outdoor enclosure question

[ChickenMomof7]

Hi! I'm going to be a new chicken mom (next Thursday!) and my hubby and I are getting our coop ready. We're wondering about the pros and cons of covering the base of the outdoor enclosure with chicken wire. We live in the woods and want to be sure that our coop and enclosure are as predator proof as possible. Thanks for your help!

 

[Chirpy]

I would highly encourage you not to cover the bottom with chicken wire as chickens live to scratch in the dirt.

However, you can bury the wire down about 15-18 inches around the perimeter of the fence and it will also be secure.

Good for you to think ahead and do it right from the get - go.

 

[LynneP]

Have you considered using 1/2" hardware cloth on your run and buried around the perimeter? We live near the woods too, and raccoons can reach through conventional poultry wire and kill ebirds by grasping and pulling through the poultry wire...sadly

 

[Dilly]

chicken wire will not secure yoru chickens from preditors, those that cannot squeeze in to get them will just rip it apart or grab a chicken through it.

Not at all secure. Hardware cloth is the best.

Good luck.

 

[ChickenMomof7]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I have been waiting to have a flock for a very long time, so I don't want to make mistakes now. This is the greatest source of information on everything chicken and I've learned a lot!

 

[ChickenMomof7]

Quote:
Would you make the entire 6' height out of the 1/2" hardware cloth?

 

[Chirpy]

Would you make the entire 6' height out of the 1/2" hardware cloth?

If you can afford it then absolutely!!! That's the best protection you can possibly give chickens.

Using 2x4 welded wire would be second best with either hardware cloth or 1" chicken wire around the bottom two feet and buried into the ground.​