CHEAPEST most STABLE run...advice please!

[mandapanda3186]

Ok, silly phone did NOT post right...we will try again...

We are building a run to our coop approx dimensions 16 x 20. I found some wood at menards that is 2 x 2 and 8 ft long or 1 1\\2 x 1 1\\2 8ft long at 1.09 a peice. Would this be adequate for a base structure? Hubby thinks it wouldnt be strong enough. I want the cheapest but the best run for my money. Very simple, but safe. All connected with chicken wire and added hardwire 2 ft up from the bottom and 2 ft in along the ground to prevent predators. I can see it in my head...but dh has me doubting the strength of it. What do you suggest? What's the minimum I can go here? Advice/ideas please

Thanks!

 

[AHappychick]

my advise is to find a large dog kennel on craigs list (someone is always selling one). Then cover the entire thing or at leats the bottom 4 feet with hardware cloth. make sure you get 5 pieces so you can put one on the top. You can always cover the top with hardware cloth as well. When buying harware cloth go to a landscape supplier that way you can order it6 by the 100foot roll because Homedepot and others have it at a much higher price for a lot less. The whole thing if you shop around can cost under $300 and be VERY effecient.

good Luck

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Sorry, but no. Really really.

Use nothing smaller than 2x4 (for your size run, I'd suggest bigger) and whatever wood is in direct contact with the ground needs to be pressure-treated if you want this to last more than a coupla years at most.

Also, at that price (if it's per piece, not per linear foot) then what you're looking at is probably finger-jointed or really really crappy quality; the former will not hold up outdoors even if painted, and the latter would be hard to work with due to twisting, turning, cracks, etc.

Very simple, but safe. All connected with chicken wire and added hardwire 2 ft up from the bottom and 2 ft in along the ground to prevent predators.

Be aware that the wire arrangement you describe is NOT predatorproof. They'll simply rip the chickenwire apart *above* the hardwarecloth.

If budget is an issue, IMO you're best off using good quality 2x4" welded wire and adding something smaller-meshed (even if it is just chickenwire) to the bottom 2-3'. Plus some kind of digproofing arrangement such as an apron. This fence will not be predatorproof at night but in the daytime it mostly just has to be dogproof and it is as dogproof as you're going to get without a top on the run or electric fencing.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I wouldn't use chicken wire on a run. It will keep the chickens in, but won't keep predators out. Dogs and raccoons can tear through it, as well as stretching holes in it. Some people get away with it when they have a guard dog outside all the time, including at night. Some people have electric fences set up, too. It's a lot safer to just use wire that's strong enough to keep the predators out.