanised wire and sew the chicken wire together. That is the cheapest solution, and easier to do than it sounds. We cut the mesh and use the protruding ends to link to the rest. We've done that for years, simple and doesn't need any more wire and only a pair of pliers. Mary who has chickens Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Linking chicken wire
"AriesVal" wrote in message ... On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:35:29 -0000, Mary Fisher wrote: "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... [10 quoted lines suppressed] You certainly don't need weldmesh for any chickens. 1" chicken wire is substantial enough. [11 quoted lines suppressed] We cut the mesh and use the protruding ends to link to the rest. We've done that for years, simple and doesn't need any more wire and only a pair of pliers. Mary who has chickens [4 quoted lines suppressed] Hi Mary, I am getting new hens next month - is there a poultry newsgroup you can recommend ? sci.agriculture.poultry has a good mixture of new keepers and professional ones from all round the world. There's the usual amount of argument too :-) Mary |
Linking chicken wire
"AriesVal" wrote in message ... On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:09:26 -0000, Mary Fisher wrote: "AriesVal" wrote in message ... [21 quoted lines suppressed] sci.agriculture.poultry has a good mixture of new keepers and professional ones from all round the world. There's the usual amount of argument too :-) Mary Thanks :) And a lot of spam. Killfille Old Codger. Mary |
Linking chicken wire
In article 5808828b-5dee-4f7a-945b-
, says... Hi, I am building a chicken pen and intend to use weld mesh for the sides and chicken wire for the top as I don't think I need that to be so substantial. What's the best way to link the chicken wire lengths to each other? Strips of wood between each length with the chicken wire stapled to them is probably the best option but I wonder if there is some sort of simple wire linking device available - for instance small keyrings could be used to attach 2 lengths to each other so is there something like that I could get? Thanks Easiest way is to get thin galvanised wire and sew the two sheets together at the edge once in situ -- Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall www.roselandhouse.co.uk Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and Lapageria rosea |
Linking chicken wire
On 29/3/08 10:22, in article ,
"Charlie Pridham" wrote: In article 5808828b-5dee-4f7a-945b- , says... Hi, I am building a chicken pen and intend to use weld mesh for the sides and chicken wire for the top as I don't think I need that to be so substantial. What's the best way to link the chicken wire lengths to each other? Strips of wood between each length with the chicken wire stapled to them is probably the best option but I wonder if there is some sort of simple wire linking device available - for instance small keyrings could be used to attach 2 lengths to each other so is there something like that I could get? Thanks Easiest way is to get thin galvanised wire and sew the two sheets together at the edge once in situ How about pigtail stakes, or are they too expensive? -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon 'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.' |
Linking chicken wire
|
Linking chicken wire
"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message T... In article , says... "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , TC writes: | | I am building a chicken pen and intend to use weld mesh for the sides | and chicken wire for the top as I don't think I need that to be so | substantial. That's some chickens you have! You certainly don't need weldmesh for any chickens. 1" chicken wire is substantial enough. | What's the best way to link the chicken wire lengths to | each other? Strips of wood between each length with the chicken wire | stapled to them is probably the best option but I wonder if there is | some sort of simple wire linking device available - for instance small | keyrings could be used to attach 2 lengths to each other so is there | something like that I could get? Or just buy some thin galvanised wire and sew the chicken wire together. That is the cheapest solution, and easier to do than it sounds. We cut the mesh and use the protruding ends to link to the rest. We've done that for years, simple and doesn't need any more wire and only a pair of pliers. Mary who has chickens Regards, Nick Maclaren. Mary and Nick, we no longer have chickens because of local dogs and foxes so a substantial run is not such a silly idea if only to keep things out rather than things in. I can understand your worry but we lost a lot of our bantams before we fenced the garden effectively. The chicken mesh was more than adequate for their run, they were all killed while they were in the garden. Mary |
Linking chicken wire
On 29 Mar, 12:03, "Mary Fisher" wrote:
