Fox Proofing the Run

[micstrachan]

Greetings! My run has 1/2 inch hardware cloth walls, top and skirt. However, along the middle of the wall, the hardware cloth is overlapped by anywhere from eight inches to over a foot, and clamped together every six to eight inches. Can foxes manage to separate the wire and squeeze through that? We’ve had a pair hanging around lately. I’ll look for a photo to demonstrate what I’m talking about. See the overlap of hardware cloth above the mint bushes? It’s pretty flush along this side, but isn’t as good along other sides of the run. Thanks!

 

[townchicks]

That looks pretty good to me, but I have no idea what foxes are capable of. I'd imagine if it will keep raccoons out, it would keep a fox out. I think they are more inclined to dig under, than pull apart.

 

[LindaNL]

You could always put some wood across there, so you can attach extra screws..
But it looks good to me!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Those J-clips look good to me, I think you are in good shape against foxes. How easily can you force your fist up between those panels? If you are still uncomfortable if you try that, you can put anther J-Clip in the middle on the bottom. I don't think it is necessary but it's your comfort level that's important, not mine. I assume it has a roof? You might Google "fox climbing fence video" to see why I ask.

Of more concern to me would be those fender washers and screws on the post. Test those connections too. You are probably OK but for something like that I like to use furring strips. I rip a 2x4 so I get a piece 1-1/2" x maybe 3/4" thick. Then I drill pilot holes and screw those over the end of the wire to cover sharp ends but making sure the screw goes through a hole in the wire mesh. That covers the sharp ends so I do less damage to skin and clothing. By clamping that down nothing is getting through. This is probably overkill and a good part of personal preference, but you seem like the type of person that doesn't want to take any chances.

You should be able to get something to use as furring strips at a Home Depot or Lowe's or similar if you don't want to make your own. Using fender washers with the screws might be a good idea if the wood is anywhere soft.

 

[Eggs2chicks]

My friend told us foxes are smart and had us bury 2’ of fencing into the ground. Yes 2 feet. So we have a lot of protection. Nothing has even come close to getting into our chicken run. Plus we built a garden around the outside of that and it is also fenced in. Your are looks good. It should be ok. Always test it again.

 

[David61]

Dog eared fence boards a cheap and light. You don't have to attach them to your fence poles. Just as a backer to screw the seam down. You could rip one 5 1/2 fence board in half and screw the wire to 2 3/4 wood so the seam is not exposed to the fox.

 

[K0k0shka]

I rip a 2x4 so I get a piece 1-1/2" x maybe 3/4" thick.

Home Depot sells strips that are just about exactly those dimensions, at 89 cents apiece per 8-foot strip. That's what I use them for, too.

 

[micstrachan]

Great ideas, everyone. Thank you!

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

If you had staggered those clips instead of aligning them vertically the squeeze-through distance would have been reduced by half.

 

[K0k0shka]

Home Depot sells strips that are just about exactly those dimensions, at 89 cents apiece per 8-foot strip. That's what I use them for, too.

One more note on this - it took me a while to locate these at Home Depot because the staff guy didn’t know what furring strips were. Apparently, here they call them strapping boards... and that’s what they’re labelled as at Home Depot.