Hardware cloth vs. Chicken wire

Yep, we're going to have to use hardware cloth all around ;-)

If you never plan on closing the coop door then don't waste the time and money building one. It's only function is predator protection at night and weather shielding. Well, a roof keeps out rain and snow and a few walls stop the wind. Put the money saved for no coop and purchase bulk hardware cloth. Your significant other is right in that chickens are not stupid and can get away from most predators. Problem is if they are confined then you've taken away their main survival techniques- ducking for cover, running away and flying to tree limbs. If in a shoddy run they are merely corralled to make it easier for a predator that gets in to take all of them.

Using a coop is far cheaper than making a run 100% predator proof. It's easy to keep day predators out of the run. Welded wire like the common and inexpensive 2x4" 14 gauge fencing can't be chewed through or pushed through by dogs. Make an apron of same welded wire 18-24 inches out from run laying flat. Put under sod or stake down allowing grass to grow through then you can mow it. Welded wire comes in 4 foot by 50 foot rolls commonly for under $40. Lengths of that cut in half gives your the dig proof apron. That is a daytime predator proof run. Weasels can easily get in. That's what the coop is for and cheaper to put 1/2 inch hardware cloth (pricey stuff) on coop openings and lock the door at night, every night.

Another option that I use spring summer and fall is electric poultry netting. Makes for a huge movable run that will stop all land predators, excepting weasel. Put fencing around a few bushes and or trees so the birds can duck for cover when large birds are in the sky. Lock the coop every night.

Then there is always automatic coop doors for those that can't get up in morning to let birds out or don't have neighbors that will tend to birds when on vacation. Opens and closes via light sensor, runs off battery.

My run ins 2x4 welded wire with 1/2" hardware cloth around the bottom 24" to keep the smaller ones from getting out if I don't want them to. I also have welded wire on the top to keep out larger animals like raccoons. I don't close my pop door at night. If you want to keep them confined while you're gone for a few days, you might want to consider welded wire or hardware cloth on the sides and possibly top and then put a few strands of electric wire around the outside of your run. That way you can keep the coop open for them to come and go, and any climbers will quickly get discouraged once they've experienced your electric fence. Your coop is way too small to lock them in for a few days. Another thing to consider would be what the inside temps could get to. Chickens seem to handle cold a lot better than heat.

Thanks for the tips. What I meant by when we leave for a few days is leave the coop open and they can have free run of the run at night while we're gone and I won't have to worry about weasels weaseling their way in lol

Nergis65 said:

Thanks for the tips. What I meant by when we leave for a few days is leave the coop open and they can have free run of the run at night while we're gone and I won't have to worry about weasels weaseling their way in lol.

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Sorry - I misread that. I read that you were locking them in the coop for a few days. Weasels are tricky. The ones we have around here are pretty small and get get through a very small opening. I don't know that electric would stop them. I was thinking more for raccoons that might try to climb your fence, or other animals that might try to harass your chickens through the fence.

I wound say, do it right the first time so you don't have to do it again.

Btw- I live in California and welded wire is the thing to use here.