Hardware cloth question--advice needed....

[TracyLK]

We are building a run for our 9 chicks. The run will be 8 feet wide and 24 feet long. We plan on using hardware cloth for the bottom 3 feet (1/2 inch) and welded wire for the top portion. My questions are does this seem secure enough to keep out predators ( they will be sleeping in a coop at night) and what size welded wire? Any suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Will your run be covered as well? What kind of area do you live in and what critters are around in the daytime? Your plan is very similar to what I have and I've never had anything get in. Actually my run is chain link dog run, hardware cloth around the bottom and shade cloth over the top. In my area, and with the level of activity around here in the daytime, I don't have daytime pred's to worry about and my chickens are locked in the coop at night.

 

[bryan99705]

Your plan sounds great, any wire 2x4 or smaller will be good for the upper sides and top. Don't forget to skirt it too for the fox and dogs. Just attach one edge to the run and let it lay out about 18" and you should be pretty safe

 

[ThinkingChickens]

I am going with the exact same materials you are talking about. 2"x4" welded wire seems to be the norm, but there is also this triangle pattern one that they sell at Tractor Supply (thanks to those that responded to my thread) that looks neat and is close in price if you want a smaller opening.

 

[MakNugget]

I have hardware cloth on the bottom and 2x4 black vinyl coated welded wire the rest of the way up. The vinyl coat wasn't any more expensive than the regular so I figure it would help make it less apparent. They're in a fully secured coop inside the run at night.

The only issues I've had is that birds and squirrels visit, especially if you have a habit of putting out too much scratch or BOSS. Keep that in check and they pretty much stay away.

 

[TracyLK]

Thank you all for the advice and feedback. We are putting a roof on it --corrugated roof?!? We were wondering if we needed to skirt it out or bury it. We were hoping to just run rebar down even foot or so. We do live in an area where there is the possibility of coyote, racoon, fox, opposum, etc. We were hoping the run would be secure enough for them during the day and they would be in the coop at night. Do you think that is okay or we should bury or skirt it? If so would burying it 6 inches be enough and how far out do we skirt it?

 

[dawj]

I found that hardware cloth wasn't much more expensive when you buy it in a 100' roll. 100' x 36" 1/2 x 1/2 squares was $100.00 at my local mom and pop lumber yard/hardware store. Was more than enough to do my 10x10 run(4 and 6' walls, free metal roof. More secure and hopefull birds and small critters and pest will stay out. I also figured in the winter the cloth will support plastic better to protect them from the cold. Central NH here. It seems like the more i read on here the more people wish they used all cloth or add cloth the whole way up. A lady here in town said weasels can climb and sneak in 2x4 holes and hide in run til breakfast comes out in the am. I dunno if thats true but I don't want to find out either.