can anything eat threw chickenwire?

[windtryst]

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That has worked form me for the last two years, your decision though...

 

[gryeyes]

My run was three layers: Chicken wire up to six feet. Green plastic poultry fencing over that, up to four feet. Then hardware cloth on the outside up to two feet (because one foot was an "apron" on the bottom, out from the fence). Don't rip down your chicken wire, just put a layer of hardware cloth over the bottom, with part of it as an apron on the ground.

 

[teach1rusl]

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yeah leave the chicken wire on it and put on hardware cloth. I am leaving my chicken wire on, I'm like you it has taken way to long to just put on couple of pieces.

If your chickens are put inside every night (pop door secured), then I'd probably only add something sturdier along the bottom 24 - 36 inches or so, as your main daytime predators will most likely be dogs. But if they won't be locked up each night in the housing, then I'd reinforce ALL of the chicken wire with sturdier wire, as night time critters like raccoons are climbers, and can rip/work out a section of chicken wire up high.

 

[Delmar]

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I use the Lab inside a fence method as well. Sounds like it should work well! The chicken wire should keep the owls and hawks out, and the dogs should keep the coons, foxes and other dogs away.

 

[BrattishTaz]

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Don't feel bad, I did the same thing.

 

[perchie.girl]

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Don't feel bad, I did the same thing.

Its ok just go over the outside with welded wire. Most people do that anyway. Use the 1/2 inch wide hardware cloth in places where you expect something to break into the coop itself.

 

[suzie walker]

Sadly, just last might, we finished our juvenile coop for our 5 weekers. Against my husband's advice, we used chicken wire. Our big dog's nails just went through it like butter and we lost two. Today, more work and hardware cloth like it should have been in the first place.

 

[perchie.girl]

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Soo sorry for your loss

 

[hennyannie]

I have six foot chain link because of dogs. Sadly I know of a lab who could destroy chain with her teeth. I could never use chicken wire in the area where we live. Rural, no leash laws, people who dont realize their dogs could ruin my whole chicken farm in one day. They just think that if there are no leash laws their dogs who have never been around livestock can just free range our farm.

 

[perchie.girl]

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Yep biggest problem I have is local dogs. I had a pack of Queenslands try to get my goats one time. GAWD i was ticked. I have six foot kennel panels around my yard. Thank goodness. I am considering doing electric fence once I get going on my chicken coop... I need to rebuild it. I can also fence in my immediate house with hot wire dog nose height then goat nose height.... then horse nose height.... should keep me covered.... LOL.