Coop fencing question.

[86121]

Quote:
Feel free to hijack!

 

[mychookschick]

Well, ok...

Has anyone ever used studded T-posts? This is what I am looking at for my run... Maybe some 4-5 foot ones. But, in that scenario, I would have to make the top removable, so that I could get in there... And I still haven't figured out how to make a door to let the chickens out. I want my run to be cheap, but effective. They will only be in there in the mornings, and possibly on bad weather days... All the rest of the time they free-range. The reason that it has to be cheap is that I have to come up with the money for it. And I am hoping to have it done before May 5/6...

Let me know what y'all think...

 

[86121]

Quote:
I put your question in with mine at the front of the topic so people would see it better!
Best of luck!

 

[mychookschick]

Quote:
I put your question in with mine at the front of the topic so people would see it better!
Best of luck!

Thanks so much!

 

[ejb3810]

I would not suggest the bird netting, as from personal experience a hawk or an owl can go right through it. I would think that the chicken wire would have adequate strength to do what you want, and if it is installed tightly should not have a problem with snow load. If you do not coop your birds at night then the chicken wire would not be adequate, in my opinion.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
T-posts are sort of "minimally ok". You cannot keep the fence taut on them unless the posts are braced against each other, so you must either do bracing (a real nuisance since T-posts do not lend themselves easily to it, but it can be done) or accept a wibbly wavy fence. Drive them AT LEAST 18" into the ground, so factor that into the height post buy (dunno what height run you are wanting. If it has no top, I would suggest making the run fence at least 6' tall to reduce chances of chickens leaving on their own)

I still haven't figured out how to make a door to let the chickens out.

It's easy, just cut a hole in the run wire, frame it out with wood (preferably connected to major wooden members of the fence e.g. a horizontal bottom rail; although that is not necessary, it makes it a lot stronger) and then hinge a flap on.

I want my run to be cheap, but effective. They will only be in there in the mornings, and possibly on bad weather days... All the rest of the time they free-range.

That seems reasonable to me

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[mychookschick]

Thanks so much! I will run all of this by my Dad tonight, and see what he thinks!