Now Kinda Worried About the Under-construction Run

2" x 4" will NOT keep them out. The bigger coons will have issues, but you will be surprised at the size of animal that can squeeze through a 2 x4 opening.

 

Here's the scary part about 2 x 4 wire spacing: chickens, when panicked, will run to a side. They aren't smart enough to get in the MIDDLE of an open space furthest from the fence where the predators show up.

Raccoons, particularly, will reach through the wire and pull the chicken back through the fence. As much of the chicken as it can get through that space, usually a wing or the head.

That's why you need hardware cloth.

 

There was a story on here today about a weasel getting through and killing 20 chickens in one night. Certainly, small rodents will get through, even baby possum. Animals can really squish themselves when they're certain a meal is waiting for them!

 

There is a 1"x2" welded wire. That is what I used in my pvc hoop run and on the ground around it. No losses yet and they have been in it at night with no other shelter for 2 months now. I have their coop almost finished, but until I do, they sleep in the in a big rubber water trough turned up on it's side.

 

Reach-through is not going to be a problem, because the o.p. has said there will be hardwarecloth added to the bottom 3' of the 2x4 wire.

Now, it is true that weasels and baby raccoons and smaller-gauge possums and such CAN get through 2x4 openings. HOWEVER they are vanishingly rare as DAYTIME predators. If this run is only for daytime use,and the chickens will be locked into a secure coop every evening, personally I think it is fine to use 2x4 wire, and most people would die of old age before any problem came of it. If the popdoor was going to be left open at night, though, or if they sometimes will not be shut in til well after dark, THEN I would suggest a smaller size mesh for sure.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

If by "roof" you mean that it will be covered by more of the 2x4 welded wire, one way to keep the birds from running to one side or the other when threatened, would be to plant a few shrubs in the middle of the run. Chickens are woodland animals by nature and will seek cover when threatened. some benign shrubbery (I'm thinking Rosa Rugosa, privett, or something similar, NOT arborvitae) would be of great assistance to birds in this case, besides, it will look nice.