How much hardware cloth?

[imnukensc]

Works just fine. Not gonna stop a bear, but I don't have any of those around here to worry about.

 

[llombardo]

I went with hardware clith from top to bottom and then 2 ft out on the groubd with a heavy duty net on the top.

I have a 6 ft frnce and found that raccoons/opposdums were attempting to get in. I left some exposed wire by the gate and there was blood everywhere.

I added an electric fence all the way around too. Plus I have several dogs that have access to perometer of run but not to the chickens.

 

[blackdog043]

I used about 150 ft of 4 ft 1/2 x 1/2 hardware cloth on my coop and run including the apron around everything. My run is also covered with tuftex panels. The coop and run are open 24/7, I sleep well at night and go on vacation without worrying if my chickens are safe. I have enough food and water to last them more than a week, so I don't need anybody to look after them. I also have 2 game cameras so I know whats lurking around. Hardware cloth is pricey, but worth every penny to me.

All that being said, it depends on how you want to manage your chickens. Will you be there after day break to let them out of the coop and will you be home every night before dark to lock them in the coop or will you be getting an automatic pop door? Do you want to keep wild birds, rodents and other predators out of your run? Do you have someone that will be able to come over and let your chickens out of the coop and lock them up, if you go away and can you trust them? Yes there have been posts on here where people thought their chickens were being cared for, being feed, check water, but weren't.

If you decide to go with hardware cloth, check Amazon and walmart.com, they have better prices and bigger rolls than big box stores. I bought mine from both places, the price does fluctuate.

 

[CindyinSD]

Pretty place! Not nearly as, er, WHITE as it is here. You have this legendary, mystical thing they call “spring” there, it appears...

With regard to fencing the top of the yard, my chicken paddocks are pretty big. I strung/wove white nylon string back and forth over the whole area. Back in days of yore when the ground was green three months of the year, this created a significant visual deterrent to raptors. Many have flown over; none have dared to land.

Actually it’s visible in most conditions, even snow. The string works great so long as”Better Coops and Chickens” isn’t scheduled to drop by for a photo shoot. It’s good for larger yards where covering all with hardware cloth isn’t practical. Also, it doesn’t hold snow... not much, anyway.

 

[Hen-a-gadda-da-vida]

Is it working out for you?

I’m building the run next week. Hopefully I’ll remember to post some pictures!

 

[aart]

plus 2’ buried

Don't bury 2'.....apron instead.
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Don't bury 2'.....apron instead.
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

Aprons are nice... I was excited the OP was actually going to bury it 2 feet down... as rats or other things using tunnels to come in would be great to avoid, I thought.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

. I strung/wove white nylon string back and forth over the whole area. Back in days of yore when the ground was green three months of the year, this created a significant visual deterrent to raptors. Many have flown over; none have dared to land.

After losing 2 or 3 chicks from their broody mum to a hawk in as many days... I strung up fishing line in that pen and lost no more. The smaller feed thieves still help themselves.

I'm not claiming it to actually be effective, as I can't prove it wasn't coincidence... But, I sure haven't taken it down.

I drilled a hole on the end of a PVC pipe and tied it to a pound in t-post in the center of that run. The fishing line is tied to the PVC like a circus tent and has many strands that flow out and tie onto the fence.

 

[aart]

Aprons are nice... I was excited the OP was actually going to bury it 2 feet down... as rats or other things using tunnels to come in would be great to avoid, I thought.

Yep....If rats are prevalent, burying would probably be better.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Yep....If rats are prevalent, burying would probably be better.

I was thinking maybe both... here.