Is 16 gauge 2x4 welded wire enough?

[Qi Chicken]

we are using this on the top of the run and 4 foot 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the bottom 2 feet with an 18 inch apron. Enough? Also a combo metal roof and welded wire (same stuff) on the top. Thanks.

 

[bobbi-j]

Sounds like what we put on and around ours, except for the metal roof. I just have the 2x4 welded wire on the top of mine.

 

[elmo]

16 gauge is quite strong. But anything that's small enough to fit through a 2" by 4" space could potentially get into your run (snakes? weasels?). Are you going to be counting on the run for night time security or only for daytime?

I'd say it's plenty secure for daytime...not so sure about night time, though.

 

[karl E lutz]

That is what I have and it works. Ihave had coons pull the hens through the 2x4 wire a piece ata a time but never climb it. Why I dont know? It would seem that they could if they wanted to.

 

[patandchickens]

IMO it is pretty good.

As long as all the 2x4 wire that is within a coon's reach of the chickens has hardwarecloth added to it, your only concern is small things slipping through the 2x4 meshes.

And not much will do that during the daytime. Baby raccoons would be the main worry, but they are virtually never out during daylight hours (although their parents sometimes are). Snakes are very seldom a real danger, except to baby chicks; and frankly weasels and rats can get in practically anywhere they want to, they are apt to find a gap SOMEwhere even in smaller mesh runs.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat