Run over a 'stream'?

That's a great idea! I even have some bright colored thin nylon rope already!

AmberKnits said:

I would probably use the same 6 ft high fencing I used for the rest of the run last year. It's a coated wire livestock fence. I could do hardware cloth as an apron around the fencing. I don't currently have a top over the run, and I think the area I'm hoping to fence in would be rather large for a top, I'm just guessing....but the area would be roughly 30x40 feet.

Click to expand...

You can just use the same fencing (2x4 mesh?) as an apron....no need for HC.


This 'stream' is not flowing? Just a season wet swale?
You'd want to fence the gap the swale creates under the run wall, which can be a problem on a flowing stream.

Yes, it's a 2x4 mesh fencing. Using the fencing as an apron would certainly be cheaper! I thought hardware cloth was reccomenced. We haven't had any predator issues yet, but better safe than sorry.

We live in a humid spot, there is always a bit of water in the 'stream' but it only flows during very heavy rain, I think it's a drainage ditch? If an adult steps down in it, your boots get stuck in the mud. The chickens like to play in the 'stream' when they are out free ranging.
I was thinking I could try to bury a rectangle of fencing down into the sides of the stream, it's a rather wide spot, maybe 5 feet across. So the sides of the fencing piece would go down into the bank, then down below the mud at the stream bed. I'd use the same 2x4 mesh, so thing a kept flowing if need be. I'd have to check once in a while that there was no build up behind the fencing to keep the water flowing.

AmberKnits said:

Yes, it's a 2x4 mesh fencing. Using the fencing as an apron would certainly be cheaper! I thought hardware cloth was reccomenced. We haven't had any predator issues yet, but better safe than sorry.

We live in a humid spot, there is always a bit of water in the 'stream' but it only flows during very heavy rain, I think it's a drainage ditch? If an adult steps down in it, your boots get stuck in the mud. The chickens like to play in the 'stream' when they are out free ranging.
I was thinking I could try to bury a rectangle of fencing down into the sides of the stream, it's a rather wide spot, maybe 5 feet across. So the sides of the fencing piece would go down into the bank, then down below the mud at the stream bed. I'd use the same 2x4 mesh, so thing a kept flowing if need be. I'd have to check once in a while that there was no build up behind the fencing to keep the water flowing.

Click to expand...

Exactly!

If your run is 2x4, there's no sense in making apron a smaller mesh, waste of money.
The 2x4 apron will keep any animal stopped by the 2x4 wall from digging underneath.
Save the 1/2" HC for any coop openings for night time security.
UNLESS you're concerned about daytime reach thrus and are going to put HC on couple bottom feet of run walls, but even then HC for apron probably isn't necessary.

aart said:

Exactly!

If your run is 2x4, there's no sense in making apron a smaller mesh, waste of money.
The 2x4 apron will keep any animal stopped by the 2x4 wall from digging underneath.
Save the 1/2" HC for any coop openings for night time security.
UNLESS you're concerned about daytime reach thrus and are going to put HC on couple bottom feet of run walls, but even then HC for apron probably isn't necessary.

Click to expand...

I'm not really concerned about daytime reach thrus, I realize it's a possibility, but it hasn't happened yet and our large dog spends a good amount of time outside during the day (regardless of the weather). I do use hardware cloth on the actual coop, the windows, ventilation, etc.

I'm really pleased that other folks think my plan is feasible.