Building a run

[elmo]

Netting will keep out hawks but not raccoons and other predators with sharp teeth. They'll chew right through netting. However, most predators of that nature tend to be nocturnal, so some people roof their runs with netting to keep out hawks and lock their chickens inside a secure coop at night.

Rather than burying wire, you could make a wire apron attached to the base of the run extending two feet outwards. Stake down the apron with landscaping staples or anchor it with stones, etc. The predator tries to dig at the base of the run, hits the wire, and gives up.

 

[Gloria's Gang]

Measure, measure and then measure again! I can't stress that enough! I learned the hard way and wasted lengths of good boards and fencing. That includes the width of the wire also. I had a hard time securing the wire fencing to the roof on my first pen. The second time I built the roof frame on the ground, attached the wire while it was on the ground, then got helpers to raise it up on the posts in two 10x10 sections. Why didn't I think of that the first time! It is straight, tight and even. Also, make the pen tall enough for a human to walk comfortably. My first pen is only about 5'3" so I have to crouch a bit. It makes for a sore back when I am raking, cleaning or just socializing in there. How about bantams in one pen and standard sized in the other?

 

[Chickenkate17]

Here's my coop/run:

We used 2x4s and chicken wire attached to the wood with plumbers tape. The plumbers tape was key!

Good luck!

 

[Dogfish]

Chicken wire will not keep out any determined predator.

 

[bburn]

Pay extra attention at the bottom of the people door. A raccoon got in our coop by digging under the people door! Tried to drag my BR hen out and that did not work so good for him or the hen. After that we took another look at the people doors on the coops and they are now secure at the bottom also......