Is this setup ok?

[StorminStang06]

I just got six 1 day old silkie chicks from My Pet Chicken this week and am working on the coop and run. I enclosed a 50ft x 30ft area for the run using 4ft 2x4in mesh fence. We got it as close to the ground as possible but didn't put any underground. My neighbor and I have a few outdoor cats as well as several strays. I've also seen mice, skunks, and deer. We probably also have possums, coons, hawks and fox. I am wanting to know if this setup is decent enough to protect them when they are adults or if I need to modify it. For now the coop will be made out of an old dog house. Any suggestions would be helpful. These are the only chickens I have and they are the first chickens I've ever had. Thanks!

 

[FirewifeJess]

Tell me about the fencing. Is it the welded wire fencing or is it just mesh like chicken wire? Generally, chicken wire strength fencing is a no-no. It's good at keeping chickens penned up, but not at keeping predators out. If it's welded wire that's great! You have the potential for rodents but larger chicken predators can't get in. They can, however, reach inside and grab a bird that is standing or sleeping too close to the edge. I've heard of that happening with aggressive predators or dumb birds.

If you want to remedy that, you could always add a layer of hardware cloth (1/2" squares) along the bottom 2-3' of the run. To prevent diggers from digging their way in, you can create a hardware cloth "apron" instead of digging down underground. Basically what that means is that for about 12-18" laying flat on the ground and coming away from the run fencing you have hardware cloth, and it bends and goes up the fence as well. Predators might try to dig but they are too dumb to back away from the fence far enough to dig under the apron. Hope to help! Enjoy your new chicks!

PS- don't put your chicks out there until you're sure they are too big to pass through the 2x4" wire you currently have. At this age they can walk right through, but I'm sure you know that

 

[StorminStang06]

My fence is not chicken wire strength, but I'm not sure if it is welded or not. It seems pretty hard and sturdy to me. I knew to get something stronger than chicken wire. I'm concerned about something being able to jump the fence or an air strike. Is 4ft tall enough? I can get an 'apron' wire. How far up should it go on the existing fence? And yes, I know not to put the chickies out when they're this little! Maybe I'm just a bit paranoid about predators; I just don't want anything to happen to the animals I take care of. Thank you for your help!

 

[FirewifeJess]

My fence is not chicken wire strength, but I'm not sure if it is welded or not. It seems pretty hard and sturdy to me. I knew to get something stronger than chicken wire. I'm concerned about something being able to jump the fence or an air strike. Is 4ft tall enough? I can get an 'apron' wire. How far up should it go on the existing fence? And yes, I know not to put the chickies out when they're this little! Maybe I'm just a bit paranoid about predators; I just don't want anything to happen to the animals I take care of. Thank you for your help!

How about getting aviary netting for the top to deter hawks and such? Then the chickens get sunlight and cannot fly over (4' isn't high enough to contain chickens), and predators would have to work pretty hard to get in as well. As for an apron, it should be at least a foot out from the bottom of the run, and at least 2' high up the sides. More is always better. I recommend a 4' tall roll of hardware cloth and doing 18" on the ground and 2.5' up the fence.

What's nice about the apron is less work. No digging to install it, and after a season or two the grass will grow up through it and it will be invisible. Mine's only been installed for 3 months and it's completely gone in the grass!

 

[StorminStang06]

I think the run is too big to put netting over it, and there are plants that are taller than 4ft in the run as well. I guess the plants will have to protect them and I have to clip their wings to keep them in the run. I also rent, so I need to make sure I can easily take the fence with me when I move. Could I put the apron on the inside of the run so it doesn't accidently get mowed?

 

[kellanv]

Is the coop secure? That would be my major concern. Most of those predators will be able to climb over the fence so without a top cover, the coop needs to be very secure!

 

[StorminStang06]

I am still working on the coop. For now it will be made out of an old dog house, unless I can find something thats better and not very costly. I am open to suggestions on this too.

 

[Momma 2 silkies]

You don't have to clip silkies wings, the are very poor fliers. The feathers they have won't support their weight to fly.

 

[StorminStang06]

Thanks for your response! I knew silkies didn't fly well, but I've read that chickens ability to fly can sometimes be surprising. I didn't know if a silkie can go over a 4ft fence or not. I have read differing suggestions about wing clipping, but not much concerning silkies. I think I will only clip wings if that bird won't stay in the pen if for some reason they surprise me and are able to fly out.