The coronavirus pandemic seems to have reinvigorated the grow-your-own movement, not that it needed much boosting. Evermore people are looking to their immediate environment and how to make the most of it, not only in terms of enjoyment of their outdoor spaces, but also improving the productivity of it. This has resulted in another rise in poultry-keeping — that accessible form of livestock which delivers fresh eggs to the kitchen and, when free ranging in your garden, adds movement, beauty and even entertainment.
Free ranging in the garden has risks as well as benefits, and certain breeds are better suited to different garden scenarios. However, another area that needs careful consideration when free ranging is the fencing you use. Depending on circumstances, fencing may be needed around the perimeter of the garden to keep the chickens in and everything else out. On the other hand, it may be required to surround the area of the garden you want the chickens to avoid. In my case, I use it to fence off my vegetable plot as I prefer to protect my plants as opposed to my chickens.
When considering the fencing options, it’s important to understand its purpose fully before embarking on any groundworks or purchases. It needs to be functional and practical, but also sympathetic to the other landscaping within the garden, as well as complementing planting style. For example, if you have a more formal, orderly design to your beds then running a mass of stock fencing across it isn’t going to look the part. The other element to consider is whether the fencing will be a permanent feature, semi-permanent, or temporary as this will also influence the materials you use.
Brick or stone walls, if built high enough, work well as a permanent boundary option. With the variety of construction materials available, it is possible to erect something that looks in keeping.
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Country Smallholding.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Country Smallholding.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Secret World Of The Honey Bee
Who knew that honey bees are the best builders? Nicola Bradbear from Bees for Development reveals how they build their parallel wax combs with extraordinary accuracy
Tip the light fantastic
The latest offering from Ifor Williams Trailers is the Single Axle Tipper, which is simply perfect for small-scale farmers
The legacy of The Good Life
The Good Life captured the public’s imagination when it first aired in 1975. On Country Smallholding’s 45th birthday, Jeremy Hobson looks at this and other programmes with a self-sufficiency slant that have captivated urban and rural dwellers alike over nearly half a century
‘The hens took shelter under the pig trailer in the paddock'
A tree Armageddon frightens poultry diarist Julian Hammer’s flock and leaves him with a mammoth clear-up job
Tools of the trade
In the second part of his mini-series on tools that are useful around the holding, Kevin Alviti takes an in-depth look at the iconic scythe, a thistle paddle and forks that were once virtually indispensable to small-scale farmers
The nightclub bouncer of the sheep world
Adam Henson waxes lyrical about the Texel, which boasts such a stocky body that it resembles a box of muscle on four legs
Buying on a tight budget
As demand for smallholdings increases and prices continue to rise, is there a way to achieve your dream without forking out a fortune? In the first part of a new mini-series, Liz Shankland explores the possibilities
Crazy for crafts
In an ordinary back garden and single paddock near Kidderminster, Kay Dalloway has created both a thriving smallholding and a successful fibre business — all while working full time for the NHS. Helen Babbs drops by to find out about her ventures
Game on
A little preparation in the autumn months will help to make the transition into winter smoother and put your garden and tools on a better footing come the spring, says Stephanie Bateman
1975 And All That
Country Smallholding is 45 this month. To celebrate, Jeremy Hobson takes a look at some of the changes — both good and bad — to small-scale farming over that near half-century