My first flock run setup suggestions?

[alboweraf]

Hi all!

I've been on BYC for a little while now and have been reading lots of articles but this is my first post. I got my first 6 chicks (2 Buff Opringtons, 2 Americanas, and 2 Bared Plymouth Rocks) a few weeks ago, they are just about a month old now. After much research we are building our own coop and still trying to decide what to do for a run. We have a 4'x5' coop in progress right now that will be 2' off the ground and will be completely securable to predators. We live in the woods so we have lots of predators, foxes, dogs, cats, hawks, vultures, etc... we've got everything. My husband and I both work full time so my plan is to let them free range when we are home but that will likely only be on the weekends sometimes. For the fence I am trying to decide between a few different things.

1. electric poultry netting with fishing line strung in the trees over the pen area.
2. buidling some type of A-frame run that has wire on all 3 sides and then cover the bottom with dirt etc.
3. building a pen with a top and digging it into the ground a foot or so.

I know I will eventually loose birds to something, but I'd like to keep them as secure as possible while also letting them run free. Right now i'm leaning toward the electric fence because it's the only one that would really let us walk into the pen area. Also, we both travel regularly and go on weekend trips so not having to lock the coop at night will be key so we don't have to pay someone to come do that every morning and night. aka the pen needs to be secure enough for night time as well as day time.

Can anyone give me some help or suggestions?
Thank you!

 

[Rich386]

Hi all!

I've been on BYC for a little while now and have been reading lots of articles but this is my first post. I got my first 6 chicks (2 Buff Opringtons, 2 Americanas, and 2 Bared Plymouth Rocks) a few weeks ago, they are just about a month old now. After much research we are building our own coop and still trying to decide what to do for a run. We have a 4'x5' coop in progress right now that will be 2' off the ground and will be completely securable to predators. We live in the woods so we have lots of predators, foxes, dogs, cats, hawks, vultures, etc... we've got everything. My husband and I both work full time so my plan is to let them free range when we are home but that will likely only be on the weekends sometimes. For the fence I am trying to decide between a few different things.

1. electric poultry netting with fishing line strung in the trees over the pen area.
2. buidling some type of A-frame run that has wire on all 3 sides and then cover the bottom with dirt etc.
3. building a pen with a top and digging it into the ground a foot or so.

I know I will eventually loose birds to something, but I'd like to keep them as secure as possible while also letting them run free. Right now i'm leaning toward the electric fence because it's the only one that would really let us walk into the pen area. Also, we both travel regularly and go on weekend trips so not having to lock the coop at night will be key so we don't have to pay someone to come do that every morning and night. aka the pen needs to be secure enough for night time as well as day time.

Can anyone give me some help or suggestions?
Thank you!

ZAP!!! Electric is what worked for me.

 

[chfite]

My run is fenced with 2 x 4 welded wire, 6 feet tall. Along the edges of the fence, mesh is attached as an apron extending 24 inches out from the fence. The lower 24 inches of the fence is layered with small mesh wire to prevent a raccoon from reaching through. I have colorful nylon cord stretched over the run to dissuade raptors.

A snake could get in, but the chickens ate the last one that was there.

I watched my dog try to get past the fence and apron to retrieve a treat that I had tossed in for the chickens. They work. Despite his frantic digging, he could not get past the fencing and apron.

Chris