fencing materials for the chicken run

[Mr. Peepers]

Cost-effectiveness comes into play when you're considering lots of wire. Although it's been noted that poultry mesh won't deter some predators, if you're enclosing a large run, the cost of welded wire can be prohibitive.

If you have a secure coop and if the chickens are in that coop at night, a poultry mesh run will probably be adequate since the predators that might defeat poultry mesh are mostly nocturnal. During the day, dogs might try to dig under, but that's a problem no matter what wire you use.

For a really big run, some form of electric fencing is probably the most economical. You might even consider a small/portable D-cell fence charger for your tractor. Just a few wires around the run or tractor will deter most anything except maybe bears and people. If you've got bears or people going after your chickens, you've got bigger problems than deciding what fence wire to use.

 

[patandchickens]

Personally I think heavy chainlink (often available 2ndhand) or heavy gauge 2x4 welded wire is totally fine for a typical run, as long as you add something smaller mesh (can even be chickenwire if you really want, as it is not so crucial) to the bottom 2-3' of it.

I would not use anything larger than 2x4 mesh however, in most circumstances, as then you're getting to a size where some predators, like small- and medium-gauge raccoons, can get in through the openings. Although frankly, if your run has no top at all, raccoons will go *over* anyhow so I guess 4x4 mesh (in an appropriately heavy gauge) would be ok, not *too* many dogs are going to go through that.

If you have a secure coop and if the chickens are in that coop at night, a poultry mesh run will probably be adequate since the predators that might defeat poultry mesh are mostly nocturnal.

I would disagree with this (for most circumstances), as DOGS can most certainly rip apart chickenwire, and are one of the most problematic daytime predators.

JMHO,

Pat​

 

[MIKE555444]

Chainlink burried with electric fence has worked great for me