This Blog shows how a rat proof chicken run 8ft x 12ft x 6ft high was built and how in an awkward situation the green multipost system was used to create a free ranging area.
The completed run with front door for human access to clean house and give food. The back access hatch is for the girls to gain access to their free ranging area. The back access hatch is closed before dusk to stop rats entering the pen.
Some old tree stumps were used to create a play area where there afternoon corn treat is left. The gate is padlockable. The mesh is a 1inch by half inch (2.5x1.25cm) apeture which stops all but very small rodents from getting in, the wire thickness is 2mm (14g). The finish is galvanied then black powder coated.
The cage was put behind a garage (the back wall could have been used as one side of the cage). The ground was prepared with gravel and woodchip to stop weeds.
A soffit vent mesh was placed down to stop the rats digging under. Another way to do this would be to have a mesh base, however the soffit mesh has been used to save on cost. Normally the soffit mesh is laid after construction but due to access constraints this side was put down first. A hole had to be cut in through the laurels which was lined by 3 2ft square aviary panels to create a tunnel to the free ranging chicken run.
A 4 ft gate is put infront of the tunnel and the panels are bolted together. Making sure to put anything larger than the gat in the area before ithe chicken cage is fully constructed.
These photos show how the soffit mesh slightly overlaps the cage edge before its covered with the gravel woodchip and soil. Making sure that the mesh is totally covered as the product is sharp. Soffit mesh folds easily and keeps its shape
This is a photo of the chicken known as Jasmine using her hatch. Its worth noting that the chickens had no problem working out this system and were back in their house before dusk on the day of construction.
The hatch leads to the first free ranging are. As can be seen from the photo above the 2 inch 2.2/3.1mm green fencing mesh is non obtrusive. A gate is also put in the system to gain access. All these items are stock items. The mesh in this case is 5ft high, 6ft would be preferable to stop foxes. In this case the chickens roost in the fir tree lower branches. In the unlikely event a fox gained access to the run they can use these trees for shelter.
At the top of the run behind the vegetable plot another access hole has been made through the beech trees to give the chickens access to a large free ranging area made again using the multipost system and a 25m roll of green mesh.
Hi I thought id send you some pics of how we used your cage to keep out the badgers and foxs etc. its now in full bloom.This was a complete renovation of the site ;Dr Tocks is now enjoying the fruits !!
The Tawny owl was struck by a car in East Sussex in December 2012. He had a nasty blow to the head which caused serious trauma to the owl’s eyes.The rehabilitation process has been a long one to ensure the bird’s eye sight in good enough for flying, hunting and catching food.This owl will be released back to the wild once fitand well.
East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) is a front line rescue service to help people who find sick, injured and orphaned wildlife across East Sussex.The first group was formed in 1996. Up until then Trevor Weeks, one of the founding members of East Sussex WRAS, was paying for veterinary bills and expenses out of his own pocket since 1985.As he became better known, the number of calls became greater and the cost of his rescue work grew.
In a need for better funding and help to cover rescues and so tired from being on call responding 24 hours a day, East Sussex Wildlife Rescue was started. It was not until 2005 that East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) was formed with its first group of trustees and directors as a registered charity (No 1108880).
WRAS covers a large area and works with 11 different veterinary practices. One of WRAS’s main concerns about veterinary practices is the stress levels of wildlife whilst they are admitted. Dogs, cats and parrots to name a few of the animals which can cause noise as well as humans activity which causes stress to wildlife casualties which are trying to rest, relax and recover from their injuries or illness. However this recovery will be slow in such stressful environments. To counter this stress WRAS has set up a Casualty Care Centre at Whitesmith on the A22 between Hailsham and Uckfield.
The Centre is capable of taking in up to 125 casualties at a time depending on the range of species in care at the time. The Hospital has a treatment room, three hospital rooms, an indoor room divided into for indoor pens and aviaries, a prep room, volunteer rest area, store and cold room for acclimatising animals like hedgehogs before moving them outside.
Every year WRAS received between 2-3,000 calls for help. Some of these are purely advisory calls, others need the response on site of one of our ambulances. On site WRAS’s rescuers provide vital first aid to casualties starting the care right at the beginning at the rescue location.
WRAS has four veterinary ambulances. These vehicles move around but are normally based at either at Whitesmith, Uckfield, Polegate or Stone Cross. At night time at least two of these vans are available at any one time.The ambulances carry a variety of equipment, from ladders, various nets, stretchers, first aid kits, dog graspers, swan hooks, and much more.
WRAS ambulances have been involved in numerous rescues including helping to deal with a seal trapped in a nuclear power station, an albino deer with its antlers caught in a rope swing, a badger stuck in a disused swimming pool, a fox trapped in a drain, a bird caught up on a chimney, birds flying round inside a house, run over hedgehogs and much more.
Founder Trevor was recognised for his dedication to Animal Welfare in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2012 where he was awarded the MBE, Trevor and the work of East Sussex WRAS has also been recognised by the International Fund for Animal Welfare Animal Action Awards, BBC Radio Sussex and Surrey Community Heroes Awards and the British Animal Honours Awards 2013.
On average it costs WRAS £75 to be on call for and respond to a call-out. The vans, the mobile phones, veterinary bills, equipment stored in the vans etc are expensive and need replacing on a regular basis.
East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS)
We would like to thank Fine Mesh Metals for sending us an aviary that is sturdy, easy for two people to assemble and looks as though it will last us many years. Your response to an enquiry was speedy and greatly appreciated.
These panels are suited to this application as the mesh is small enough (1 x 1/2) to keep vermin out The wire thickness of 14g (2mm) is very sturdy giving it a long lifespan.
I am a Senior Animal Technician at New College Stamford and I am always on the look out for bigger and better designs for animal enclosures to met the animals welfare needs. I had an ideas what I wanted but didn't know how to get it. I stumbled across Fine Mesh Metals on one of my searches and contacted them immediately. By the end of the day they had responded, not only could they met my requirements they offered advice on the design. It was a short delivery time and so easy to install. Both enclosures are robust enough to withstand the beaks of parrots and the climbing ability of the ferrets, having different gauges of mesh prevents escapees! The safety porch can be moved to various positions to accommodate our 'human' requirements. The panels can be easily repositions to create a new floor layout area or free standing enclosure to enrich the animals lives further. The animals now use this part of their enclosures so much that we have decided to extend it further. Our Animal course is constantly expanding so having something that is easily movable saves on the cost of building a fixed enclosure giving us more variety and flexibility. Next animal to get a revamp on his enclosure .....The iguana and maybe some tunnels for the meerkats! I will be using Fine Mesh Metals again for sure.
Hi Please find attached photo’s of the 10x6 aviary we recently purchased from you, it was bought to attach to conservatory to allow our two cats access to fresh air and us to have doors open in summer without Cats being able to get away ,as they are not allowed out and were breed for indoors We are very pleased with how it has turned out and we hope you think the same. There is very little in life that is a New idea but we think this use is quiet novel