Ideal run fence

[Ruralhideaway]

By the time I'm done with the double layer of wire that I guess I'll need to feel safe when I'm away for a day, I'm probably going to skip all that extra lumber. I've got a pile of 4x4s to use for posts already.

Not to mention it'll need to be covered. For that I'm considering plain chicken wire plus a hot wire up high to keep coons that could potentially be around during the day out. A wire high up jumped over from the horse fence will be easy and not vulnerable to snow like low ones would be. I think I'll need a ground wire also right?

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I bought two different brands of 1/4" hardware cloth and easily snapped the welds. The 1/2" cloth is stronger. I'm doubling up on it for the chicken coop, and layering it over 2x4" welded six foot fencing for the run, the full three feet from the ground up.

Money is tight, so I didn't add a layer to the top three feet, but I do plan on lining the inside with strong netting, mostly to prevent the chickens from flying up and breaking their necks in the fencing.

We really debated this back and forth, and finally decided the strength of the welded fencing (Red Brand; they're not all equal in strength) and lower cost, with lots leftover for some veggie gardens, was the best investment.

The buried skirt around the entire perimeter is 1/2" hardware cloth and the unused 1/4" layered together, and I used a roll of wire to seam about 8 to 10" of hardware cloth straight down from the bottom of the six foot welded fencing. We wanted all six feet above the ground. It took a lot of time, but I very carefully seamed it together. I doubt anything but a bear is capable of pulling it apart.

For fence posts we used 4x4s and painted them, and secured them with tightly packed rock, not cement. So, the corners are 4x4 posts, and on longer stretches we sunk one the middle along the sides, and then we pounded in some T stakes. I bent a T stake in half once and broke it; they're not all that strong. But they're affordable options for reinforcing longer stretches of fencing. Just be sure to run your fencing on the outside of your posts and stakes. Sometimes I see photos of people attaching the fencing to the inside of their posts and supports. Not recommended.

It took forever making these decisions, and months and months later we're still finalizing the details. It's a lot to think about for sure!

 

[Welshies]

I always use chicken wire for the top. I don't use ant electricity. Tried electric fence it was no help. Just a waste of time for me!

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Logic says racoons are the most likely to climb up there, but they aren't as likely during the day. Still, if it happened the electric would stop them. Plus up high is way less of an inconvenience to me. Things don't work if they are annoying to use. Plus I have all the materials and the charger is already right there. Easy enough to have just as a backup.

@CarolinaSunshineFlock Wow nothing's getting in there! You put some real thought into your setup.

I want the peace of mind. I've been digging trenches, tearing my whole brooder floor up, basically redoing my coop after that rat got in. I learned that I should have built a totally rodent proof floor. If a rat can get in so could a weasel. I think I've fixed their access, plus killed mama rat. But who knows, I could be pouring concrete in there next month. I don't want to make any more mistakes with this run addition. I'm looking forward to spring eggs, maybe chicks, little building projects that are fun. Not crawling around installing wire underground! So I'll add the second fencing in addition to the hardware cloth.

 

[blackdog043]

Not to mention it'll need to be covered. For that I'm considering plain chicken wire

I don't know how much snow you get, I think a bit in upstate NY. Make sure you support the chicken wire, if/when snow builds up on it, so it doesn't fall down.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I don't know how much snow you get, I think a bit in upstate NY. Make sure you support the chicken wire, if/when snow builds up on it, so it doesn't fall down.

Dang, I'll have to remember that when I relocate to Idaho in the next few years. I think a significant portion of the run will have to be fully covered with a sloped or pitched roof. The photos I'm seeing of the snow right now is intense. Hardware cloth would be wrecked.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Oh we get plenty here! Ideally I'll figure out roofing for part of the run by next winter. If I do I'll likely pull the covering off the open sections and close them off for the winter. Considered some kind of modified cattle panel roofed run but it'll be up against the barn wall so kind of complicated.

 

[Welshies]

Ahhh I wish I had about $300 cash to buy some supplies. All this building talk is really making me want to replace my old, crappy coop that I never use anymore.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Ahhh I wish I had about $300 cash to buy some supplies. All this building talk is really making me want to replace my old, crappy coop that I never use anymore.

Maybe you can take it apart and repurpose it

 

[Welshies]

Maybe you can take it apart and repurpose it

No, it's too old. It won't work for my current "dream"... i want to build I nice coop and run area specifically for my quail. Something like this, albeit much smaller: