Fence questions -- height, type, etc

[QuakerMom]

I'm putting in a fenced-in run behind our detached garage, roughly 27' x 12', which will contain the 4'x6' coop in one corner, next to the garage. The back of the garage, around 20' long, will be one wall of the run, plus an additional 7' extending out from the garage for the gate and coop (so we'll be able to see the coop from the kitchen window).

I'm planning on using wire fencing on the 3 sides of the run that need it, so will need around 50' of wire fencing, as the coop will sit on the corner with fence attached to one side and the gate to the other side between coop and garage.
I'm planning on using 1/2" mesh hardware cloth to enclose the bottom of the raised coop on the two outside sides, plus hardware cloth attached to the bottom of the fence and dug in/toed out about 8-12".

Does this make sense, or is it overkill?
The chickens will be locked up in the coop at night. Do I still need the hardware cloth around the bottom 2-3' and dug under the perimeter fencing of the run? I know I'll need it on the sides of the coop, but what about the run, if they will only be out in the day?

As for the wire fencing:
1) i was thinking of getting the pvc-coated wire fence. Any reason not to? It seems a little more attractive than the plain galvanized wire.

2) It seems to come in 2 x 4 or 2 x 3 mesh sizes; is one preferable, provided i'm using the hardware cloth on the lower 2-3'?

Also: What about securing the gate?? If chickens will be locked in the coop at night, is it still important to make sure the gate is absolutely predator-proof??

Thanks for help!!
Our 6 chicks are coming Monday, so it's finally time to get serious about this.

 

[QuakerMom]

Oh, and, more fence-building questions (can you tell i'm new at this??):

I was thinking of a 5'-high fence -- but wonder if 4' would do?
How many fence posts will I need for roughly 50' of fence? i.e., how close to fence posts need to be?

How do you attach the wire fence to the metals posts? What tools or other hardware will I need?
Are there any good threads or websites (w/photos) on building this type of fence?

THX!

 

[jaj121159]

The coated wire will work fine. The height of the fence is up to you. A few factors to consider. Will the run be covered to prevent aerial predators from getting in the run? Are your chickens good fliers? How tall is the tallest person that will be in the run? What is your budget as 4' is cheapest? I would recommend the 2"x4" fencing since it is cheaper, and prefer the 5' tall.

I would put 2' high hardware cloth around the bottom of the run. I build my runs out of treated wood. I dig a one foot deep trench and put either hardware cloth or chicken on the bottom of the trench. Then I put up wooden fence posts at 8' intervals and three to four feet apart for the door.. Treated landscape timbers work well and are cheaper than regular wooden fence posts. If you have bears, I would use regular fence posts. I either case I bury them two to three feet deep. I then put 2"x8"s or 2"x6"s on top of the wire in the trench and attach to the posts. This way digging predators hit the wire and/or the boards. After that, fill the trench so your boards and still visible. Put up your main fencing on the outside of the posts using large fence staples. If you choose to use steel posts, then you will have to use wire by wrapping wire to the fence on either side of the post between the bumps on the posts. I then put the hardware cloth over the main fencing. You can completely cover the bottom boards or partially. I like to secure both the hardware cloth and the fencing to the bottom board as well as the posts. I like the top of my fencing to be about 4 to 6 inches below the top of the posts. I put the door on top of the bottom board and below the top board and use the same type of fencing and hardware cloth on the door. The door can be made of 1"x4"s or a cattle or hog panel cut to fit.

Once the fencing is installed I put another board either 4 or 6 inches high and 1 or 2 inches wide. across the top of the fencing. Again I like to attach the top of the fencing to the boards using fence staples. If you are going to cover the run. These top boards make it easy to attach 2"x4"s or 2"x2"s to the top to support the run cover. For the cover, I have used chicken wire, roofing, or netting to cover the run.

Here is the best pic of one of my runs.



Here is a picture of a different run that shows how the bottom boards work with the posts, fencing and hardware cloth.

 

[teach1rusl]

If you KNOW that you will be securing your chickens inside each night, then I think you could get by with the smaller (1") mesh chicken wire over the bottom 24" of a 2x4 welded wire run. This will save money. But you still want to prevent chicks from getting out, and if a stray dog somehow makes it into your yard, it's snout/paws won't fit through. My fences are 4 ft. around my property, and when my birds free range, they never go over them (although several of them could if they wanted to - d'uccle, EEs, etc.that have good lift). If you're using the metal posts, zip ties are enough to secure the wire, although they sell metal ties (not sure what they're called) for their use. How far you space your posts is up to you. Probably the furthest I'd space them would be 8 ft. If you're securing your birds each night, design your gate to keep out potential stray dogs. Cats are like monkeys (lol), so unless your run is covered, and I take it that it's not, they can get into whatever you rig up, so watch them closely when they're little chicks...

 

[QuakerMom]

Thanks for this input.
Right now i'm thinking i won't cover the run, but would be nice to have that option later if i decide it's necessary. So, the taller fence might be a better option.

jaj, thanks for those photos. Very helpful to see this, although i think i'll be using metal posts, but if i go to wood that helps a lot to visualize it.

And, good to know about the cats; i rarely see any here, but i will definitely be careful while the chicks are little (they'll be around 7 weeks old by the time the coop is finished).