Expanding run - use chicken wire?

[Smorz]

We have a run that is 8x20 and completely covered in hardware cloth. Several days a week we contain our chicks during most of the day. We need to expand to give them more room. If the expanded area is an area that can be closed off at night from the other run and the coop, is it necessary to use hardware cloth? I was thinking, to save money, of making it only 4-feet high with a door. I'm wondering how difficult that will make it if (when) I need to clean it out. I see lots of runs 3- or 4-feet high but ours have always been 6 feet high. Any thoughts?

 

[Folly's place]

You will hate it! Mine is eight feet tall, and wouldn't consider anything too low to walk in. Also, if you are going to use something other than hardware cloth, consider 2"x4" horse fencing, with hardware cloth along the bottom two or three feet. Much more secure! Any dog can get through chicken wire. My daytime run is chicken wire, with 2"x4" welded wire along the lower two feet, and on a concrete foundation, and covered in chicken wire for hawk protection. It's not as secure as I would like, but has worked for daytime protection. My plan is to totally rebuild it this year! Electrified poultry fencing is wonderful if you have the space for it. See premier1supplies.com. Their poultry supplies catalog is the best! Mary

 

[Smorz]

Thank you for the reply, Mary. You stated that you wish it were more secure. Is that because you didn't use entirely hardware cloth? I'll check out that site. Thanks again!