Fencing for duck run

[RhodysMom]

What does everyone use to fence in their duck runs? I'm on a limited budget with school starting soon so I'm trying to figure out a secure yet cost-effective solution. My girls will be locked up at night but allowed to forage within their run during the daytime. I was thinking of rabbit fencing along the bottom because it's got very small openings on the lower level to keep out pests, but don't know what material to use above 2 ft. My options are chicken wire (small openings but not incredibly sturdy) or welded wire (sturdier but larger openings). Is it true that raccoons can break into chicken wire? Would the sturdier wire mesh fence with larger openings be better or will a raccoon be able to squeeze through? Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[wildpeas]

My duck yard is 4 foot field fence with 3 foot chicken wire over it at the bottom. They are locked in their house at night and in the yard during the day. Unless your run is covered a raccoon will just climb the fence.

 

[RhodysMom]

Also, as far as stopping predators from getting underneath my fence, is it more effective to bury some wire or to make a bit of an apron with it? Which way is the apron supposed to face, inside the run or outside toward the predators?

 

[RhodysMom]

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I plan on covering it completely due to the fact that we live near a major hawk migration site.

 

[ChristineR]

What does everyone use to fence in their duck runs? I'm on a limited budget with school starting soon so I'm trying to figure out a secure yet cost-effective solution. My girls will be locked up at night but allowed to forage within their run during the daytime. I was thinking of rabbit fencing along the bottom because it's got very small openings on the lower level to keep out pests, but don't know what material to use above 2 ft. My options are chicken wire (small openings but not incredibly sturdy) or welded wire (sturdier but larger openings). Is it true that raccoons can break into chicken wire? Would the sturdier wire mesh fence with larger openings be better or will a raccoon be able to squeeze through? Thanks for any suggestions!

Chicken wire is not a good option for fencing. Dogs can also easily tear through it, too.

It works fine to use around the bottom of other fencing, though. If you can only afford one or the other, I would go with the welded wire (2" x 4" openings). Raccoons can easily reach through it, but if you're covering the top of the run and locking them up at night in a more secure pen, that shouldn't be as much of a risk.

 

[RhodysMom]

Great, thanks for the tips! So you think that welded wire with either chicken wire or rabbit fencing along the bottom would be fine? Ideally, how far up should the chicken/rabbit fence go - is 2 feet enough or should I aim for 3? Anyone go through the effort of burying chicken wire/rabbit fence or putting an "apron" around the perimeter for burrowing animals like rats or am I being unnecessarily overprotective?



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I didn't even think about dogs despite the fact that I have 2 as does my neighbor. While my dogs are little angels (insert sarcastic cough here), I don't know how the neighbor's dogs would be around ducks and they do like to come visit us on occasion.

 

[ChristineR]

Great, thanks for the tips! So you think that welded wire with either chicken wire or rabbit fencing along the bottom would be fine? Ideally, how far up should the chicken/rabbit fence go - is 2 feet enough or should I aim for 3? Anyone go through the effort of burying chicken wire/rabbit fence or putting an "apron" around the perimeter for burrowing animals like rats or am I being unnecessarily overprotective?

I didn't even think about dogs despite the fact that I have 2 as does my neighbor. While my dogs are little angels (insert sarcastic cough here), I don't know how the neighbor's dogs would be around ducks and they do like to come visit us on occasion.

I don't know. I think it depends on where you live and how many predators you have in your area.

The only land predator that I have had problems with is my own dog, but he seems to keep the smaller critters away, too. I am very careful and he has never managed to get any of my birds, but not for lack of trying. He occasionally rips through the chicken wire I have around the bottom of the fencing. I use the chicken wire mostly to keep the geese, ducks, and chickens from sticking their heads through the fence and losing it to my dog.

My main concern is the flying predators in our area. I lost one Pekin duck to a bald eagle and then I covered everything.

Sorry, I know that doesn't really answer your questions very well, but it really depends on your situation where you live.

 

[cubbysan]

The first three feet of my pen is welded wire and chicken wire. Then the chicken wire goes up to the roof of the pen. My pen roof wooden lattice. My husband did bury the fencing underground, I don't believe he made an apron.

 

[tiki]

The first three feet of my pen is welded wire and chicken wire. Then the chicken wire goes up to the roof of the pen. My pen roof wooden lattice. My husband did bury the fencing underground, I don't believe he made an apron.

That is about what we have too.

 

[RhodysMom]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I like the idea of using the wooden lattice. I'll have to try to incorporate that into my pen.