Predator Proofing?

[The Chicken Lady]

Just a thought -- you can get solar powered supplies for an electric fence. Just something to keep in mind for the future.

I second the buried hardware cloth from the edge of the run to 2 ft. out and staked, buried underground -- a lot of people have had very good success with that.

Always make sure to close up your chickens in their coop for the night. Most predators will attack at night, so if you have them shut up tightly in their coop, there's even less chance that any harm will come to them.

 

[LynneP]

Our situation is similar to yours and we went 2' to bedrock with our hardware cloth. You can also mix up some bags of concrete and pour in at the bottom to adhere to base layer.

Our project shown here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-LynnePs_Run

 

[beak]

Quote:
Yes, any losses we have had are at night. Be sure your house is predator proof and you should be safe. The only time we suffered losses was when we had our 15 year old son putting the chickens away. We had 26 ,12 week old pullets. he left them out and the next morning a fox had dug in with her kits and killed them all. Since then we do all the feeding and maintenance.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
It sounds expensive, and will prevent the chickens from scratching/digging which they DEARLY love to do (and which can help them keep cool in hot months, and dustbathe more effectively to prevent mites/lice).

I'd suggest using 2x4 welded wire instead of hardwarecloth (unless weasels or rats are a major concern - but frankly if they ARE, your run sides would need to be hardwarecloth too)... and instead of burying it downwards, run it horizontally out as an 'apron' for 3' or so. Either shallowly bury it (just so it's out of the way) or cover it with rocks, concrete rubble, whatever.

Remember that buried wire WILL rust, yes, even if it's galvanized. The lighter the gauge, the quicker it will rust through to the point of weakness. 2x4 is heavier-gauge than hardwarecloth. Cheaper too

JMO, good luck and have fun,

Pat