I finally decided on a very simple fence 'system'- something that I could uproot, roll up and tuck away if I should ever need to. I found the perfect 1500mm Site Posts in a yellow colour that matched my coop door at Bunnings. In addition to these posts, all I needed was a hammer, a small wood block, black cable ties, tin snips (to cut wire) and chicken wire. I had thought about using the plastic 'fencing' roll but decided against it because of its inorganic look. Although if you want something that is easy and won't require wire cutters or do not want to spend some times twisting wire ends then the plastic stuff is worth a go.
Anyway, I decided to space my posts depending on the 'view' from the deck. I did not want the coop front to be obstructed so just used that to demarcate where the posts would go. Then it was relatively simple albeit a little labor intensive to hammer the posts into the soil. I used a small off cut wood block to cushion the blows otherwise the lovely yellow paint on the posts could be chipped off. I also made sure that the posts were level periodically and took a few steps back to make sure it was in the right spot.
Once the posts were all in, I unrolled and cable tied the chicken wire making sure the wire was level etc. It would have been easier with two people but I managed on my own but it took longer as the chicken wire kept curling back! I cabled tied one post at a time in as many places as possible.
Where I intend to place a gate, I also hammered in some wooden tomato stakes so that I could attach metal hinges to later. I am not sure if they will stay in place with the weight of the gate but will sort it out later.
With the chicken wire; once I cut and end, I twisted the loose ends and then folded them back on itself so that there were no sharp points on which children, chickens or myself could get hurt on. Then I cable tied these loose ends between the stake and post to make it all neat.
One mistake- I should have painted the stakes but in my haste I decided not to...now I wish I had. So I think I will get a can of spray paint to do the job- messy but at least it might look better!
Anyway, I decided to space my posts depending on the 'view' from the deck. I did not want the coop front to be obstructed so just used that to demarcate where the posts would go. Then it was relatively simple albeit a little labor intensive to hammer the posts into the soil. I used a small off cut wood block to cushion the blows otherwise the lovely yellow paint on the posts could be chipped off. I also made sure that the posts were level periodically and took a few steps back to make sure it was in the right spot.
Once the posts were all in, I unrolled and cable tied the chicken wire making sure the wire was level etc. It would have been easier with two people but I managed on my own but it took longer as the chicken wire kept curling back! I cabled tied one post at a time in as many places as possible.
Where I intend to place a gate, I also hammered in some wooden tomato stakes so that I could attach metal hinges to later. I am not sure if they will stay in place with the weight of the gate but will sort it out later.
With the chicken wire; once I cut and end, I twisted the loose ends and then folded them back on itself so that there were no sharp points on which children, chickens or myself could get hurt on. Then I cable tied these loose ends between the stake and post to make it all neat.
One mistake- I should have painted the stakes but in my haste I decided not to...now I wish I had. So I think I will get a can of spray paint to do the job- messy but at least it might look better!