Building a Chicken Run

[adylina]

Hello everyone!
I am building a chicken run and coop. We have the coop all drawn out so far, and intend for the run to be 8-10ft wide and 30ft long down our backyard. We are using 4x4 posts that are concreted in, and intend to hang 6 ft chicken wire fencing down the length of it. I am having a lot of trouble finding chicken wire that is six foot tall though, our local stores like lowes and home depot no longer carry it. (they have it in 4ft and 2ft increments and I really don't want to have to hang one of each for fear it would look terrible.) Have any of you been through this, and if so where did you buy yours?

 

[TerryPy]

My run is 7'+ but we used 3' wide wire.....you might try deer fencing if you are using chicken wire. Chicken wire will not keep out raccoon, snakes, rats, etc. as its thin and the holes are large. Deer fencing is comparable and actually stronger, has the same size hole, is black heavy gauge plastic and is 8' tall so you could put 2' laid out for digging.

 

[adylina]

I will look into that, thanks!

 

[Folly's place]

Hardware cloth is the safest; don't use chicken wire! My original run was chicken wire with welded wire over it, and a chicken wire top. It was fairly effective as an emergency hawk- safe area, but wouldn't keep birds safe at night, or from large dogs. It has a concrete foundation, so at least no digging could happen. This spring it's been rebuilt, with a roof, and hardware cloth and woven wire walls. Safe as I can make it! Picture large dogs chewing their way in, and build better. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Am I paranoid? You bet! I've lost too many birds over the years to inadequate security. Mary