Concerned about my new chicken run.

[Aequacheek]

We have rats and small weasels around, the kind that can squeeze through any opening the size of a quarter. As a result I've used 1/2 inches mesh hardware cloth for the run AND the underside of the tractor so they won't dig under, but now I'm worried this will prevent the chickens from pecking around the run. I've added a dirt pile in a corner over the wire so they have scratching and pecking space but since it's designed to be moved around I don't think it would work long-term. Any advice? It's my first tractor and I really don't know if I'm doing it right lol

 

[50-45-1]

Yes the mesh wire under the run will keep your chickens safe, but also curb the scratching and dust bathing enjoyment.
Some folks have made the run portion open to the ground and the coop portion lock tight at night.
Both the rat and weasel are night time pests so the important thing is SECURITY AT NIGHT.

 

[KeleFarm]

I have hard wire cloth under my entire coop. I then took large landscaping bricks and laid them sideways all around the outside of my run and inside where the door opens out. I filled it full of both play and paver sand. This will keep the chickens happy and the run clean. You can rake the sand once in a while but the chickens will usually do it for you because that's what chickens like to do. Some of the sand they will kick out but the pavers do a great job of keeping it in. You can add more sand as needed. It sounds like you may move your run so I'm not sure if that would work for you. My coop stays in the same spot but if I were to move it, I would have to move the paver's first.

 

[Aequacheek]

I have hard wire cloth under my entire coop. I then took large landscaping bricks and laid them sideways all around the outside of my run and inside where the door opens out. I filled it full of both play and paver sand. This will keep the chickens happy and the run clean. You can rake the sand once in a while but the chickens will usually do it for you because that's what chickens like to do. Some of the sand they will kick out but the pavers do a great job of keeping it in. You can add more sand as needed. It sounds like you may move your run so I'm not sure if that would work for you. My coop stays in the same spot but if I were to move it, I would have to move the paver's first.

Ooooh good idea! thanks!

 

[Aequacheek]

Yes the mesh wire under the run will keep your chickens safe, but also curb the scratching and dust bathing enjoyment.
Some folks have made the run portion open to the ground and the coop portion lock tight at night.
Both the rat and weasel are night time pests so the important thing is SECURITY AT NIGHT.

I didn't know weasels were nocturnals. I've seen them during the day, I'm guessing they were not hunting then

 

[50-45-1]

Weasel would probably have a hard time catching a chicken during the day. The chickens can sound the alarm, flee and run.
Its at night when a chicken is roosting that they are most vulnerable. They have no night vision and when the weael gets in, he kills every chicken he can. The chickens just sit there frozen while the killing goes on.

 

[aart]

I didn't know weasels were nocturnals. I've seen them during the day, I'm guessing they were not hunting then

Any animal will hunt during the day if it's hungry enough.