A few weeks back I asked everyone's advice about enclosed pens for poultry.
In the end, after much thinking I decided to get a small (ish) polytunnel frame and enough net to cover it. I decided it had a few advantages over the cheaper chicken pens, it would last longer, be wroth soemthign to sell if we ever got rid of it, and if we needed to we could easily convert it to a proper polytunnel to grow more crops under cover.
this one is quite low, only about 7ft high, but it only took me about 2 hours to put up on my own (not including clearing the area with the digger). The posts for the tunnel are just hammered into the soil, so it's not a permeant structure.
The children then helped pull the net over it.
Then I made a door way in (no need for two here) and covered the bottom half with rabbit netting to make it semi fox proof - be a shame to loose the animals after all this hard work and effort!
My plan now is to use this year round for the ducks, but let them free range when the law allows. I also plan to plant raspberries in here so it will act as a summer fruit cage. Double stacking the functions. The ducks can then keeps slugs and snails at bay as well as adding fertiliser in the winter.
Some spoilt animals and a bit more infrastructure in place. Even if I could take it down in half an hour!
Do you have to bring rabbit netting into the ground in case a fox tries to dig it’s way in?
ReplyDeleteI used to but for this I will just fold it over and out a ft where it meets the ground. They tend to go up to a fence and try to dig down, never thinking to go backwards.
DeleteBrilliant. Do they get a pond in there too?
ReplyDeleteThey have a small pool I refill everyday. They have a bigger one for when they free range but it takes way more filling!
DeleteWe get a lot of foxes by us so I am always thinking about protection for my birds. Will your structure be proof against foxes?
ReplyDeleteWith the rabbit wire on the bottom and folded out it is pretty fox proof. The plastic netting they could bite through if they jumped up but I can't see it happening.
DeleteLooks like a great duck pen! Can't argue with quick set-up time.
ReplyDeleteYEah, I was dreading putting it up to be honest, so glad it went easy. Mind you I spent a bit of time with the digger first getting it level.
DeleteKev, are you particularly worried about winds and will the structure take them? Here we do not get them all the time - but they can be pretty significant when they do show up.
ReplyDeleteNot with the net covering, I think it should blow right through it.
Deletelocking this away in the brain vault for a future project. looks great
ReplyDelete