Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[trailrider330]

My building skills are not good. I'm not sure how to go about it. But I'll make it a priority

If your building skills are not great, you may want to think about using dog kennel panels as the base of your run. You would still need to add a hardware cloth apron and run it up the sides a couple feet. You would also want to cover the top with something that hawks, coon and other critters can not get through. That can get expensive depending on how big you want to go, but you can also check Craigslist. I've been watching CL in my area for dog kennel panels as well, but have not found much.

Or, you could hire someone to put the fence in for you, but then you are looking at even more money.

 

[Candy442]

If your building skills are not great, you may want to think about using dog kennel panels as the base of your run. You would still need to add a hardware cloth apron and run it up the sides a couple feet. You would also want to cover the top with something that hawks, coon and other critters can not get through. That can get expensive depending on how big you want to go, but you can also check Craigslist. I've been watching CL in my area for dog kennel panels as well, but have not found much.

Or, you could hire someone to put the fence in for you, but then you are looking at even more money.

Probably because we are buying them all

! We got a nice score of 6 x 12 foot kennel panels down near Kalamazoo. Love dog kennel panel. We don't add hardware cloth as they are out during the daytime and are monitored frequently, but locked up at night in secure coops.

 

[uchytil]

Probably because we are buying them all

! We got a nice score of 6 x 12 foot kennel panels down near Kalamazoo. Love dog kennel panel. We don't add hardware cloth as they are out during the daytime and are monitored frequently, but locked up at night in secure coops.

we do the same thing. coons and coyotes are not going through the dog fence panels. Don't need hardware cloth. You can even put the same panels on top as a roof with the same clamps. Animals can dig under but you can bury something if you're worried. Like Candy ours go in and roost and we shut the door so they are snug as a bug in a rug. Never lost a bird yet.

 

[aart]

Quote: What about the gaps created where the rounded corners meet?

 

[trailrider330]

we do the same thing. coons and coyotes are not going through the dog fence panels. Don't need hardware cloth. You can even put the same panels on top as a roof with the same clamps. Animals can dig under but you can bury something if you're worried. Like Candy ours go in and roost and we shut the door so they are snug as a bug in a rug. Never lost a bird yet.

Maybe coons and coyote will not get through dog kennel panels, but I have to say that I have seen a dog (mine) chew right through dog kennel panels on a couple occasions. (What can I say, she didn't like being in there and wanted out... really bad!) So, just keep that in mind if you do not put hardware cloth along the bottom. A large dog can get through if they are determined.

 

[uchytil]

Maybe coons and coyote will not get through dog kennel panels, but I have to say that I have seen a dog (mine) chew right through dog kennel panels on a couple occasions. (What can I say, she didn't like being in there and wanted out... really bad!) So, just keep that in mind if you do not put hardware cloth along the bottom. A large dog can get through if they are determined.

That's true. I bought some panels from a guy that had pits and they ripped open the fence, but, from my experience predators, even ones that work for hours digging, will not chew through wire. That's only like 30 years of predator control talking...but anything's possible so putting ratwire around the bottom can help at least with peace of mind. In most instances people loose birds because they hvae minimal, to no, protection and don't secure them at night.

 

[wannahomestead]

I think I'm on day 11 of brooding today. I'm down another egg. I went out and did some candling and noticed LOTS of changes since last time. I found one egg that just didn't look "right" though, so I set it aside. There was no signs of life or veins. Upon closer inspection I noticed the slightest little crack in the shell. Unviable, tossed it away.


Down to 10 healthy looking, actively developing eggs. I saw movement in most of them while checking as well .

We'll see what the next 10 days holds

 

[chickflick]

Coons might not get through the wire, but there have been stories on this site of coons pulling chickens through the wire and killing the birds. I have dog panels and put the hardware cloth on the bottom and around the corners, so that takes care of that problem. Even making sure to overlap on the gate so cover the gaps so mink or weasels can't get through. I didn't bury the wire but laid a apron around the run. Put some soil on top and grass seed and no one can see. It's all about protecting your flock.

If you don't have building skills, maybe you have some good friends that do and they can help you. Free pizza and beer.....

 

[1muttsfan]

X2 I had a bird in a chain link dog pen that was badly injured through the wire and died.

 

[WalnutHill]

Coons might not get through the wire, but there have been stories on this site of coons pulling chickens through the wire and killing the birds. I have dog panels and put the hardware cloth on the bottom and around the corners, so that takes care of that problem. Even making sure to overlap on the gate so cover the gaps so mink or weasels can't get through. I didn't bury the wire but laid a apron around the run. Put some soil on top and grass seed and no one can see. It's all about protecting your flock.

If you don't have building skills, maybe you have some good friends that do and they can help you. Free pizza and beer.....

X2 I had a bird in a chain link dog pen that was badly injured through the wire and died.

I had a turkey hen behind chain link have her throat ripped open. She was strong enough to pull away and lived, and healed, but she's the exception.