Chicken Noob: Buy a buildable pen/run for safety or continue predator proofing?

[TheChickenMan1313]

Moved to a new area (SE US) recently and haven’t noticed any predators apart from some fairly large hawks. I have some chicks that have been brooding for 3 weeks so I’m trying to have this ready for when they move into the coop. The ground is quite sandy but I might only use the run the coop came with for the time being while I’m gone during the day

Top: I’m in the process of putting chicken wire over the top of the extended run and closing up the chicken wire attached to the original run, is there anything else that might be better other than a roof?

Sides: The chicken wire on the sides don’t go very far into the ground so I plan to change that by digging between each post and moving the wire down a few inches. I also plan to add a skirt using some hardware cloth.

Bottom: Nothing but ground. Should I add some hardware cloth to the bottom of the run the coop came with? Should I add it to both that and the extended run?

Would it be more cost effective for me to just purchase a pen I assemble then wrap in a hardware cloth skirt? Or would adding a skirt only covering the bottom and going into the ground be good enough to keep predators out?

If there’s any thoughts/tips you have please feel free comment! Since I’m new to this, I’d be glad to take any sort of advice I can get.

 

[DobieLover]

You need to have hardware cloth up the bottom of the walls to prevent anything from reaching in or tearing through the chicken wire. Chicken wire doesn't hold anything back. I would do that in addition to a 2 ft wide hardware cloth predator apron pinned down on the outside edges with heavy duty landscape staples. Then I would run several strands of hot wire around the entire setup. I would charge it with a 10,000 volt, at least 0.8 Joule charger with at least two ground rods sunk 8 ft deep in the wettest soil that you have as close to where the charger will be as you can get it.

 

[FrostRanger]

Don't use chicken wire, chicken wire is only useful for keeping chickens in, it won't keep much of anything else out. A raccoon can get through chicken wire like it's not even there. Use hardware cloth instead. I would also add a hardware cloth skirt to the outside of the run. I would also take care to make sure it's large enough (10sqft per bird at a minimum) and make it a bit wider so you can have clutter to break line of sight between birds (helps keep peace in the flock)

 

[TheChickenMan1313]

Don't use chicken wire, chicken wire is only useful for keeping chickens in, it won't keep much of anything else out. A raccoon can get through chicken wire like it's not even there. Use hardware cloth instead. I would also add a hardware cloth skirt to the outside of the run. I would also take care to make sure it's large enough (10sqft per bird at a minimum) and make it a bit wider so you can have clutter to break line of sight between birds (helps keep peace in the flock)

I just ordered a 12x9 run/pen that comes with hardware cloth to put around the sides. I plan to attach that to the coops provided run then will also add a skirt using hardware cloth. I have 8 birds so hopefully that should be enough space for the time being.

 

[TheChickenMan1313]

You need to have hardware cloth up the bottom of the walls to prevent anything from reaching in or tearing through the chicken wire. Chicken wire doesn't hold anything back. I would do that in addition to a 2 ft wide hardware cloth predator apron pinned down on the outside edges with heavy duty landscape staples. Then I would run several strands of hot wire around the entire setup. I would charge it with a 10,000 volt, at least 0.8 Joule charger with at least two ground rods sunk 8 ft deep in the wettest soil that you have as close to where the charger will be as you can get it.

I have a pen that’s on the way that comes with hardware cloth for the sides then I will be buying more to add a skirt to the entire thing and attach the coops run to the additional run I ordered. I’ll check out setting up an electrical system, I’ve just been a little hesitant with that since I have a very curious Australian Shepherd who I hope eventually makes friends with the chickens

 

[FrostRanger]

I just ordered a 12x9 run/pen that comes with hardware cloth to put around the sides. I plan to attach that to the coops provided run then will also add a skirt using hardware cloth. I have 8 birds so hopefully that should be enough space for the time being.

Yeah, that's 108sqft which is plenty for 8 birds