"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message T... In article , says... "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , TC writes: | | I am building a chicken pen and intend to use weld mesh for the sides | and chicken wire for the top as I don't think I need that to be so | substantial. That's some chickens you have! You certainly don't need weldmesh for any chickens. 1" chicken wire is substantial enough. | *What's the best way to link the chicken wire lengths to | each other? *Strips of wood between each length with the chicken wire | stapled to them is probably the best option but I wonder if there is | some sort of simple wire linking device available - for instance small | keyrings could be used to attach 2 lengths to each other so is there | something like that I could get? Or just buy some thin galvanised wire and sew the chicken wire together. *That is the cheapest solution, and easier to do than it sounds. We cut the mesh and use the protruding ends to link to the rest. We've done that for years, simple and doesn't need any more wire and only a pair of pliers. Mary who has chickens Regards, Nick Maclaren. Mary and Nick, we no longer have chickens because of local dogs and foxes so a substantial run is not such a silly idea if only to keep things out rather than things in. I can understand your worry but we lost a lot of our bantams before we fenced the garden effectively. The chicken mesh was more than adequate for their run, they were all killed while they were in the garden. Mary- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I've been told that some animals can bite through chicken wire and also that if the mesh is too big then chickens can stick their heads through it to look at a fox who then bites it off! Don't know how likely this all is. Have found some good resources: http://www.downthelane.net/ http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ex-battery-hens/ http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/ http://www.thepoultrysite.com/forums/index.php Toby |
Linking chicken wire
"TC" wrote in message ... Mary and Nick, we no longer have chickens because of local dogs and foxes so a substantial run is not such a silly idea if only to keep things out rather than things in. I can understand your worry but we lost a lot of our bantams before we fenced the garden effectively. The chicken mesh was more than adequate for their run, they were all killed while they were in the garden. Mary- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I've been told that some animals can bite through chicken wire and also that if the mesh is too big then chickens can stick their heads through it to look at a fox who then bites it off! Don't know how likely this all is. The idea of a chicken looking through mesh at a fox is, I'd say, so unlikely as to be laughable. If they see a fox or unfamiliar dog from a long way they'll try to get away. I doubt that a fox could bite through chicken wire too, they never have here. Mary |
Linking chicken wire
On 29 Mar, 12:18, "Mary Fisher" wrote:
"TC" wrote in message ... Mary and Nick, we no longer have chickens because of local dogs and foxes so a substantial run is not such a silly idea if only to keep things out rather than things in. I can understand your worry but we lost a lot of our bantams before we fenced the garden effectively. The chicken mesh was more than adequate for their run, they were all killed while they were in the garden. Mary- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I've been told that some animals can bite through chicken wire and also that if the mesh is too big then chickens can stick their heads through it to look at a fox who then bites it off! *Don't know how likely this all is. The idea of a chicken looking through mesh at a fox is, I'd say, so unlikely as to be laughable. If they see a fox or unfamiliar dog from a long way they'll try to get away. I doubt that a fox could bite through chicken wire too, they never have here. Mary Well I'm told it happens! Maybe it happens in a small %age of cases and you're not one of those. I get a fox every night sniffing about so it'll have plenty of opportunity to plan a form of attack.... TC |
Linking chicken wire
In article , TC writes: | On 29 Mar, 12:18, "Mary Fisher" wrote: | "TC" wrote in message | | The idea of a chicken looking through mesh at a fox is, I'd say, | so unlikely as to be laughable. If they see a fox or unfamiliar dog | from a long way they'll try to get away. | | I doubt that a fox could bite through chicken wire too, they never have | here. | | Well I'm told it happens! Maybe it happens in a small %age of cases | and you're not one of those. I get a fox every night sniffing about | so it'll have plenty of opportunity to plan a form of attack.... And I am told that people have had rides in flying saucers, have talked to Elvis and so on :-) Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Linking chicken wire
On 29 Mar, 13:01, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
