Lattice for a Run or no?

I have a question about my upcoming coop plan’s
I was thinking hardware cloth but then I was thinking lattice is much prettier and maybe EZ to put on. And I’ve seen some people have used it a little in there coop but not much

Would it be safe or ok?
Would they stick there head through or could they?
I don’t know what do you think

Lattice would keep the chickens in. Problem is, it won't keep anything out.

You could put the lattice up, then put hardware cloth behind it. This would also help reinforce the wire.

I can’t really say we would have anything that would want to get in other then my outdoor cat or maybe some of the neighboring strays? But I would think that lattice would be well able to keep out a cat.
I would love to do both but my hubby would freak at the cost for both I think
Thanks again for the help

You might not think you have a problem, but once you have chickens all sorts of bad things come around. If it's a choice between one or the other, I would go with the wire first. You could always put the lattice up later on.

Check out the predators and pests forum and see just how much damage and how small an opening some predators need. You'll also see numerous people that say 'we don't have any predator problem here'. I was one of them, until a few weeks ago when something (I assume coyotes) came and took 2 broody hens and a GP pup.

Thank so much I hadn't yet seen the predator's and pest yet, I'm looking over it all now

Loose dogs are probably the biggest daytime problem for a typical flock. Loose dogs will rip lattice into toothpicks in seconds.

If you want to have chickens for very long, and are not in any hurry to be picking gruesome pieces up all over the lawn, don't use lattice as fencing. It applied to a good safe wire mesh run fence, for decoration or shade or camouflage; but do not ask it to perform any structural role whatsoever. Even the heavy duty stuff just isn't up to it.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

Thanks, i think i will be going with the wire.
Although i can't see someone dog getting into our yard with 6 ft + block walls all around, and our dog is a 10 year old pom fur ball who isn't in to that kind of thing she might chase one if she can for fun but not hurt one.

I was thinking of using lattice too. Do you think it would
Be alright for the daytime only though? Their coop is very secure, and they are always put back in before night time, so would it be a problem?

Think of your run material as insurance......if you have a lower level of risk (ie few or no predators aside from the odd dog or cat) then lattice may be fine. If you have a reasonable chance of encountering skunks, weasels, possums, raccoons, etc, then I'd likely opt for wire. IMO, the most important part is to make sure you bury some wire underground to prevent critters from digging into the coop. I had our first predator, a skunk, try to get into our run at night last fall, and all it managed to do was dig down an inch or two before it hit the buried chicken wire, and gave up.

Where we are, as it turns out, we haven't had any predators that I know of come around during the day.....I could have used cheesecloth for the run if I'd wanted......but a lot of folks here have nasty critters trying to kill their chickens every single night, so for them, security is top priority.

That being said, they do make nice vinyl lattice these days. It's WAY stronger than the wood stuff, and would probably rival chicken wire in terms of security......hardware cloth is another step up from there, though.