Release pen.
- Thread starter Skye
- Start date
countrryboy
Well-Known Member
Wot sort off timescale?
Few days, few weeks+
And wot age are the poults? Below 6 weeks or over 6 weeks
Wot sort of cover, any roosting cover.
I always made my pens larger than needed, so rarely had any pecking or stress/disease related issues.
I think the advice used to be 1 bird per 1m of boundry fence.
So ur looking at less than 40 and i wouldnt even release that in a pen that small.
In my opinion needs to be 3 or 4 times that size even for small numbers of birds.
Few days, few weeks+
And wot age are the poults? Below 6 weeks or over 6 weeks
Wot sort of cover, any roosting cover.
I always made my pens larger than needed, so rarely had any pecking or stress/disease related issues.
I think the advice used to be 1 bird per 1m of boundry fence.
So ur looking at less than 40 and i wouldnt even release that in a pen that small.
In my opinion needs to be 3 or 4 times that size even for small numbers of birds.
Bo Diddley
Well-Known Member
That's a chicken run, not a release pen. Half a dozen tops.
Rhodesianjess
Well-Known Member
Netting sections for laying birds on this estate are 2 off square or 20 feet by 20 feet. That's for 10 hens and 1 cock, albeit adults.
countrryboy
Well-Known Member
Meant to add.
I imagine it will be roof netted at those sizes.
The problem u have with smaller pens is they are always flying out or dropping of perch in wrong side off wire.
My 2 smallest pens would of been 4x25 - 30 m's. I only put 50 birds in each for some walked 'drives', i wouldnt like a pen any smaller and they were like jungles inside so birds never flushed/flew up in a panic
I imagine it will be roof netted at those sizes.
The problem u have with smaller pens is they are always flying out or dropping of perch in wrong side off wire.
My 2 smallest pens would of been 4x25 - 30 m's. I only put 50 birds in each for some walked 'drives', i wouldnt like a pen any smaller and they were like jungles inside so birds never flushed/flew up in a panic
crow killer
Well-Known Member
About 15 maximum, I think,
Very few. "Keep" or release? People normally think about how many virds they want to release and then build an appropriately sized pen. What are you planning to do with them?
I think the best thing might be for you to get a book....prehaps something like this
Running Your Own Shoot: Amazon.co.uk: Hudson, David: 9781853109447: Books
Buy Running Your Own Shoot by Hudson, David (ISBN: 9781853109447) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk
10 tops, I would think.
Look, someone has got to tell you. None. Do not do it. This is far too small. This will not work. O.K. you could stuff 10 in there, but why would you ? It would be all the work looking after them for very little result. Either build a more suitable and larger penn, or spend your efforts in another direction, predator control, cover crop, habitat, etc. What you are suggesting is wrong !
countrryboy
Well-Known Member
I agree, but strictly speaking u could hold a small number of birds for a very short time.
But definately not releasing them properly far far more hassle than its worth.
And the OP never actually says why or wot he intends to do with them.
Thats the only reason why i've never said NO
A chap I knew quite well, every year used to have a couple of dozen pheasants in what you would call a chicken run, on a patch of land he shot over.
He got them in as poults, kept them until they were fully feathered, then just let them out.
He went out once every couple of weeks or so, and always shot just one or two birds. He and his dog enjoyed it, he said it just added something to his small shoot.
He got them in as poults, kept them until they were fully feathered, then just let them out.
He went out once every couple of weeks or so, and always shot just one or two birds. He and his dog enjoyed it, he said it just added something to his small shoot.
