Digging underground for predator protection

[Smorz]

Ok, so are you guys saying chickenwire isn't good for a the floor of a run or for the apron of the run? Our run is all hardware cloth but we were thinking of using chicken wire for the floor and the apron on this next extension that we are making.

 

[David1998]

I wouldn't use chicken wire for the floor, apron, or run. It will rust out faster than hardware cloth and is much easier for a predator to get through.

All the coops I remember growing up only used chicken wire and sometimes it was buried a foot deep. Something would get through it and kill a few birds. Then, you'd find it, kill it, and repair the coop. It was accepted as a cost of keeping chickens and considered less costly than making the coops bullet proof. Right now, it's not acceptable to me, so I'll pay for the bullet proof coop.

 

[joeg541]

Amen I like bullet proof coops. Gonna use hardware cloth for mine

 

[BriarwoodsFarm]

I just stopped at the feed store looking for hardware cloth and they said they all use chicken wire with no problems. One guy said he had a raccoon get into the coop, but that was because he had a gap where he had stapled the wire on. And they had a 5ft x50ft roll for $50 - I haven't seen anything else that wide locally, I only need 14 ft for a floor and flat ceiling (maybe 7ft more if I do a peaked wire "roof") but if I can use it around the sides that would be good too (5x7 run, 4-5ft tall, and then a small piece maybe 2ft to wrap around the 14" tall legs of the coop, 11ft perimeter).

I did pay $50 for 4x50 coated 2x4 inch mesh - if chicken wire isn't good by itself, how about making the sides a double layer of the coated wire and the chicken wire (chicken wire on inside) so racoons (not that I've seen any here, but we must have them, something got our corn when we planted some a few years ago) can't reach through the mesh or chew through the wire? Even at $2/ft combined I think it's cheaper than hardware cloth.

 

[ktn65]

From my understanding, raccoons are pretty opportunistic and lazy, so if there is easier food elsewhere, they will move on. So chicken wire may work. Really, we spend all kinds of time making "bullet proof" coops but at some point the cost has to out weigh the benefit. If you use chicken wire and never have a predator compromise your run, then great!

I guess it really boils down to personal preference and what can and has worked

in your area.

 

[fred081646]

I just stopped at the feed store looking for hardware cloth and they said they all use chicken wire with no problems. One guy said he had a raccoon get into the coop, but that was because he had a gap where he had stapled the wire on. And they had a 5ft x50ft roll for $50 - I haven't seen anything else that wide locally, I only need 14 ft for a floor and flat ceiling (maybe 7ft more if I do a peaked wire "roof") but if I can use it around the sides that would be good too (5x7 run, 4-5ft tall, and then a small piece maybe 2ft to wrap around the 14" tall legs of the coop, 11ft perimeter).

I did pay $50 for 4x50 coated 2x4 inch mesh - if chicken wire isn't good by itself, how about making the sides a double layer of the coated wire and the chicken wire (chicken wire on inside) so racoons (not that I've seen any here, but we must have them, something got our corn when we planted some a few years ago) can't reach through the mesh or chew through the wire? Even at $2/ft combined I think it's cheaper than hardware cloth.

I bought 50 feet of 2"x4" fencing for 60 bucks thinking I could not afford the 1/2" hardware cloth. Then I found 50 feet 4 ft high of 1/2" hardware cloth on ebay for 59 bucks with free shipping and had it in 3 days.. I took back the 2x4 fencing and went with hardware cloth.
Fred

 

[yyz0yyz0]

My run is made from dog kennel panels and I took extra pieces of the chainlink fencing and used that as my apron on the outside of the coop. I just cut the chainlink into 18" sections and laid them on the ground outside then wired them to the walls and to each other. I made some wire stakes that I used to hold the fencing down till the grass grew up through it.

Even with chainlink fencing you can hardly tell it's even there. I have had some diggers try and give up trying to get through it.

The best part is with a secure run I can leave the pop door open 24/7, so much easier than having to open and close a door everyday. Through in automatic feed and water and I can leave for days at the drop of a hat, just need to mention to the neighbor to come and get eggs while we are gone.

 

[BriarwoodsFarm]

Can't the racoons reach through the chain link (not to mention smaller predators being able to slip right through)?