2x4 fencing for the run?

I have heard tales of raccoons reaching through that type of wire, and well -- not pretty

 

Weasels and mink will get through for sure!!

 

I was planning on using the 2x4 wire along with the plastic chicken wire. Any input on how this would work?

 

I would use it but at least with the wire chicken wire instead of plastic, anything can chew thru plastic and lots of critters can fit thru 2X4

 

If the chickens will be safely locked indoors by nightfall every day of the year, personally I think 2x4 fencing is perfectly reasonable and sensible, particularly if you add something smaller-mesh along the bottom 2-3' to prevent reach-through.

There *are* a variety of critters that can go thru that size mesh (I mean, their whole bodies can go thru so they'll enter your run): but sparrows and rats are hard to keep out no matter *what*, and baby raccoons and baby possums are only a very rare and nighttime threat (at least, I've totally never seen *baby* coons out during the day, only adults); and weasels and mink are pretty exclusively nocturnal hunters.

While hardwarecloth is still probably the best material for preventing reach-through, personally i think that chickenwire or 1/2" plastic mesh are not all that bad either for this specific purpose. Reason being, the main issue is just a) to keep chickens from sticking their heads outside the run, and b) to slow things down so that if a predator DOES try to reach in and grab a handful of napping chicken, it happens slowly and awkwardly enoguh that the chicken will have a chance to clue in and get away. So if budget restricts you to a less-secure form of smaller mesh stuff, I absolutely definitely think it IS still worth doing and you won't be THAT much worse off for it not being hardwarecloth, IMO.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

Im using 2 x 4 mesh with hardware cloth .... I too feel it will work fine.

 

The biggest thing to get through this 2x4 wire are squirrels. They come in to eat the treats. One thing to worry about is the birds getting out. Mine could fit through up to about 3 months. They are locked inside all night. Just make sure it's buried and you should be fine.

 

I use the 2" x 4" with smaller-opening chicken wire on the bottom. It is not perfect but it is extremely difficult to keep snakes, rats, weasels, small birds and squirrels out of a larger run anyway. I look at it as predator resistent, not predator proof. My coop is predator proof for nighttime.

Another advantage of using smaller wire at the bottom is that it keeps baby chicks from getting out if you have a broody with chicks in there.

I tried some of the plastic wire to keep the baby chicks and the chickens' heads in. It did not last that long in the sun and weather. I also had a bit of trouble with it stretching so that the adult chickens could get trapped between it and the 2x4 wire. I know part of that is that I did not attach it well enough, but I strongly recommend metal instead of plastic. I find it lasts a lot longer and required less maintenance.

 

I am using 2 by 4 wire but I am also not leaving my chicks outside at night. Most of the animals that hunt them will try to get them during the dark hours or right at dusk or dawn. My chicks are almost 4 weeks now but I am teaching them that at night they need to go back in to their coop so that when they are out all day it will just come naturally to them. The coop has locks on all the doors so unless they find a way to push through the hardware cloth over the vents I don't think anything will get in.

Good luck!!