Chicken Yard Fencing

[WhoDatChick]

Sorry, yes, it would keep them in as well. I would definitely use electric at different levels....obviously you don't want anything climbing your fence as the aviary netting won't keep anything out. You're right-predators have an odd way of multiplying once there is a potential food source out there. Also, the 4x2 spacing won't contain baby chicks-you would have to use hardware cloth along the bottom to accommodate babies if that's in your plan.

Given the large area, you may consider putting some taller supports in the actual yard itself to support the netting and give you room to walk around.

Hi... do you think string weaved back and forth would work just as well? That’s what I plan to do .. Im making a yard with Redbrand around my coop/run for extra yard.. mainly when I’m home... mine if 5feet high...

 

[paneubert]

Hi... do you think string weaved back and forth would work just as well? That’s what I plan to do .. Im making a yard with Redbrand around my coop/run for extra yard.. mainly when I’m home... mine if 5feet high...

String to support the roof netting? Or to raise the "fence" height? If you want it to keep the roof high and not sagging, I recommend thin braided wire. This is how I did it on my 15 by 23 foot run.

Link to BYC post where I show the installation: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...or-chickens-coop.1241025/page-6#post-20882117

Used this stuff for the wire and attachments. All from Amazon.

 

[Shezadandy]

My husband is fencing what we think is the old chicken yard outside of our coop and he wants to know if sheep fencing with aviary cloth over it would work. Ideas?

We went for the full on ain't nothing coming through approach. We did 6ft chain link fencing and covered it top to bottom with hardware cloth. I don't know how many feet it is - but it's a huge area. And it was expensive, though buying the hardware cloth on Amazon was a GIANT savings compared to local farm stores of the hardware chains.

Whatever you use- I would strongly suggest lining the ground level with 4ft rolls (or however tall your intended fence is) of hardware cloth. If you intend to have hens with chicks- remember- babies will walk right through most fencing.

Also - if you only do the bottom layer- remember- if you have hens with chicks, those babies can jump... perch above that 2ft level... and go through. i.e. if you only put 2 feet of hardware cloth around the inside of your run to keep grabby raccoons and other predators from grabbing and removing your chicken's heads (I wish I was making this up- please research this- even if you use electric as a backup) -- that by week 2 chicks can jump those 2 feet up and land themselves on the other side of the fence in danger.

That's why we went for the full 6ft top to bottom- nothing rings the predator bell louder than a baby chick separated from momma hen on the outside of a fence.

And the aviary net has worked 100% for us too - you may want to put a few posts in the ground so it's high enough up that you can walk around comfortably. We did 12ft long 4" round posts - so 9ft of headspace.

 

[WhoDatChick]

String to support the roof netting? Or to raise the "fence" height? If you want it to keep the roof high and not sagging, I recommend thin braided wire. This is how I did it on my 15 by 23 foot run.

Link to BYC post where I show the installation: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...or-chickens-coop.1241025/page-6#post-20882117

Used this stuff for the wire and attachments. All from Amazon.

That looks nice... I actually just mean string tied from one side to the other.. back and forth over the whole yard.. no netting just string.. maybe about six inches apart.. just to keep aerial preds out and chickens in.. I have a covered, completely secure run and was just adding yard around it.. for mostly when I’m home.. otherwise they will be in run which is 12x24

 

[paneubert]

That looks nice... I actually just mean string tied from one side to the other.. back and forth over the whole yard.. no netting just string.. maybe about six inches apart.. just to keep aerial preds out and chickens in.. I have a covered, completely secure run and was just adding yard around it.. for mostly when I’m home.. otherwise they will be in run which is 12x24

It would probably work. Any chicken who flew up and into the strings would hopefully catch a wing on a string and loose their upward momentum. I have heard some people see success keeping chickens in and hawks out by using colored string. So that it is more visible to the birds. Some folks hang flash tape on the strings to deter hawks even more, but I would not do that with my yard since the flash tape would distract me.

 

[WhoDatChick]

It would probably work. Any chicken who flew up and into the strings would hopefully catch a wing on a string and loose their upward momentum. I have heard some people see success keeping chickens in and hawks out by using colored string. So that it is more visible to the birds. Some folks hang flash tape on the strings to deter hawks even more, but I would not do that with my yard since the flash tape would distract me.

Yes, that’s what I have ... colored string.. and I think the tape would distract me as well ... thank you so much!!

 

[Willowspirit]

Well, the same fencing keeps those predators away from goats and sheep, right. And apparently keeps them away from our neighbors ' chickens as far as i know. Don't forget the electric fence.