HELP!! Wire for run!

[Chicken0Boy]

Ok I am confused on wiring the run! We live by a forest and a field. We have seen coyotes, rats, hawks, deer, and turkey. We have never saw a snake around. What type of wire should I use to wire my run? Could I use Chicken wire and line the bottom with hardwire cloth? Any ideas an suggestions would be awesome! Oh, and the run is gonna be 6ft tall.

 

[patandchickens]

You could, but IMO there is not much point in it. Putting hardwarecloth on the lower portions of a chickenwire fence is like putting an $80 padlock on a loop of baling twine

Use something STRONG for your main fence, even if it has larger holes. Heavy gauge 2x4 welded wire mesh is useful (you don't want anything with holes any bigger than that, though). Then add something smaller-holed on the bottom 2-3'... hardwarecloth is best for that, but it is not *particularly* dangerous to scrimp and use 1/2" chickenwire or even 1/2" plastic garden netting for that purpose, as all you're trying to do is thwart reach-through.

If your fence is going to be 6' tall, you need to have lots of strong fenceposts (no more than 5' apart) sunk AT LEAST 2.5' into the ground, 3'+ is much safer. Otherwise it will tend to blow over, or keel over when some animal leans up against it.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Thanks for the info, but for my situation what is the best type of wire for me? If possible please be exact. No more than 150 dollars for the wire I need (not including fence posts)?

 

[rebecky1305]

If you have a tractor supply co. near you, buy feedlot panels. They are very strong (have to cut with bolt cutters) and easy to set up. Go to TSC.com and search feedlot panels. The hog panels are best as they have smaller spacing, they are 16' long and 3' high. You can place two on top of each other to make 6 feet. Use wire stapes to attach to 2x4's or 4x4's. You will still need to put hardware cloth around the bottom to prevent anything reaching in. These run between $20 and $30 each. so you could do a 8' x 16' run with 6 panels which would be about $120-$180 plus the hardware cloth.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Welded wire fenceing with hardware cloth at the bottom of you will need to bury it at least 2-3 feet deep no digging under that way or chainlink fencing with HC works just as well chicken wire only keeps chickens in it keeps nothing out dogs and bigger predators open it like it is hot butter Racoons and things reach through and grab. to go cheap on top chicken wire will work.

Good luck to you I hope this answered your question.

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Ok, I think I got something! Whart do yall think about 2x4 welded wire mesh for the main fence and Hardware cloth 3' ? Any suggestions on how to make it better?

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Sorry, I thought I *was* specific -- I would suggest using 2x4 welded wire, no less than 4' tall and preferably taller. Buy as much as you can for your $125 and then that's the size run you have -- reduce number of chickens if necessary to fit gracefully. Then spend $25 on a roll of plastic 1/2" garden mesh (it is pretty flimsy) and add that to the bottom 2'.

Or find something secondhand, which would be cheaper but requires work and patience.

To digproof (more or less) on a budget, get a bunch of large (hard to lift) rocks, or (better yet) sharp concrete rubble in largeish pieces, and half-bury that in an 18" wide strip all around the outside of the run. Not much will try to dig through that, if you get it really well set into the ground, and lots of people are happy to have you haul away their concrete rubble for free.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[rebecky1305]

Quote:
That would work just fine. Make sure you either bury the hardware cloth about 12 inches or apron it out around the edges of the run to prevent digging predators.

 

[Chicken0Boy]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/fencing/welded-wire-fencing/welded-wire-72-in-x-100-ft--3626504



What do you guys think about this as my main fence and hardware cloth for the bottom?

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Quote:
Sorry, I thought I *was* specific -- I would suggest using 2x4 welded wire, no less than 4' tall and preferably taller. Buy as much as you can for your $125 and then that's the size run you have -- reduce number of chickens if necessary to fit gracefully. Then spend $25 on a roll of plastic 1/2" garden mesh (it is pretty flimsy) and add that to the bottom 2'.

Or find something secondhand, which would be cheaper but requires work and patience.

To digproof (more or less) on a budget, get a bunch of large (hard to lift) rocks, or (better yet) sharp concrete rubble in largeish pieces, and half-bury that in an 18" wide strip all around the outside of the run. Not much will try to dig through that, if you get it really well set into the ground, and lots of people are happy to have you haul away their concrete rubble for free.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

You were LOL I didnt read slow enough! Sorry I read to quickly!