Fencing, how high

[veg4681]

I want to fence off my new veggie beds to keep off the rabbits/hares but how high should the fence be? My DH reckons a feet but isn't that too low for these determined creatures to jump over or even stand on their back feet Unfortunately raised bed is not an option (too much work).

[Alice]

Hello Veg4681, I believe there was a previous post on here saying rabbits had been seen jumping 4 feet. And don't forget they can dig down too - 18 inches or more !

[Snadger]

I would think fencing would need to be at least 3 foot high and preferably 4! You will also need to bury the mesh 1 foot into the ground to stop them digging under it!

[veg4681]

Hello Veg4681, I believe there was a previous post on here saying rabbits had been seen jumping 4 feet. And don't forget they can dig down too - 18 inches or more !

Blimey, 4 feet! Really?

I would think fencing would need to be at least 3 foot high and preferably 4! You will also need to bury the mesh 1 foot into the ground to stop them digging under it!

I would like the fence (corrugated metal sheet) to be high enough for the tallest vegetable i.e. brussels sprouts covered with mesh on top as we have pheasants but can't do anything about moles digging under the fence .

[Nicky]

If you don't want to dig down the 18" necessary to stop the little chaps digging under the fence and you have some cash available you could look at electric fencing. It can run off a car battery. It doesn't need to be dug in and you can move it as you rotate the crops.
It works as you angle the posts of the netting outwards away from the crop and the rabbits/hares get the shock on the top of their ears when they get close in to start digging.
Might seam a bit harsh but they do learn not to go near it. The fact it's sloped outwards also means it doesn't have to be as high to stop them jumping it. Try looking in local agricultural merchants.

[veg4681]

Thank you Nicky for the suggestion, I can look into that option also. I reckon a farmer would know about that sort of agricultural gadgets.

[HeyWayne]

I fenced in my entire plot, and all it cost me was a roll of chicken wire (about £40) and a pot of paint for the posts.

Posts (made of old pallet "bearers") were embedded into the ground to a depth of around 2 feet at 2.5/3 metre intervals. We then dug a trench 1ft deep by 1ft wide around the outside perimeter. Then rolled out and attached the chicken wire, with a 90 degree bend at the bottom so it "flared out" along the bottom of the previously dug trench. Then back-filled the trench and hey presto - rabbit proof fence. I also laid a matt of chicken wire under the grass below the gate, so if any rabbits made their way to the gate and started digging under, they'd only get about and inch down before hitting the mesh.

The fence is about 3-4 ft high and I haven't had any evidence of rabbit activity since.

[Akela Ben]

My fencing is nearly 4ft tall and is about 1ft underground also, normal chicken wire.

[Nicos]

One of 'my' wild bunnies managed to chew through the bunny wire fencing in two places!!!!

( I think bunny wire is thicker wire than chicken wire too!)

And yes- 4 ft is a reasonable height for a full grown bunny to jump over!...I imagine a Hare could clear higher than that easily ( but that's a guess).

Ain't nature fun!

[veg4681]

I fenced in my entire plot, and all it cost me was a roll of chicken wire (about £40) and a pot of paint for the posts.

Posts (made of old pallet "bearers") were embedded into the ground to a depth of around 2 feet at 2.5/3 metre intervals. We then dug a trench 1ft deep by 1ft wide around the outside perimeter. Then rolled out and attached the chicken wire, with a 90 degree bend at the bottom so it "flared out" along the bottom of the previously dug trench. Then back-filled the trench and hey presto - rabbit proof fence. I also laid a matt of chicken wire under the grass below the gate, so if any rabbits made their way to the gate and started digging under, they'd only get about and inch down before hitting the mesh.

Thanks HW detailing your fenced up plot, if I've read your description correctly, is your design similar to the link below (under badger proof fencing)?

BTCV Handbooks Online

Chicken wire is very affordable and practical option but the farmer's assured me that he has plenty of spare corrugated metal sheets lying around but I'm concerned that this might make the veggie bed too shaded

The above link states that chicken wire or similar may last upto 10 years and for this reason, don't like the idea of burying them in the soil. I was thinking maybe bury bricks instead along the fence but I guess that would push the cost up.

My original plan was to fence up immediately next to the veg beds but now I'm thinking I may need to consider having a proper enclosure like yours, you know more space to walk around, bum to sit...have not even thought about a proper gate!!!

[HeyWayne]

Thanks HW detailing your fenced up plot, if I've read your description correctly, is your design similar to the link below (under badger proof fencing)?

BTCV Handbooks Online

Chicken wire is very affordable and practical option but the farmer's assured me that he has plenty of spare corrugated metal sheets lying around but I'm concerned that this might make the veggie bed too shaded

The above link states that chicken wire or similar may last upto 10 years and for this reason, don't like the idea of burying them in the soil. I was thinking maybe bury bricks instead along the fence but I guess that would push the cost up.

My original plan was to fence up immediately next to the veg beds but now I'm thinking I may need to consider having a proper enclosure like yours, you know more space to walk around, bum to sit...have not even thought about a proper gate!!!

Hi veg,

Yes, very similar to the badger fencing - you can see the finished result on my blog here: The Hay Wayne: June 2007

I bent mine at 90 degrees however rather than the curve they describe, but a similar effect.

The whole thing took us a weekend to do, again you can see a description on the blog.

One thing I will mention is to check the galvanising of the chicken wire. I can't remember which one is which, but one lasts better than the other. I ended up painting the mesh on mine with Hammerite and a roller...

Personally I'd not use the currugated sheet for fencing - like you say, it blocks light, but also the wind which could mean it is more susceptible to be blown down.

Good luck.

[veg4681]

One of 'my' wild bunnies managed to chew through the bunny wire fencing in two places!!!!

( I think bunny wire is thicker wire than chicken wire too!)

And yes- 4 ft is a reasonable height for a full grown bunny to jump over!...I imagine a Hare could clear higher than that easily ( but that's a guess).

Oh dear, are you sure it was a wild bunny, not a badger? Hmmmm....how much higher would a long legged hare jump to, I did wonder about the hare. All this talk of rabbit/hare jumping over a 4 feet fence, I wish someone would find me an evidence in picture .

[Snadger]

I have corrugated sheets about 3 foot high down the side of my allotment........and yes they do cast a lot of shade, and yes they do blow over with the wind occasionally!
You would probaly get away with corrugated sheets on three sides and mesh on the side that would cast most shade on your plot!

[veg4681]

I have corrugated sheets about 3 foot high down the side of my allotment........and yes they do cast a lot of shade, and yes they do blow over with the wind occasionally!
You would probaly get away with corrugated sheets on three sides and mesh on the side that would cast most shade on your plot!

As always the creative thinker Snadger, that sounds like a good compromise ...and an option.

BTW HeyWayne, neat fencing job (from your blog)!

[la cebolla grande]

Rabbits are MUCH more likely to dig UNDER the fence than go 'over the top' - or find a gap if your fence is a bit of a Heath Robinson affair. A hare could jump higher, but they really don't like enclosed areas, so you are highly unlikely to get one raiding a veggie patch/lottie.

If you are worried about a rabbit jumping in, be aware my dwarf house-rabbit hops on the back of the sofa from the floor without even putting any effort into it, so how high he could jump is only a guess!! I put a small fence around my rabbit-edible veggies last year - only 1 ft high. Arnie didn't even try to jump in - which would have been v v easy for him, but either tried to burrow in, or sometimes when frustrated he just ran full tilt at the fence in the hope he could break through. He never did, but it was great fun watching the little tyke rebound off (unhurt, but annoyed, may I add.....).

LCG