Huge Chicken Coop

[IdyllwildAcres]

Glad to be assistance sorry you didn't want it....

Exactly.

Gary

 

[DesertBird]

I'd suggest hardware cloth like everyone else. Your chicken wire may have worked for now and it's true that it is way cheaper (I was even planning on using it for my new run before this thread!), but if/when a predator breaks down your chicken wire and gets in, you'll just be losing your poor chickens, and your chicken wire. In the end, a waste of money on the wire, and (this feels so wrong for me to say! ) on your poor chickens since they could all be wiped out in minutes. They could be fine for 10 more years with chicken wire, but the second a predator really wants one of your chickens and your roo, guinea fowl, or you aren't there to alert you/chase off/kill the predator, you're going to at least lose a couple.

 

[Ausdotte]

I am in Australia so we don't have raccoons and stuff just dogs and foxes, the cheaper thinner grade chicken wire seems okay while it is new but it degrades and is pretty easily damaged. We have just added on to our yard and rewired the old bit using a better grade of wire - it might be called something different to chicken wire, maybe rabbit wire or something here. We used the cheap thin stuff for the top still, but the heavier grade stuff for the sides. It's still a work in progress, we haven't built them a proper shelter yet.

 

[Leighe]

I am in Australia so we don't have raccoons and stuff just dogs and foxes, the cheaper thinner grade chicken wire seems okay while it is new but it degrades and is pretty easily damaged. We have just added on to our yard and rewired the old bit using a better grade of wire - it might be called something different to chicken wire, maybe rabbit wire or something here. We used the cheap thin stuff for the top still, but the heavier grade stuff for the sides. It's still a work in progress, we haven't built them a proper shelter yet. View attachment 1099501

That's a great looking run!

 

[Bahzingah]

A raccoon can destroy chicken wire easily and kill your chickens

 

[Leighe]

Okay ya'll he asked about building a 50x50 run and everybody went off the deep end and started talkin about him using chicken wire. He has done fine with chicken wire (i've been on another post with him where he states [as he did here] that he has never had a problem using chicken wire). He has used it for years and it works for him. So did anybody have any advice for him on actually building a 50x50 enclosure? I am also someone that cannot use chicken wire as a raccoon opened a chain link dog kennel with his bare hands and walked in and opened two rabbit cages and pulled them out and killed them, so I too use hardware cloth. I have a 50x30 enclosure @MrPepers but mine is built into a lean-to on a shed/barn so I wouldn't be help on a freestanding one. I'm excited for your chicks to have more room though!

 

[CapricornFarm]

I do not lock up my chickens at night. They are free to go in and out as they choose. I have a trail cam set up and there are predators every few days that try to get in. Chicken wire is great against predators.

Chicken wire only keeps chickens in, not predators out. I had three stray dogs break in through chicken wire and kill every chicken in there. You are asking for trouble. You have been lucky so far. I pity your chickens. They will eventually get killed. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Mylied]

We have a fairly big run, though I don't know the dimensions off the top of my head. My husband just built it like you would a fence, but taller. Sticking the round wooden posts into the ground. And putting the fencing around it. We covered the top with fencing too.

 

[perchie.girl]

50 x 50 will need considerable structure to support the chicken wire... Just like building a house for stucco.

I wont be building such a structure for mine....

 

[Ausdotte]

Thanks Leighe. Mine is divided into three sections so we can keep three different breeds separated. Those are treated pine poles, they are connected with metal dowel pins and then held together with plain wire.