Sally Thompson wrote:
> Some of you may remember I posted some questions here a few months
> ago while planning my new role as a chicken keeper<g>. I haven't got
> much further forward but I have a particular question.
>
> I plan to keep two or three hens in a decent-sized house with a good
> fox-proof run (probably electric fencing) which they would be safe in
> if we are out for any length of time. Of course I would shut them in
> at night.
>
> However, we have about an acre of fairly wild land which I would like
> the hens to have free access to at all other times - ie, when we are
> around during the day. One boundary has a 6 ft close-boarded fence,
> and two others have stock fence which is rabbit-proofed. I hope that
> will be sufficient to stop them wandering into the lane, the reed bed
> next door and so on.
Chickens will meander around their locality during hte day but aren't
aiming
for the great escape, If the area around their housing is interesting,
they
will use that well and not stray.
Their food should be kept ina hopper inside the house, and the nestboxes
are
there, with their water outside, so they have a locus to return to during
the day. They don't 'go off' and away, they explore from their base to
which
they come back at intervals. It tends to be where they will come to
shelter
in inclement weather too.
However, our back boundary slopes down to a
> stream, which has a couple of husband-made bridges over and then just
> stock fence the other side of the stream (not our boundary). The
> bridges are both reached down some rough steps. Are the hens likely
> to go down the steps and over the bridges do you think? If they go
> over to the other bank they can of course then wander down the
> opposite bank of the stream, possibly never to be seen again.
While they 'could' they probably won't.
Site the their house at the other end of the garden and it will have
little
attraction for them in comparison to the rest of the great sounding ground
you have.
Have fun with your new birds.
--
regards
Jill Bowis
Domestic Poultry and Waterfowl Solutions
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine Nursery
Seasonal Farm Food
http://www.kintaline.co.uk
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