Need cheap and easy ideas for a large run

[cmcjmathews]

I need cheap and easy ideas for a fence. We have had an issue with a neighbors dog coming into our yard and killing our chickens. We want to fence in our back yard do that the chickens and ducks can “free range” in the back yard but be protected from murderous neighborhood dogs.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I need cheap and easy ideas for a fence. We have had an issue with a neighbors dog coming into our yard and killing our chickens. We want to fence in our back yard do that the chickens and ducks can “free range” in the back yard but be protected from murderous neighborhood dogs.

I dont think there us one. That dog will find a way into your yard. Best thing is to build a secure run with hardware cloth.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree about having a secure run!
Electric fencing, well set up, is most effective, and less expensive than many other choices.
Mary

 

[AlabamaPeg]

I had a flock of chickens in a fenced yard(chain link) and all of them disappeared in two days. All heavy breed chickens and ducks. I have a neighbor who raises hunting dogs, and not very humanely or ethically. I'm fairly certain, that this was what happened to my flock. I was told by the Sheriff's department, to take photos or recordings any time I saw the animals on my property, since it's basically my word against his. I've been collecting evidence, and surprisingly, since he has seen me taking pictures, his dogs stay penned up now.

As I start a new flock, I am building a sturdy run and coop. I find a lot of materials from my rural neighbors. My mom lives a few miles away, and one of her neighbors had a huge pile of rolled hardware cloth and welded wire fencing. I stopped one day and asked If he would be willing to let me buy some. He gave me all I could use for $20, just to get it out of his yard. I'm now hunting an old farmer with a falling down barn to get some wood and sheet metal from. I can even get free chickens around her. Facebook marketplace and Craig's list are a good place to get started. So far, I've spent about $120 and I'm building a 16x10' run and an 6x8' coop.

I've also seen a lot of great ideas using pallets, which you can sometimes get for free.

Hope that helps. Like you, I don't have a lot of spare money, but before I purchased the first chick or bag of feed, I was determined not to lose my flock again.

Best of luck!

 

[AlabamaPeg]

Forgot to add, I'm selling irises to pay for the electric fence.

 

[mowin]

I agree about having a secure run!
Electric fencing, well set up, is most effective, and less expensive than many other choices.
Mary

I agree. It's the most cost effective. And possibly effective. I say possibly effective because like mentioned above, hunting dogs have a special tolerance to pain and will breach a hotwire.
A average pet with the instinctive to chase, your most likely okay.

 

[cmcjmathews]

Well this morning when I was filling the water cans a German Shepard dog came into my yard and into the run. I had the run door shut but not latched (if not latched there is a 1/2” gap). Said dog was able to nudge the door open and killed 1 chicken, injured another and still have 1 missing. This dog has killed a few chickens previously and each time we beefed up protection. I want to keep My daughters as well as the chickens, ducks, rabbits and our daschaund safe from this dog. I tried to find who’s dog it is on Facebook and also stated that per state law I do have the right to kill the dog if caught in the act of attacking my animals, all that did was have people attack me because said dog is supposed to be a $2,000 import so it should be allowed to kill my animals and I should be privileged that it’s in my yard

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since I don't trust my own dogs not to kill/harm the chickens, I have a pretty secure fence on the run (professionally installed chain link, hardware cloth apron). Definitely wasn't cheap.

Really sorry you're having issues with a wandering dog. I wouldn't have posted that I was going to shoot the dog on Facebook though, people get pretty... ornery on there.

 

[paintedChix]

A less expensive fencing option than chainlink is to use Cattle Panel (CP) and put HC on the bottom portion and as an apron(to keep smaller dogs out, too) and maybe 2x4 wire on the top half? That will work as both a fenced yard for your daughter AND good predator protection, too. Having some electric set up on it wouldn't hurt.

It is not the same as a secured, all the way around, run. But it will keep your yard safer.

 

[MomOfThreeDucks18]

Since I don't trust my own dogs not to kill/harm the chickens, I have a pretty secure fence on the run (professionally installed chain link, hardware cloth apron). Definitely wasn't cheap.

Really sorry you're having issues with a wandering dog. I wouldn't have posted that I was going to shoot the dog on Facebook though, people get pretty... ornery on there.

We are new duck owners. We have chain link fence that is 5 foot tall and we plan to make the run 15x15. How much of the run should be covered in hardware cloth to keep predators like weasels and raccoons out?