We have a huge yard and want to fence off a very large area for a run off the coop. Need diy ideas for economical ways and best type of fence. We live in a rural area and have all the predators except the big ones. Run will be close to house and visible at all times. Got an estimate from a fence company that was a little too much.
Fence
- Thread starter Ollieq
- Start date
Will this run be used all the time, or only when you are home?
How large is "large"???
How large is "large"???
T-posts and hardwire cloth is the easy and cheap.
I'd suggest 5' above ground height T-posts and about 3' high 14 gauge welded wire, either 1"X3", or 2"X4" ... THEN ... add a strand of electric on the outside starting at 9" off the ground ... then another at 18" ... 27", 36",45", and 59" ...
Depending on where you live, and how you are able to maintain the fence ... you may want to be able to switch off the bottom strand due to snow or weeds shorting it out ...
If you have rats and weasels where you live (where do you live?) You may want to add 1/4" - 1/2" hardware cloth to the bottom 12" to force those little critters up to the bottom wire, and have a discussion with MR. SPARKY!
Depending on where you live, and how you are able to maintain the fence ... you may want to be able to switch off the bottom strand due to snow or weeds shorting it out ...
If you have rats and weasels where you live (where do you live?) You may want to add 1/4" - 1/2" hardware cloth to the bottom 12" to force those little critters up to the bottom wire, and have a discussion with MR. SPARKY!
T-posts and chicken wire is what I have for the run. Hardware cloth is more expensive but better. My problem is I couldn't find it in the size I needed. 6ft tall. 3ft was the tallest I could find in hardware cloth. And even then it was 10ft of it. My large run is roughly 14x60 so to do a large run in all hardware cloth you are talking $$$$. Compared to chicken wire which is $.
The photo below is from my back porch. So it's not that far from the house. We have bobcat, coyotes, raccoon, possum, dogs, cats,....plenty of predators. In 2 years the only issue is the neighbors dog. I have a dog of my own so maybe that somehow keeps the preds at bay, but I don't know.
For a large run you can't beat T-posts and chicken wire for being inexpensive. But it's not really predator proof. Just depends where you are and how large of run you want. And how protected you want to be.
The photo below is from my back porch. So it's not that far from the house. We have bobcat, coyotes, raccoon, possum, dogs, cats,....plenty of predators. In 2 years the only issue is the neighbors dog. I have a dog of my own so maybe that somehow keeps the preds at bay, but I don't know.
For a large run you can't beat T-posts and chicken wire for being inexpensive. But it's not really predator proof. Just depends where you are and how large of run you want. And how protected you want to be.
- Thread starter
- #6
Thanks. The run area is about 30x75. The existing coop/run is 10x24 and will be inside the fenced area. Chickens will have free access to come and go
during the day but in the closed coop at night.
T-posts and cattle panels
Rietta
Songster
Right now I have t posts and 5ft field fencing with 2x4 openings I believe. A chain link gate. Coyotes run the creek behind my house, and we have every other predator. I included a good amount of tree cover within the run. So far we have been lucky, this fencing has been fine so far, eventually will upgrade with electric fence, but have been reluctant and I have a naughty barred rock and Sicilian buttercup who fly out and free range. I also have a separate area for younger chickens with 1/2 hardware cloth 3 feet up the side and rope running crisscross on the top to keep the chicken nuggets a little more safe. They are snack size! 
That's large.
I agree with others. T posts and welded wire fence. HC on the bottom 2' and possibly a apron would be a good idea, but would definitely add to the cost. The more predator proof the more $$
While chicken/poultry hex wire could possibly work ... it has many disadvantages compared to welded wire ... listed below.
Poultry/chicken wire is usually 20 gauge or smaller/thinner (size of wire gauges are the smaller number, the thicker the wire)
20 gauge wire is 0.0320" in diameter.
14 gauge wire is 0.0641" in diameter.
14 gauge wire is slightly more than twice as thick, and probably 3-4 times as strong as the thinner 20 gauge.
-------------------------------
One ... disadvantage is it is harder to see ... so, a dog can just run right through it, just like a screen door!
Two ... as it is thinner/weaker it is easier to rip/tear/chew through ... doesn't take long!
Three ... a little time ... and, rust ... and it will need to be replaced.
Four ... Welded wire is actually welded at each junction, and poultry wire is twisted ... so the junctions are weaker too.
--------------------
In my post #4 above I suggested welded wire, as not only is it stronger, but a good visual barrier, while some dogs, and most coyotes and foxes can leap over a 5' fence ... they will usually try to take the easy route ... and more sneaky, stay out of sight route, and check out the fence for weak spots, or a place to go under ... they use their nose alot ... Mr Sparky likes to say howdy to wet noses!
Your proposed run size is really only 210 linear feet ... while bigger than a lot of the small runs we see here ... Large to "me" is over 150' square (half acre) ... I'm glad you specified actual numbers ... but, where do you live?
With adding the hardware cloth to the bottom, you also stop, (or divert) snakes and possibly mink too depending on which size of mesh you use for the physical visual fence.
If you choose to skip the electric fence ... then I'd recommend the "skirt" fencing mentioned above ... but, lots of critter will just climb over a 5' fence ... with electric, once a critter meets Mr. Sparky ... they stay away from the fence ... no trying to dig, or jump/climb ... OUCH!
Buy once cry once ...
If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right the first time.
A good fence takes just as much work to install as a poor fence ...
A good fence is a one time expense, not like that bag of chicken feed.
Poultry/chicken wire is usually 20 gauge or smaller/thinner (size of wire gauges are the smaller number, the thicker the wire)
20 gauge wire is 0.0320" in diameter.
14 gauge wire is 0.0641" in diameter.
14 gauge wire is slightly more than twice as thick, and probably 3-4 times as strong as the thinner 20 gauge.
-------------------------------
One ... disadvantage is it is harder to see ... so, a dog can just run right through it, just like a screen door!
Two ... as it is thinner/weaker it is easier to rip/tear/chew through ... doesn't take long!
Three ... a little time ... and, rust ... and it will need to be replaced.
Four ... Welded wire is actually welded at each junction, and poultry wire is twisted ... so the junctions are weaker too.
--------------------
In my post #4 above I suggested welded wire, as not only is it stronger, but a good visual barrier, while some dogs, and most coyotes and foxes can leap over a 5' fence ... they will usually try to take the easy route ... and more sneaky, stay out of sight route, and check out the fence for weak spots, or a place to go under ... they use their nose alot ... Mr Sparky likes to say howdy to wet noses!
Your proposed run size is really only 210 linear feet ... while bigger than a lot of the small runs we see here ... Large to "me" is over 150' square (half acre) ... I'm glad you specified actual numbers ... but, where do you live?
With adding the hardware cloth to the bottom, you also stop, (or divert) snakes and possibly mink too depending on which size of mesh you use for the physical visual fence.
If you choose to skip the electric fence ... then I'd recommend the "skirt" fencing mentioned above ... but, lots of critter will just climb over a 5' fence ... with electric, once a critter meets Mr. Sparky ... they stay away from the fence ... no trying to dig, or jump/climb ... OUCH!
Buy once cry once ...
If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right the first time.
A good fence takes just as much work to install as a poor fence ...
A good fence is a one time expense, not like that bag of chicken feed.
Last edited:
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