Finally fished my new run

[dpenning]

The run looks great, what is the span across where you have the joists holding up the chicken wire. It is hard to tell from the pics if there is a center post for support.

 

[Birdinhand]

looks great! and I don't mean to sound critical, just passing on some hard lessons I've learned. the poultry wire is fine for using between sections within a coop but it has very little ability to keep predators out. the fact that it's called poultry cloth is a travesty and sends so many people in the wrong direction. there are a million ways to make coops and runs so I don't mean to say I have the only right way but this is my two cents. I would highly recommend making an enclosure within the coop out of hardware cloth. perhaps moving the coop away from the corner and lining that corner wall to wall with hardware cloth, top, bottom, all but one side, put the coop back, add the final side and add a door with no more than a 1" gap on any sides, add a top and bottom latch. your run is huge and that is awesome and it's hard to justify using hardware cloth on such a large area but making an inside area that can be closed at night is what I would suggest. I hate to sound pessimistic but the question isn't if but when a predator makes it through. when this happens they won't be able to get into the inner coop. if you at least have it set up so that you can close it when a problem arises you will reduce the stress for you. it's no fun scrambling for several nights in a row trying to keep out a hungry coon feeding her kits as your beloved flock of hens dwindles.

 

[Squeak61]

I 2nd the apron wire and I might also put patio pavers around the outside to also deter digging.
I would also put a 2nd lock on the bottom of the door so nothing can push the bottom section in. A dog will be able to do that

We dug a trench 18" deep and stapled hardware cloth to the bottom of the run walls then backfilled. It was a lot of HARD work but I feel like it will be difficult for something to dig under. This was before I learned about skirting. Also we used chicken wire...before figuring out how fragile it is. So stupid predators will try to dig, smart ones will tear through the wire. Instead of getting more sturdy stuff, I got a LGD. That should do it. Haven't seen that fox or badger since.

Pavers can negate the function of the apron, best to leave them off.

Thanks for all the feedback, it's super helpful I think I'm going to use pavers on both sides of the fence to deter animals.

 

[Squeak61]

The run looks great, what is the span across where you have the joists holding up the chicken wire. It is hard to tell from the pics if there is a center post for support.

Each panel on the roof is 16'x4'. There is a center post for support in the middle.

 

[Squeak61]

looks great! and I don't mean to sound critical, just passing on some hard lessons I've learned. the poultry wire is fine for using between sections within a coop but it has very little ability to keep predators out. the fact that it's called poultry cloth is a travesty and sends so many people in the wrong direction. there are a million ways to make coops and runs so I don't mean to say I have the only right way but this is my two cents. I would highly recommend making an enclosure within the coop out of hardware cloth. perhaps moving the coop away from the corner and lining that corner wall to wall with hardware cloth, top, bottom, all but one side, put the coop back, add the final side and add a door with no more than a 1" gap on any sides, add a top and bottom latch. your run is huge and that is awesome and it's hard to justify using hardware cloth on such a large area but making an inside area that can be closed at night is what I would suggest. I hate to sound pessimistic but the question isn't if but when a predator makes it through. when this happens they won't be able to get into the inner coop. if you at least have it set up so that you can close it when a problem arises you will reduce the stress for you. it's no fun scrambling for several nights in a row trying to keep out a hungry coon feeding her kits as your beloved flock of hens dwindles.

I definitely appreciate the tips! I'm hoping to definitely bulk up security soon. I'm always trying to update as I learn

 

[aart]

I think I'm going to use pavers on both sides of the fence to deter animals.

A 1x2, 2x3, or 2x4 mesh apron would probably be cheaper than pavers, it needs to come out at least a foot.....and more effective, they'll dig under the pavers, but the mesh is kind of invisible once the grass grows up thru it.

Each panel on the roof is 16'x4'. There is a center post for support in the middle.

Might want to put some 4' cross members in under the mesh to support it.

 

[jeria]

Here is a photo of what I am doing, new at this so it has not yet been tested. The wire fencing is some welded wire 3 foot garden rabbit fencing with a layer of 24 inch 1/2 inch hardware cloth underneath overlapping about 8 inches. The frame for the run is now on top of the pavers. The cement blocks are there just to prevent erosion as my coop is on a slight slope.

 

[Squeak61]

A 1x2, 2x3, or 2x4 mesh apron would probably be cheaper than pavers, it needs to come out at least a foot.....and more effective, they'll dig under the pavers, but the mesh is kind of invisible once the grass grows up thru it.



Might want to put some 4' cross members in under the mesh to support it.

View attachment 1112416
Here is a photo of what I am doing, new at this so it has not yet been tested. The wire fencing is some welded wire 3 foot garden rabbit fencing with a layer of 24 inch 1/2 inch hardware cloth underneath overlapping about 8 inches. The frame for the run is now on top of the pavers. The cement blocks are there just to prevent erosion as my coop is on a slight slope.

Very good ideas! I'll keep those in mind as I upgrade the run.

 

[jeria]

Very good ideas! I'll keep those in mind as I upgrade the run.

I'm just piecing together multiple ideas from others on here. Coons are not nice and I have 2 dogs who will dig under fences.

 

[Squeak61]

I'm just piecing together multiple ideas from others on here. Coons are not nice and I have 2 dogs who will dig under fences.

I haven't seen any raccoons yet, thankfully. I'm hoping I never do. My dogs don't seem to care much about the chickens. One of the dogs is scared to death of them