In article ,TC writes: | On 29 Mar, 12:18, "Mary Fisher" wrote: | "TC" wrote in message | | The idea of a chicken looking through mesh at a fox is, I'd say, | so unlikely as to be laughable. If they see a fox or unfamiliar dog | from a long way they'll try to get away. | | I doubt that a fox could bite through chicken wire too, they never have | here. | | Well I'm told it happens! *Maybe it happens in a small %age of cases | and you're not one of those. *I get a fox every night sniffing about | so it'll have plenty of opportunity to plan a form of attack.... And I am told that people have had rides in flying saucers, have talked to Elvis and so on :-) Regards, Nick Maclaren. Not sure if its more foolish to believe everything or to believe nothing...but I suppose intelligence is shown in the deciding. Argue here if you like: http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk...ic.php?t=13478 |
Linking chicken wire
"TC" wrote in message ... On 29 Mar, 13:01, (Nick Maclaren) wrote: In article ,TC writes: | On 29 Mar, 12:18, "Mary Fisher" wrote: | "TC" wrote in message | | The idea of a chicken looking through mesh at a fox is, I'd say, | so unlikely as to be laughable. If they see a fox or unfamiliar dog | from a long way they'll try to get away. | | I doubt that a fox could bite through chicken wire too, they never have | here. | | Well I'm told it happens! Maybe it happens in a small %age of cases | and you're not one of those. I get a fox every night sniffing about | so it'll have plenty of opportunity to plan a form of attack.... And I am told that people have had rides in flying saucers, have talked to Elvis and so on :-) Regards, Nick Maclaren. Not sure if its more foolish to believe everything or to believe nothing...but I suppose intelligence is shown in the deciding. Argue here if you like: http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk...ic.php?t=13478 "I obviously don't want 2" holes at the sides, as chooks could put their heads out for Reynard to bite off! (Yes I have heard of this happening!)" For centuries 'men say' has not been accepted as evidence, it's called hearsay and is meaningless. It's been responsible for very many injustices. My deciding is based on personal experience and the knowledge that chickens are not stupid. Although, come to think of it, if a chicken DID stick out its head and it was bitten off it would be a Good Thing, it would remove an undesirable trait from progeny. When my chickens and others I have known (a daughter is a free range chicken farmer) if a fox is seen the birds run for cover. If mine see a ginger cat they do the same (fox have more in common with cats in many ways than they do with dogs). I've thought of another possible solution to the problem - get a dog and train it to leave the chickens alone. It is said that fox won't come near a dog. I have other experience ... A physical barrier is the only sure one. Renardine works for a time but it time consuming, has to be repeated frequently and becomes expensive. Peeing on the boundary is cheaper but has to be repeated frequently. A shotgun would work for a while but a new generatio9n of fox would be lured to the garden by the noise of chickens. Mary |
Linking chicken wire
On 29 Mar, 15:42, "Mary Fisher" wrote:
"TC" wrote in message ... On 29 Mar, 13:01, (Nick Maclaren) wrote: In article ,TC writes: | On 29 Mar, 12:18, "Mary Fisher" wrote: | "TC" wrote in message | | The idea of a chicken looking through mesh at a fox is, I'd say, | so unlikely as to be laughable. If they see a fox or unfamiliar dog | from a long way they'll try to get away. | | I doubt that a fox could bite through chicken wire too, they never have | here. | | Well I'm told it happens! Maybe it happens in a small %age of cases | and you're not one of those. I get a fox every night sniffing about | so it'll have plenty of opportunity to plan a form of attack.... And I am told that people have had rides in flying saucers, have talked to Elvis and so on :-) Regards, Nick Maclaren. Not sure if its more foolish to believe everything or to believe nothing...but I suppose intelligence is shown in the deciding. Argue here if you like:http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk...ic.php?t=13478 "I obviously don't want 2" holes at the sides, as chooks could put their heads out for Reynard to bite off! (Yes I have heard of this happening!)" For centuries 'men say' has not been accepted as evidence, it's called hearsay and is meaningless. It's been responsible for very many injustices. My deciding is based on personal experience and the knowledge that chickens are not stupid. Although, come to think of it, if a chicken DID stick out its head and it was bitten off it would be a Good Thing, it would remove an undesirable trait from progeny. When my chickens and others I have known (a daughter is a free range chicken farmer) if a fox is seen the birds run for cover. If mine see a ginger cat they do the same (fox have more in common with cats in many ways than they do with dogs). I've thought of another possible solution to the problem - get a dog and train it to leave the chickens alone. It is said that fox won't come near a dog. I have other experience ... A physical barrier is the only sure one. Renardine works for a time but it time consuming, has to be repeated frequently and becomes expensive. Peeing on the boundary is cheaper but has to be repeated frequently. A shotgun would work for a while but a new generatio9n of fox would be lured to the garden by the noise of chickens. Mary- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - So this person in that thread is a liar? Tell her not me! I have had chickens heads bitten off through wire. It's not nice finding a headless body where it has finally collapsed.. |
