Making chicken wire run work?

[Kyguylal]

Hi,

We're currently using a fully enclosed hardware cloth run I built. We're looking however to replace it with something larger.

I can get one of those huge prefab runs which is a dog run with chicken wire.

I know chicken wire isn't ideal, but I'm interested in it for the simplicity.

What do you think of the chicken wire run on a concrete pad with 4' of hardware cloth along the bottom section, plus an electric polywire fence around the perimeter? The run would be covered with metal or vinyl roofing too.

Our coop is bomb proof with an auto door and 1.5" wood walls reinforced with steel sheeting and hardware cloth and welded wire ventilation lol.

Nothing has gotten through our electric fence so far, so I'm wondering your thoughts on the run idea.

I'll add that our predators are foxes.

 

[black_cat]

I"d be really shocked if a run meant for dogs was made out of chicken wire, as they could get through it in about 2 seconds. Do you mean chain link?

 

[bobbi-j]

I have 2x4" welded wire on my run, with hardware cloth around the bottom 2'. I also have a strand of electric wire around the bottom of the run wall about 2' up. So far so good. I think your electric wire would keep a predator from climbing up to the chicken wire and chewing or tearing through.

 

[Kyguylal]

I"d be really shocked if a run meant for dogs was made out of chicken wire, as they could get through it in about 2 seconds. Do you mean chain link?

I wasn't too clear with that. It's made for chickens by a local guy. Just the same idea as a dog run but with chicken wire.

I happen to have a couple 100' x 4' rolls of hardware cloth and welded wire on hand, so I was looking to use it to reinforce the chicken wire.

 

[Kyguylal]

I have 2x4" welded wire on my run, with hardware cloth around the bottom 2'. I also have a strand of electric wire around the bottom of the run wall about 2' up. So far so good. I think your electric wire would keep a predator from climbing up to the chicken wire and chewing or tearing through.

Thank you. So far we've zapped foxes, a dog, a cat, and my neighbor's kids and its worked on all of them. I ran a triple line of poly wire on a strong charger. Thing has been great so far.

 

[black_cat]

I wasn't too clear with that. It's made for chickens by a local guy. Just the same idea as a dog run but with chicken wire.

I happen to have a couple 100' x 4' rolls of hardware cloth and welded wire on hand, so I was looking to use it to reinforce the chicken wire.

Because you have that much hardware cloth on hand, do you think that you could offer to provide the amount needed to the guy for him to use instead of chicken wire? Seems like a lot less hassle.

 

[Kyguylal]

Because you have that much hardware cloth on hand, do you think that you could offer to provide the amount needed to the guy for him to use instead of chicken wire? Seems like a lot less hassle.

That's what I was thinking too, but he has them all pre-made. It's cheaper for me to buy from him than it would be for me to build my own again. Hardware cloth and welded wire aren't too hard to work with, so I might just buy the run and tack on the reinforcement. I think I'm just being lazy about it.

 

[black_cat]

That's what I was thinking too, but he has them all pre-made. It's cheaper for me to buy from him than it would be for me to build my own again. Hardware cloth and welded wire aren't too hard to work with, so I might just buy the run and tack on the reinforcement. I think I'm just being lazy about it.

Oh, ok. In that case, you can definitely just cover the chicken wire with HC.

 

[aart]

That's what I was thinking too, but he has them all pre-made. It's cheaper for me to buy from him than it would be for me to build my own again.

How big is this run, in feet by feet?
Pics would be great.
Wood or metal framing?
Can he make you one without the wire?

 

[cmom]

I have chicken wire around my pens. With the electric wires nothing has penetrated either. I also have several cameras up around on my property. I see predators quite regularly on them. I love my cameras. Hope everything has worked out for you.