Help and advice appreciated on new coop run (Picture heavy)

[magixorguk]

Hi, Been lurking since last year, thought it was about time I said hello and pleaded for some advice

We finally broke ground with the new chicken coop/run, I would like to move them to their new home middle of August.
Currently our 6 chickens live happily at home in the back garden

http://picasaweb.google.com/magix.org.uk/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGA-Yn4_cfrKg#5495593910756015266

Their new home is with our horses, again soon to be moving in

Please could you help me in suggestions on how to secure the coop area
I've not been able to bury the wire, but I have made the ground as flat as possible and put it as tight as possible to the floor

http://picasaweb.google.com/magix.org.uk/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGA-Yn4_cfrKg#5495593820713801234

http://picasaweb.google.com/magix.org.uk/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGA-Yn4_cfrKg#5495593829403213266

I do have the advantage of having a fence energiser available to help keep the chickens safe,
I was thinking about putting another layer of either tape or wire close to the bottom of the fencing area to help protect from digging critters...

http://picasaweb.google.com/magix.org.uk/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGA-Yn4_cfrKg#5495593908152934690

http://picasaweb.google.com/magix.org.uk/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGA-Yn4_cfrKg#5495593809305239250

My thoughts where to either lay down 6inch posts, like the gate posts on the outer part of the wire, screw the wire to the post but also then run the electric tape/wire, hopefully keeping foxes etc away


If anyone has any suggestion or advice before I begin or suggestions on changing before I continue would be appreciated

(Feeling a little out of my depth and more concerned the chickens are in the open compared to in the back garden)

Dave

 

[elmo]

Welcome to the forum!

Looks like you've got the start to a beautiful run. One thing many people do is fashion a hardware cloth "apron" running outwards from the perimeter of their run, laid flat on the ground, and attached at the bottom to the vertical fence. Anchor the apron to the ground with landscape fabric staples or something similar. When a predator tries to dig into the run, they typically dig at the base of the fence, hit the apron, and give up. They don't think about backing up beyond the apron and digging under.

Will your run be open at the top, or will you cover it with some kind of aviary netting?

 

[magixorguk]

Hi, Not sure yet to cover or not. I was hoping the electric tape on top would offer enough protection, makes it easier to be in with the chickens if needed also

Good idea about lowering and dropping the fence to the floor like a skirt, that would work (didn't think about that idea) I'll do some googling to find some suitable pegs