Dools02
Hatching
Hi there!
I’m building up an enclosed run and coop and have read up on a wealth of information on the boards but am still unsure about one thing.
The walk-in run will be completely enclosed, build out of timber posts set in the ground and joined by 2x4s. My original idea was to use 1/2 inch hardware cloth on all 5 sides of the rectangular prism that is the run. From reading up though, I want to use 1/4 inch cloth to help keep out rats and mice. The issue is that this seems to limit my wire gauge to 19 which will be too thin for predators - mainly foxes in my area. A few people have recommended using both cloth sizes, but this seems like overkill.
So my question, would I be better off using 1/2” 16 gauge for the entire run and then running a single length of 1/4” 19 gauge cloth at the base (on top of the 1/2”) or the reverse where I use 1/4” for maximum vermin protection and then a single length of 1/2” and bank on the fact that the foxes are unlikely to climb up 3 feet before chewing their way in?
I will also be putting timber boards on the base of the walls and fitting a skirt between these boards and digging it in to prevent burrowing.
Thanks in advance for the help!
I’m building up an enclosed run and coop and have read up on a wealth of information on the boards but am still unsure about one thing.
The walk-in run will be completely enclosed, build out of timber posts set in the ground and joined by 2x4s. My original idea was to use 1/2 inch hardware cloth on all 5 sides of the rectangular prism that is the run. From reading up though, I want to use 1/4 inch cloth to help keep out rats and mice. The issue is that this seems to limit my wire gauge to 19 which will be too thin for predators - mainly foxes in my area. A few people have recommended using both cloth sizes, but this seems like overkill.
So my question, would I be better off using 1/2” 16 gauge for the entire run and then running a single length of 1/4” 19 gauge cloth at the base (on top of the 1/2”) or the reverse where I use 1/4” for maximum vermin protection and then a single length of 1/2” and bank on the fact that the foxes are unlikely to climb up 3 feet before chewing their way in?
I will also be putting timber boards on the base of the walls and fitting a skirt between these boards and digging it in to prevent burrowing.
Thanks in advance for the help!