Kitchen Garden Forum

My new allotment is on a site that has rabbit problems, so most plots are surrounded 100% by fences. I am going to use a chicken wire barrier, since one of the plotholders told me this is effective. However, most people don't set part of the fence underground, although do make sure there is no gap. I was also told that the fence needs to be at least four feet high, since the rabbits can jump over anything shorter. Any comments or experience on defeating rabbits out there?

Hi Barry,
Rabbit fencing need only be 3ft high with 6in buried at about 45 degrees angle into the ground outward of the plot.
I have had a very effective Rabbit Fence for the last 25 years right round the perimeter of my old nursery. The netting size must not be larger than 1"
otherwise baby Rabbits can actually squeeze through it. Hares are another thing and they will clear 4ft with a couple of feet to spare but not Rabbits.
I have seen a film sequence of a baby rabbit squeezing through 32mm wire.
(This is just for those who will doubt it.)
Regards Stranger,
JB.

Barry, please read pm for useful book.
You will get the best buy on the netting fom a farmers outlet. It is sold as specifically rabbit fencing and either because of the amount sold or maybe there is a subsidy it comes out relatively cheap in a large metre roll (50M.?) Jackson's fencing (website)feature it but not necessarily at the cheapest price. The type with two horizontal bracing wires across as well as the edge wires is to be preferred.
Allan

Allan/Johnboy,
Thanks very much for your advice. I have tracked down a 50m roll of rabbit proof fencing costing about £50.00 delivered to my door. Does that seem reasonable?
Given the overgrown situation of the plot next door, I intend to put in a polythene/carpet/woodchip path along my perimeter, pushing the last 6 inches of the fence underneath this. I think this should stop incursions. What do you think?
Also, given that I grow mostly everything you can think of on an allotment, including soft fruit and apples, what are the main targets that rabbits go for?
Regards
Barry

Barry wrote:Allan/Johnboy,
Thanks very much for your advice. I have tracked down a 50m roll of rabbit proof fencing costing about £50.00 delivered to my door. Does that seem reasonable?
Given the overgrown situation of the plot next door, I intend to put in a polythene/carpet/woodchip path along my perimeter, pushing the last 6 inches of the fence underneath this. I think this should stop incursions. What do you think?
Also, given that I grow mostly everything you can think of on an allotment, including soft fruit and apples, what are the main targets that rabbits go for?
Regards
Barry

barry,go for a rifle you then get a lot more satisfaction, and a hearty meal out of the fluffy tails.peter

using a rifle on an allotment might produce other problems though.

omg i thought this was about the film of the same name
my friend has the same problems!

I don't think woodchip , polythene or carpet is sufficiently robust, too easy to scratch it away. If you had turves to lift onto it that would anchor it, otherwise trenching, sufficient so the rabbits cannot expose sufficient to see it all and get underneath.