Badgers

[chickenfan]

Does anyone know what protection would be sufficient to keep badgers out? My garden has become so wet I'd like to make some space for the chickens in a nearby field, but there are lots of badger holes there.

 

[chrismahon]

You will need a very sturdy electric fence I think Chickenfan. One constructed with tensile steel wires as conductors, which is what they use here to keep Wild Boar out.

 

[Marigold]

If you're just thinking of temporary grazing for them, Chickenfan, it sounds as if you would need to instal more heavyweight protection than may be practicable?
Of course, if your chicken family is going to continue growing this year, it may be worthwhile.

 

[chickenfan]

Thank you Chris and Marigold. Do you think they would dig under an electric high tensile fence? Badgers are very common everywhere, but seem to be less of an issue than foxes - I'm not quite sure why.

 

[chrismahon]

They are nocturnal Chickenfan, so won't take chickens in broad daylight. But they are very powerful and can easily rip open a wooden coop during the night. As far as I know without researching they mainly dig up earth worms, because we used to get them digging in the ditch at the bottom of our field when it was a dry Summer. Suppose chickens are an irresistible feast to them if worms are in short supply.

The fence I have seen here was only 50cm high. It had 6 strands of 3mm wire which I would expect to alternate between live and earth.

 

[chickenfan]

Unfortunately the fence sounds like a horrible thing to have around and might be a horrible experience for my birds.

 

[rick]

I am wondering - If the badgers haven't troubled you in your garden and you could extend the chickens teratory in daylight to the adjacent field? If it is adjacent and they would return to the coop in your garden at sundown? I guess anything beyond the tried and tested status quo is a risk to weigh though and not just re badgers.
Even my covered run on paving is a bit damp at the moment. We need a cold, clear snap all round!

 

[chickenfan]

That's a clever idea Rick as badgers only come out at night. I gather its very important to establish where their tracks run as they won't stop for anything in their way. I wonder if Alpacas are any help with badgers.

 

[rick]

To be fair it was on Chris's point about them being nocturnal Alpacas on guard duty - now there's a thought!