Hello Everyone!!
We are just aoubt done with our coop, so now it's on to the run. I have read tons of posts over the last few months regarding run construction, and most importantly, predator proofing. Now that it's time to build our own run, I want to make sure I have all my bases covered for our situation. I don't ever want to lose any of my girls.
We live in a small town in the foothills of Colorado. Our local predators are, opossums, raccoons, bears, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes, and predatory birds.
Here is a picture of our site. You can see our coop base on the left. Along to the right is where our run will be. It will stretch along the fence for about 12 feet, and come out about 6 feet.
Our run will be six feet tall, and I plan on utilizing the fence alongside the back as one of the walls. Here are some concerns I am hoping on some feedback for:
1. As far as the back fence is concerned, should I run a layer of welded fencing along it for extra protection. The slats are not more than a 1/4 inch apart in places, if that. I'm not sure if any of the above predators will be able to rip through the wood. Also, I won't be able to dig outward behind the fence for my dig proofing. Can I dig a DEEP trench along the front of the privacy fence, and layer it with hardware cloth, then riprap, then dirt, and top with pavers? Will this be enough to keep any predators that dig from behind the fence from getting up into the run?
2. The roof of the run will have a large portion of it under steel corrugated roofing. Will this keep the predators out? In the areas that are not roofed, will 2x4 welded wire be enough to keep the hawks and such out?
3. Hardware Cloth!! I will be using 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the lower portion of the run. What is the minimum depth to bury it, and do I need to skirt it out, or can I go straight down? I will also bury rock and riprap on top of the cloth, cover in dirt, then run pavers on the inside of the run walls. What is the minimum height I should run the hardware cloth UP the run walls?
4. Other than the hardware cloth on the lower portion of the run, I was hoping to use maybe some sort of welded wire from top to bottom. Is there a suggested size/type of fence that might be recommended? Unfortunately, using hardware cloth for the ENTIRE run will not be possible.
Okay, I know I am asking alot of questions, but I need to make sure we take every possible precaution. Truly, I have done my research, but because I have spent the last two weeks building the coop, my brain is pretty cluttered right now. ANY advice/wisdom will be greatly appreciated by myself AND my chickens
We are just aoubt done with our coop, so now it's on to the run. I have read tons of posts over the last few months regarding run construction, and most importantly, predator proofing. Now that it's time to build our own run, I want to make sure I have all my bases covered for our situation. I don't ever want to lose any of my girls.
We live in a small town in the foothills of Colorado. Our local predators are, opossums, raccoons, bears, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes, and predatory birds.
Here is a picture of our site. You can see our coop base on the left. Along to the right is where our run will be. It will stretch along the fence for about 12 feet, and come out about 6 feet.
Our run will be six feet tall, and I plan on utilizing the fence alongside the back as one of the walls. Here are some concerns I am hoping on some feedback for:
1. As far as the back fence is concerned, should I run a layer of welded fencing along it for extra protection. The slats are not more than a 1/4 inch apart in places, if that. I'm not sure if any of the above predators will be able to rip through the wood. Also, I won't be able to dig outward behind the fence for my dig proofing. Can I dig a DEEP trench along the front of the privacy fence, and layer it with hardware cloth, then riprap, then dirt, and top with pavers? Will this be enough to keep any predators that dig from behind the fence from getting up into the run?
2. The roof of the run will have a large portion of it under steel corrugated roofing. Will this keep the predators out? In the areas that are not roofed, will 2x4 welded wire be enough to keep the hawks and such out?
3. Hardware Cloth!! I will be using 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the lower portion of the run. What is the minimum depth to bury it, and do I need to skirt it out, or can I go straight down? I will also bury rock and riprap on top of the cloth, cover in dirt, then run pavers on the inside of the run walls. What is the minimum height I should run the hardware cloth UP the run walls?
4. Other than the hardware cloth on the lower portion of the run, I was hoping to use maybe some sort of welded wire from top to bottom. Is there a suggested size/type of fence that might be recommended? Unfortunately, using hardware cloth for the ENTIRE run will not be possible.
Okay, I know I am asking alot of questions, but I need to make sure we take every possible precaution. Truly, I have done my research, but because I have spent the last two weeks building the coop, my brain is pretty cluttered right now. ANY advice/wisdom will be greatly appreciated by myself AND my chickens
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