Chicken Run totally wrong?!?!updated with pics

[babychickfarmer]

ok so if you read this forum
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=62125

and look at the photo's you'll see my coop. I am bieng told this is the wrong wire and all this but I am confused on what to use. I live on a peninsula near a rural area and not much activitie with animals, the only predators I have to worrie about is Flying,Coons,maybe weasels, possums, cats and nieghbor dogs. I need some idea on what to do, i was suggested to put wood around the bottom and about 3 1/2 ft. high. WE have netting all over the top, chicken wire around the bottom.

 

[hcammack]

1/2 inch hardware cloth is usually better than chain link or chicken wire. I have not seen the pics so I am not sure what everyone is talking about but 1/2 hardware cloth is strong and will not allow any small predators in !

Good luck,
Henry

 

[Davaroo]

The only predators I have to worry about are flying, coons, maybe weasels, possums, cats and neighbor dogs.

That is quite a list of horrors. Indeed you have something to worry about with those.
The cats will be the least of your troubles, except for the smallest of chicks. But the rest of them are a bonafide Rogues Gallery of Chicken Killers.

Coons, weasels and dogs will shred your average chicken wire without much trouble. Welded wire around the bottom half, extending a foot below grade is a good plan. Place two courses of P/T 1"x6" planks around the bottom, from the grade up.
Welded wire all round is the better plan, as Henry suggests.

An alternative MIGHT be to use the chicken wire you have and the planking and then use electric fence wire at 6", 12" and 24" intervals vertically. Or string electric netting on the outside of the fencing on insulated standoffs.​

 

[LynneP]

Instead of removing wire, I'd agree that you could add to it. Of the predators you name the weasels could bring the most heartache because they can squeeze through an opeing big enough for a hot dog- honestly!

 

[GallowayFarms]

i have a feed lot of sorts i use for my broilers when I goto feed them to put meat on their bones.

It is 6' high chain link with 3' chicken wire around the bottom. I used a trencher to put about a foot of the fence in the ground. That way dogs can't dig under.

I went to the other forums and saw the pictures. That fence is good for keeping chickens in but i don't think it would stop a hungry dog or anything else for that matter.

You need to pick up some fencing books and or look at the coop pics on the main page for some ideas on building some strong fences.

Good Luck

Nick

 

[babychickfarmer]

Well I'd like to mention that we only have one nieghbor dog to worry about and it stays tide up all day and in thier house at night. We haven't had a single problem with him.

The only predator problem we've had in 2 years since we have had the chickens just happened the other night. We assume it was a racoon because we live in a rural place and don't have many animals, I say we have all those predators to worry about because thats the animals that live here on the peninsula. I don't think we have weasels but I said that because I am not sure.

 

[mirime]

I have a dumb question:

If her coop is totally secured at night, and she keeps all her chickens in there, then why does it matter if the run isn't totally predator proof?

 

[Anny]

I second the hard ware cloth, almost all hardware stores or super center stores carry it. Chicken wire is kind of brittle.

Imagine if you were a dog hungry and trying to get a chicken, you could rip through chicken wire easily.

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
Predators hunt day and night. It only takes 1 minute unprotected for something to kill your chickens.

 

[Anny]

Quote:
Predators come out during the day as well as during the night.
I just can't even think of the horror of a stray dog or some thing getting into the coop, and they are out all hours of the day.