Linking chicken wire
"TC" wrote in message ... I have had chickens heads bitten off through wire. It's not nice finding a headless body where it has finally collapsed.. But you have a good meal :-) Mary |
Linking chicken wire
"TC" wrote in message
I've been told that some animals can bite through chicken wire Foxes round here will get through it. They must rake it repeatedly with their claws till it breaks. they certainly have managed to break into my outer pen on multiple occasions. |
Linking chicken wire
"TC" wrote in message
On 29 Mar, 12:18, "Mary Fisher" wrote: I doubt that a fox could bite through chicken wire too, they never have here. Well I'm told it happens! Maybe it happens in a small %age of cases and you're not one of those. I get a fox every night sniffing about so it'll have plenty of opportunity to plan a form of attack.... I doubt whether they bite through it, but I can certainly vouch for them getting through it repeatedly. |
Linking chicken wire
"TC" wrote in message
I have had chickens heads bitten off through wire. It's not nice finding a headless body where it has finally collapsed.. I lived on a poultry farm for the first 18 years of my life and I have now kept chooks for about 30 years of my adult life so I know that chooks can have their heads bitten off through wire. I've seen it too. If others haven't had the experieince of seeing that, then they are luckier than your and I. It doesn't mean that it doesn't happen, just that they don't know that it happens and can thus remain blissfully ignorant and sceptical until they do see it. |
Linking chicken wire
"AriesVal" wrote in message ... On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:22:40 -0000, Mary Fisher wrote: "AriesVal" wrote in message ... [14 quoted lines suppressed] And a lot of spam. Killfille Old Codger. Mary LOL, I have him kill filed on other groups too ;-) The sad thing is that I've met the original Old Codger, a very nice man with an equally nice wife, we still correspond. Still, I suppose it's some kind of flattery to have your name hi-jacked - the hi-jacker must think you're important enough. My name was once - but not for long :-) Mary |
Linking chicken wire
In article , "FarmI" ask@itshall be given writes: | "TC" wrote in message | | I've been told that some animals can bite through chicken wire | | Foxes round here will get through it. They must rake it repeatedly with | their claws till it breaks. they certainly have managed to break into my | outer pen on multiple occasions. What gauge? Chicken wire comes from gauges that I can tear with only gloved hands up to stuff that I need wire-cutters for. A mistake that people may be making is to use the very lightweight stuff designs to keep part-grown chicks in as a fox barrier. I can easily see that won't work. And are you sure that it is foxes and not badgers making the initial entry? Badgers like eggs, after all :-) Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Linking chicken wire
"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , "FarmI" ask@itshall be given writes: | "TC" wrote in message | | I've been told that some animals can bite through chicken wire | | Foxes round here will get through it. They must rake it repeatedly with | their claws till it breaks. they certainly have managed to break into my | outer pen on multiple occasions. What gauge? Chicken wire comes from gauges that I can tear with only gloved hands up to stuff that I need wire-cutters for. I wondered that too. It would be a very hungry fox which would bite through our chicken wire, so hungry it probably wouldn't have the strength. Not that I've ever known a fox eat a chicken, here they've only killed them :-( And are you sure that it is foxes and not badgers making the initial entry? Badgers like eggs, after all :-) They will eat chickens too. Mary |
Linking chicken wire
In article , "Mary Fisher" writes: | | What gauge? Chicken wire comes from gauges that I can tear with only | gloved hands up to stuff that I need wire-cutters for. | | I wondered that too. What I would do, were I making a chicken run, would be to use fairly heavy 2-3" chicken wire to keep foxes, dogs and cats out, and run 1-2' of 1/2" chicken wire along the bottom, inside, to keep chicks in. That's a LOT cheaper than using weldmesh. If badgers were a problem, it would be necessary to use weldmesh (and I don't mean the 1/2" stuff, either!), but it would ALSO be necessary to continue it down at least 1' into the soil, probably 2'. The design of a rat-proof run is left as an exercise for the reader :-) | And are you sure that it is foxes and not badgers making the initial | entry? Badgers like eggs, after all :-) | | They will eat chickens too. And, of all of the UK wild and domestic predators, they are the only one which can tear chicken wire open without difficulty. Dogs can do it, but my understanding is that they typically do only for the third leg or when starving. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Linking chicken wire
