Predator proof run - Question

[CTBman84]

I just bought an old swing set off of craiglist that I'm just going to use the house part for as a coop. I have a current run, and as it stands right now, it is nothing more than a false sense of security for my girlfriend and her daughter. If anything wants in, it is going to get in.

So, while I'm redoing the coop, I will also redo the run.

I plan on doing 4x4's for each corner, that go down 2' into the ground. Then I'll have 2x4's for the rest.

I plan on using hardware cloth on the inside of the posts, and welded wire on the outside. Is this too much? Or can I comfortably get away with welded wire on the outside? How far should the welded wire go into the ground to prevent animals from digging under?

We are trying to make this as low key as possible, as well, since the location can be seen by neighbors, and we don't want to bother them with an eyesore. So I'm wondering how high a completely covered chicken run should be for chickens?

The coop playhouse is 6'x6' and the run, which will be along side of it will be 10'x15'. We'll have 6 chickens.

I live in the Northeast (CT), to give an idea of the type of predators.

Thanks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You can't have too much security. If you're willing to buy that much hardware cloth, you won't need any welded wire at all. It will be sufficient to protect from all predators.
Rather than burying the wire, you can just go down a couple inches and then outward as a skirting a couple feet. That way, when diggers attempt, they'll hit the wire and give up not knowing to back up.
The run should be high enough for anyone who will care for them to walk into comfortably. It's hell to stoop while doing chicken chores.

 

[CTBman84]

Unfortunately, we can't have it that high, because It would become quite the eyesore, I believe.

 

[TalkALittle]

Remember this past winter? Make your run full height and roof at least half of it. If you don't, come winter you'll wish you did. Three feet of snow will make a low-walled run useless. How do you plan on shoveling it out? You'll need to unless you expect your birds to have to hang out in their 6x6 coop all winter long. Also plan on crawling around in the run trying to reach a bird in distress or just to rake it out.

I get that you're worried about the neighbor's view but think hard before you go with a run you can't stand in. You may want to rethink the dimensions so that you can make all areas accessible from roof panels that open up. That way you can retrieve birds from the run and clean it out without having to climb in. Long and narrow with multiple hinged roof panels comes to mind.

 

[CTBman84]

I was thinking that covering half of it would be more than enough in the winter, and putting doors on the top to access it would be enough. This is why I came here, to help me think this all out. Thank you for the input.

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

It is entirely possible to build a coop/ run that is comfortable for both the chooks, you and looks good to the neighbors. It takes a little more money and time but it is very doable.

If you live where winters can be really snowy, why not make a fully covered run with the outer half of the run roof removable? That way the chooks have their whole run all winter long and then they have half of it sunny for the spring/summer/fall periods.

Get a neat look by using 1 x 4 boards as finish trim over the joins of hardware cloth, put the cloth on square to the boards and it will look almost as good as a house. You can even paint it to match the house and it will seem like it should be there.