ideas on how to make chicken run safer

[rosemarythyme]

I don't think a scarecrow or pee will do what more robust fencing can do...

 

[Mamatomany123]

I would do what was mentioned here. Change the wire and add height, especially if you cant cover it. I have a hoop run covered in hardware cloth. I also have an apron of hardware cloth around the outside. A cat tried to get my 5 week old chicks the other day. He pounced and bounced off of course the girls started screaming but they were not hurt.

 

[iperk78]

I would do what was mentioned here. Change the wire and add height, especially if you cant cover it. I have a hoop run covered in hardware cloth. I also have an apron of hardware cloth around the outside. A cat tried to get my 5 week old chicks the other day. He pounced and bounced off of course the girls started screaming but they were not hurt.

Can I just put extra cover on the existing wire. They really wrapped abs rolled that v thing around everywhere. Then then make it extra higher. Also we were thinking maybe put a cover on half of the run. There are few large trees in the run. So if we take them down. The fance or chop will be taking some damage .I do wanna set if the trees can be trimmed down maybe. And then put the apron down in to my best ability.
Any ideas on what I can do about the mice?
I will post pics tomorrow on the inside of the coop. Our budget is pretty limited. Since I was put on leave at work do to the Corona virus. Like many others. Until further notice

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mice are tough because they can potentially squeeze into holes/gaps only 1/4" in size. Though in most cases, 1/2" wire is enough to stop most rodents, including larger mice.

Trying to keep budget in mind, I'd get 4' wide 1/2" hardware cloth to do the apron (2' for apron) and up the walls 2' on the run. Attach to the existing fence. That will help with rodents digging in and prevent coons from just reaching in and grabbing a bird.

Then above that, chicken wire from 2' to as high as you can go. Attach to existing fence, maybe reinforce with T or U posts. Netting over the top. OR.... Even cheaper would be to once again do the additional U posts, then run tension wire around the top to give you a frame to work with, and net over the top and let enough spill over the sides to at least provide a little more side and top coverage. Sort of like this (I use the coop to hold up netting in middle, possibly you could use a tall post or two to do the same?)

This won't be anything like a "Fort Knox" set up but still provides better coverage than what you have, and utilizes the fence you already have as the framework.

 

[iperk78]

Mice are tough because they can potentially squeeze into holes/gaps only 1/4" in size. Though in most cases, 1/2" wire is enough to stop most rodents, including larger mice.

Trying to keep budget in mind, I'd get 4' wide 1/2" hardware cloth to do the apron (2' for apron) and up the walls 2' on the run. Attach to the existing fence. That will help with rodents digging in and prevent coons from just reaching in and grabbing a bird.

Then above that, chicken wire from 2' to as high as you can go. Attach to existing fence, maybe reinforce with T or U posts. Netting over the top. OR.... Even cheaper would be to once again do the additional U posts, then run tension wire around the top to give you a frame to work with, and net over the top and let enough spill over the sides to at least provide a little more side and top coverage. Sort of like this (I use the coop to hold up netting in middle, possibly you could use a tall post or two to do the same?)

View attachment 2082676

This won't be anything like a "Fort Knox" set up but still provides better coverage than what you have, and utilizes the fence you already have as the framework.

Thank you. I better get v to work as soon as this crazy wind and rain stops. Love the color of your coop by the way