Chicken fencing.

[katiegoodrow]

Hello we have a coop with attached fully enclosed run. It's just not big enough but I don't want to fully free range my small flock. Looking to add a larger fenced in area. Is it safe to use a larger hole hardware cloth or regular chicken wire for this area for just during the day since they will be in a fully locked/enclosed/raised coop at night?

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

If you are going to be around all the time there is no real problem with using chicken wire for the run.

If you are not going to be around all the time you would be better off with something like 12 gauge 1/2" hardware cloth or even a dual layer to keep predators at bay. the problem with chicken wire for an "un-attended" run is that many critters can get through it quite easily. Raccoons, Opossums, Weasels, snakes, rats, mice, all can get through chicken wire only fencing with ease.

We have a run built for when we are at work during the week or on an errand run on the weekends. Our run has two layers currently and can have a third added if found to be necessary. The wire we have now is chicken wire with a 4' high wrap of 1/2" hardware cloth. The hardware cloth also has 2 feet under the ground, it goes about 6" down then out away from the fence. This is stapled down and covered with soil and grass so if an animal decided to dig under, it will hit the wire and stop digging. So far this has worked well for us. But if the coyote pack ever comes up, we can add an inner fence of 2" by 4" welded wire fence on the inside and we could even add hot wires on the outside. Our run is not completely covered but it does have crossing wires over the whole top for flying predator prevention, these are spaced to leave 1 sq.ft. open space between the wires.

 

[Wrooster]

Our chickens have been fine for years with 4-foot-high 2x4 14 ga welded wire fence on T-posts. We have a secure covered area that opens into an area with about 300 feet of fencing.

Chicks would go through it and a determined predator can go under or over it, but there's only so much you can do unless you want to build Ft. Knox. Hardware cloth is overkill.

 

[Mahlzeit]

I use the green or black coated garden fencing. I believe it's 2" x 3" for my run. Have never had an issue with it.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have used many kinds of fencing with success, welded wire, chicken wire, hardware cloth, and chain link.
Current run is chain link to keep my own dogs out with a chicken wire top.
A lot depends on what predator is your main worry. If you live where there are mainly hawks then prepare for that. Raccoons? That would take a different approach.

I believe we can make a run that is predator resistant, not predator proof. How resistant depends on a lot of things like budget and what do you want the run to resist.

 

[JanetS]

We live in a area where we have serious bobcat problems so we can't free range our chickens. We use 1/2" hardware cloth. It's pricey but it keeps our chickens safe.

 

[JackE]

Look into electrified poultry net. You can surround a much larger area, way easier, and cheaper than building a hardware clothed run.