building RUN for chickens. Help please?

[Minky]

Hello.
So, my flock has grown from 6 to 30 in the first 8 months (there's that chicken math!) Ive always let them free range but 2 weeks ago a coyote took 3 pullets and a roo, so my fall plans to build a run(for winter enjoyment) is now under way in July. They will still be allowed to free range, but many days will be spent in the run. The coop is a whole half the barn.

Ok- my question. I dont want to use hardware cloth (way too pricey) and don't like chicken wire (hard to work with). I would like to use 2 x 2 galvanized welded fencing or 2 x 3 would be even better.
I would put an overlay of chicken wire along the bottom 2 feet or so if i thought it was necessary... (but when i introduce chicks they would most likely be in a little collapsible pen anyways)

We dont have predator snakes here that i am worried about. Mostly coyote, fox, racoon(although ive never seen a racoon here) and i know we have a fisher, but i doubt he'd stray so close to the house and away from the creek. We've only caught him on the trail cam in the winter deep in our forest.

So my question is this- is 2 x 3 holes ok? trying to keep costs down. What have you used without problem. I know racoons can reach in, but the run will be very large (about 3/4 of what you see being built) so a racoon reaching its arm in - i am okay with.

What have you used in your run that has worked? and is cost effective.

Roofing will be a combo of metal siding like the barn, and see thru plastic roofing to allow in all the light.
Thanks for your ideas

 

[Birdsong 82]

With the size of my run I also can’t use hardware cloth. I use the 2 x 3 galvanized fencing for my run but I layer it with chicken wire to make the whole smaller. I have tons of predators around here. This system seems to work pretty well because you would be surprised what can squeeze its arm or itself through a 2 x 3 hole. Learn from experience. Also with a 2 x 3 galvanized wire I found it really really depends on the brand. I thought blue Hawk before in my goats push their head into it and it snapped right away. If you do go with that I would spend an extra $10 per roll and go with red brand. I’ve had that up for five years now and has held well. Adding the chicken wire also helps keep out mice. Before I used the chicken wire I would get mice in the coop which would get in their feet bowl which caused a lot of feed to be thrown out because it had mouse poop in it. Plus mice will steal eggs and carry disease

 

[Birdsong 82]

And don’t forget to at least get a small roll of chicken wire or hardware cloth just for the skirt. If you’re having problems with things such as coyotes I would really suggest putting a wire skirt around your run. Like I said we have a lot of predators out here and that is one really beneficial thing that has helped

 

[Minky]

yes, thanks we will dig down and do a skirt of chicken wire for sure.

i will be getting goats- so that is good info on the heavier gauge wire
not sure of brands- since i am in canada.

Do you think the goats will jump on the roof?? The other 1/4 of the structure will be a goat run in shed... so I am assuming they will jump on the roof, and dont want them going through it. Ideas on how to stop them climbing on the skylight (plastic sheeting ) part??

 

[Molpet]

if you don't have weasels or mink ( they can get in any hole bigger than 1/2") or if the run is large enough that the birds can get away... 2x3 and chicken wire around the bottom couple of feet, and an apron should work.. also electric wire around would help too

 

[Birdsong 82]

Well if you’re getting goats you definitely want to use heavy gauge for their fence and the chickens. Because I left the door to the run open one time and saw the destruction that for goats can cause to the interior. Along with gorging on all the chicken feet they can find. It depends on what type of goats you’re getting and how high the lowest part of your runners. I have four very mischievous goats so I’ve had to find all sorts of ways to keep Off of out of and not go under all sorts of things

 

[Leaguinea]

I have 1x1 welded wire that I use (still costly) I just bought a roll 48" x 100' $240.00 CAD direct from my supplier at work. I know the rats & mice can still get through but because of the size of my pens and runs the hardware cloth is way too expensive. my greatest concern is weasels (had one last year that nearly wiped out my laying flock)

 

[Birdsong 82]

Are you keeping the goats and chickens in the same area

 

[Minky]

yes- its expensive stuff.

can a weasel climb up the wire? we must have weasles... its forest.... but weve never seen on trail cam.... that would really suck.

Can a weasel get thru 1x 1??

 

[Minky]

Are you keeping the goats and chickens in the same area

yes
why?