Expanding the run - predator "proofing" question

[EsqChick]

Chicken math took over this weekend. I added another 4 chicks to my flock for a total of 8. My current coop is big enough for the 8 (though if I add anymore I will have to rethink the coop size), but my run is not. Total run space is about 45 square feet. My new girls will be joining the existing flock in 5-6 weeks and I need to figure out run expansion soon. My plan is to keep them locked up in coop at night (already do that with my existing flock) and allow them access to run during the day (we work full time so no supervision for the most part).

Primary predators in daylight hours are hawks. I know that within the next year or so I will likely want to revamp everything so I am hoping to construct a run expansion using as little manpower/money/materials as possible, saving for the entire remodel. Question - can I get away with running hardware cloth on the sides of the run up to about 4 feet or so, then chicken wire the rest of the sides and top? I hope that would be enough to stop hawks.

Does anyone have a set up like that?

 

[ldawntaylor]

Here are a couple of pictures from my setup. If a different angle would help let me know.

 

[EsqChick]

Here are a couple of pictures from my setup. If a different angle would help let me know.

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This is exactly what I was thinking! Thank you! Do you have a gate into your set up? That's one thing I am struggling with, is building a gate. I am hoping it's not too hard for this non-handy girl.

 

[ldawntaylor]

I must admit I had help. I just had to hold the gate steady while it was installed. We bought the gate itself as well as the hinges and latch.

The posts are pvc pipes that are steadied with cement.

If you can focus on the gates and not the chickens for a moment....

The fence itself is chain link. Then I have wire on both the inside and the outside because I don't want my birds or wild ones getting caught in the fencing.

Perhaps you can see what I mean here....

Those other layers are poultry wire - a bit stronger than chicken wire. A hawk could break through chicken wire pretty easily.

That wire continues both inside the gate and outside and overlaps on the latch side. I have to pull that back to go in and out. I try not to fold it too hard as I don't want to have to fix it.

Hope this helps.

 

[EsqChick]

This is great! Thanks!!!!

 

[Birdsong 82]

@Idawntaylor run looks very much like mine on the walls and my chickens are safe from predators and we have plenty around here. The only difference is on the top I used the nylon chicken netting. Maybe I only do that because my rooster thinks he’s too much of a man to sleep in the coop and he likes to sleep on top of the coop. So my coupe needs to be night time predator proof also

 

[ldawntaylor]

The only difference is on the top I used the nylon chicken netting.

Nylon chicken netting might have been easier to work with but I went with the poultry wire I had on hand. Those 2 X 4 boards are the support pieces.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Yeah definitely use what you have on hand. I probably would’ve use that if I had it on hand also but I believe I had run out by that point. And sounds the same as mine using two by fours as support pieces. I don’t have a computer so with my tiny phone it looks like there was nothing on top In that picture. But I do like how you set up your run that’s very similar to how Mine is built.