Need cheap and easy ideas for a large run

[M Brennen]

My original coop and run are predator proof with hardware cloth on the bottom and sides. We just built this new area for our chickens out of welded wire and fence posts and we have two large dogs and other dogs that come into our yard during the day but our chickens have been fine. I do have Aviary netting on the top to keep the hawks from getting them but at night time they are shut in the house and and predator proof run. We just installed a “ladies first automatic chicken door” onto the original run and that allows us to close the big door and go out for the night and not have to worry about getting home to shut the chickens up. I do understand that it would not work for everyone but it does work for me.View attachment 2260512

I love your sitting chairs!

 

[Kdlevesque]

I love your sitting chairs!

You would not believe the people that have made fun of me because of those chairs ha ha! I love to sit out there with them in the evenings but unfortunately they do a lot of pooping on those chairs so I have to clean them every day.

 

[M Brennen]

You would not believe the people that have made fun of me because of those chairs ha ha! I love to sit out there with them in the evenings but unfortunately they do a lot of pooping on those chairs so I have to clean them every day.

I wondered about that. My husband and I have taken our lawn chairs and sat in the shade outside our chicken run with our books just to watch the chickens. They are so much fun to watch!

 

[NatJ]

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.

It's not quite what you're asking for, but dog kennels are sometimes useful. I'm thinking of the kind that are 10 feet square or 10 by 20 or some such, possibly with a roof. The holes are big enough a raccoon can reach through, and of course weasels go in and baby chicks walk out, and anything that climbs will go over the top unless it has a roof. They are also expensive if you buy them new.

But if you or someone has a dog kennel sitting around unused, they are quick to set up, and they ARE pretty good at keeping dogs out! (Provided the chickens are large enough to stay in.)

 

[MomOfThreeDucks18]

My original coop and run are predator proof with hardware cloth on the bottom and sides. We just built this new area for our chickens out of welded wire and fence posts and we have two large dogs and other dogs that come into our yard during the day but our chickens have been fine. I do have Aviary netting on the top to keep the hawks from getting them but at night time they are shut in the house and and predator proof run. We just installed a “ladies first automatic chicken door” onto the original run and that allows us to close the big door and go out for the night and not have to worry about getting home to shut the chickens up. I do understand that it would not work for everyone but it does work for me.View attachment 2260512

Thank you so much for the info and pics! It is so helpful! Does the netting hold up well with snow?

 

[M Brennen]

Ditto.

Animal control exists for a reason. You have the right to have the dog dealt with professionally.

There are lots of dogs in my neirborhood, and the owners weren't responsible and somehow the dogs always escaped. When I got my first chickens I asked the C.O. what was my right in case a dog was to come and injure or kill a chicken and they told me I could legally shoot it. (We are hunters) I passed the message around and somehow dog owner were suddenly able to keep their dogs into their yard... I did bear spray a couple though, and they never came back. The good thing about bear spray is that the dog runs home amd straight into the house they are so uncomfortable. Then the owner gets it. I am not afraid to tell them since their dog shouldn't ne on my property. I tell them: Lucky I didn't shoot it, since I could have done it legally.
Put your foot down. A bullet 2 feet in front of the dog may make the owner think twice...

Thank you so much for the info and pics! It is so helpful! Does the netting hold up well with snow?

I have used netting and we get snow. It does stretch if snow gets piled up and sometimes we need to patch holes, but unless it’s a big snowstorm (and then the weight of snow can effect even the sturdiest of roofs) most of the snow melts through the mesh netting.

 

[Folly's place]

For years we had 2" chicken wire over our small run roof, and it did okay in snow. Finally we had the whole thing rebuilt as a roofed coop addition, so no snow shoveling, and a much better all-weather coop/ run combination!
Mary

 

[MomOfThreeDucks18]

I have used netting and we get snow. It does stretch if snow gets piled up and sometimes we need to patch holes, but unless it’s a big snowstorm (and then the weight of snow can effect even the sturdiest of roofs) most of the snow melts through the mesh netting.

Thank you!

 

[Kdlevesque]

Thank you so much for the info and pics! It is so helpful! Does the netting hold up well with snow?

OK… I live in the South Carolina so we don’t get a lot of snow so I’m really not sure about how it does in a lot of snow. We normally get about 4 inches total during the year but hopefully someone else can chime in. The aviary netting is nylon and I have the 2 inch holes so most stuff that falls from the trees goes right through.

 

[aart]

You would not believe the people that have made fun of me because of those chairs ha ha! I love to sit out there with them in the evenings but unfortunately they do a lot of pooping on those chairs so I have to clean them every day.

Turn them upside down when you're not sitting in them....
...or keep them outside the run.