Has anyone lost any chickens using wire skirting/aprons around run?

[Mutleycrew35]

Ok, so yesterday our pig tipped the small coop/run our 6 weeks old chicks were in (they go out for a few hours a day) and one got out through the bottom and was eaten by something (guessing a hawk). Being very upset by this I installed chicken wire to the bottom of the run portion of the coop to prevent it from happening again. Now I'm wondering if that was the best idea? Should I cover the bottom with something? Plywood then straw and pine shavings? Sand? I really dont want to lose another chick. Obviously, I'm keeping the pig out of the area too.
Thanks.

 

[jeria]

Mutley, can't answer your question, I don't know about chicken wire for that use.

What do you all think about this plan. If I rotary till the perimeter of the run and coop, use 12x12 patio tiles as a foundation. Under those use landscape pins to secure 24" hardware cloth lying on the ground with the tiles going over about 6" of interior edge of the cloth. Then cover with dirt , grass seed and straw so the grass grows over it and the pups won't dig up the fresh dirt. Or should I order 36" hardware cloth? Buying the tiles today as they are seasonal items here.

 

[wynn4578]

Is it possible that the pig ate the chicken. We had a pig when I was a kid that would attack and eat any chicken that got near it.

Jeria that should be more than enough to secure the perimeter

 

[jeria]

Is it possible that the pig ate the chicken. We had a pig when I was a kid that would attack and eat any chicken that got near it.

Jeria that should be more than enough to secure the perimeter

Thanks I need to get some ordered probably tomorrow.

 

[jeria]

My 2 foot hardware cloth came today. Talked to my next door neighbor who recently acquired 3 teen chicks. She put them in her old dog run with no additional work, even their "coop" was a plastic dog shelter. She did no prep for them. All 3 were killed the same night by raccoons who dug under the fencing. SAD. I will probably add a layer of the welded 3 ft rabbit fencing I already have along with the hardware cloth as an extra layer of protection. It is easily bent as not heavy gauge but it can't hurt.

 

[wynn4578]

My 2 foot hardware cloth came today. Talked to my next door neighbor who recently acquired 3 teen chicks. She put them in her old dog run with no additional work, even their "coop" was a plastic dog shelter. She did no prep for them. All 3 were killed the same night by raccoons who dug under the fencing. SAD. I will probably add a layer of the welded 3 ft rabbit fencing I already have along with the hardware cloth as an extra layer of protection. It is easily bent as not heavy gauge but it can't hurt.

That's unfortunate with your neighbors chickens hopefully they'll have another go at it but this time build some security. You have to protect against everything. If it eats meat it likely eats chicken.