"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , "Mary Fisher" writes: | | What gauge? Chicken wire comes from gauges that I can tear with only | gloved hands up to stuff that I need wire-cutters for. | | I wondered that too. What I would do, were I making a chicken run, would be to use fairly heavy 2-3" chicken wire to keep foxes, dogs and cats out, and run 1-2' of 1/2" chicken wire along the bottom, inside, to keep chicks in. That's a LOT cheaper than using weldmesh. Last year we found that chicks could get through small holes so Spouse fastened a 6" high length of 1/2" mesh round the bottom. Same as you. If badgers were a problem, it would be necessary to use weldmesh (and I don't mean the 1/2" stuff, either!), but it would ALSO be necessary to continue it down at least 1' into the soil, probably 2'. And something underneath too. The design of a rat-proof run is left as an exercise for the reader :-) sigh Yes ... | And are you sure that it is foxes and not badgers making the initial | entry? Badgers like eggs, after all :-) | | They will eat chickens too. And, of all of the UK wild and domestic predators, they are the only one which can tear chicken wire open without difficulty. Luckily they can't get into our garden - not that I think there are many round here ... Dogs can do it, but my understanding is that they typically do only for the third leg or when starving. Third leg? Mary |
Linking chicken wire
In article , "Mary Fisher" writes: | | Dogs can do | it, but my understanding is that they typically do only for the third | leg or when starving. | | Third leg? A dog has four thoughts, one for each leg: food, food, sex and food. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Linking chicken wire
"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given writes: | "TC" wrote in message | | I've been told that some animals can bite through chicken wire | | Foxes round here will get through it. They must rake it repeatedly with | their claws till it breaks. they certainly have managed to break into my | outer pen on multiple occasions. What gauge? Chicken wire comes from gauges that I can tear with only gloved hands up to stuff that I need wire-cutters for. It is a lighter guage stuff that was used for the outer pen - the inner night yard is a heavier guage but the sodding foxes broke the gate on one occasion and knocked off 11 birds in one night. I left the bodies and slit them open and stuffed snail bait into the carcase and the bodies disappearred aver about 3 nights. That cleared out a den on the creek where I knew there were at least 2 cubs. The light guage stuff surrounds about a quarter of an acre (also serves as the orchard) and I have gradually moved right round it putting a heavier guage wire right round it to about waist height - that has worked (so far) but it took me a year or more to do what with one thing and another. As you can imagine with a fence of that area, I have been able to keep a good eye out on the fox activity. They seem to spend days putting pressure on one area. For a few days it will be an indentation and scumbled earth near a site they are working on, then a single broken wire will appear and then over a few days a gradual and increasing number of broken wires till it is obvious that they have made an incursion. They can get through amazingly small holes. It's at that stage that I've repaired the holes. I like to let them waste a lot of time. The other thing the bozos did when they built the fence was that they didn't either bury about a ft of wire or lay the wire out on the ground for about a ft on the foxward side. I've now done that as I went around, so far so good. A mistake that people may be making is to use the very lightweight stuff designs to keep part-grown chicks in as a fox barrier. I can easily see that won't work. And are you sure that it is foxes and not badgers making the initial entry? Badgers like eggs, after all :-) Nope. It was foxes. We don't have badgers in Australia and there are no dingos or uncontrolled pet dogs round here (they'd get shot). |
Linking chicken wire
In message , Nick Maclaren
writes In article , Charlie Pridham writes: | In article , | says... | "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message | ... | In article | , | TC writes: | | | | I am building a chicken pen and intend to use weld mesh for the sides | | and chicken wire for the top as I don't think I need that to be so | | substantial. | | That's some chickens you have! | | You certainly don't need weldmesh for any chickens. 1" chicken wire is | substantial enough. | | Mary and Nick, we no longer have chickens because of local dogs and foxes | so a substantial run is not such a silly idea if only to keep things out | rather than things in. That argues in favour of using heavy gauge chicken wire, such as 2". You need weldmesh only to stop wolves, hyaenas and so on :-) At 2" you get stoats getting in easily and they can do a lot of damage. Regards, -- Martin Brown -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:45 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter