Project Pen!

[tmarr]

Well after getting fed up waiting for some help to put up a pen for the ducks, hens and rabbit! I've decided to do it myself, I'm only 5ft 2ins and not very strong but I'm pleased to say I've got 4 of the posts up (nearly killed me digging the holes!) I'm going to do wood planks half way up and then wire. Thing is what wire should I get, my dogs can eat through chicken wire!!

 

[lomine]

I am also starting work on my coop. So excited!

Here is what I know from research, no first-hand experience yet. Racoons can also bite through chicken wire and they can reach in and eat the birds through the wire. You should not use anything with openings bigger than 1/2 inch if you have racoons in your area.

I plan on using galvanized hardware cloth. I know it will be pricey but I want to make sure my girls are safe.

 

[tmarr]

Lol me too! Luckily enough no raccoons around but that hardware cloth sounds like a great idea! I have a little yard outside their shed, where they can free range and I'm putting in a dog flap through to their new pen which will be on grass. Eventually I'm going to expand it the full length of the garden and maybe put in a bigger pool for the ducks! But time, energy and funds will dictate how quickly this happens!!

 

[Abesinger]

I have the same issue. my 2 dobermans would make short work of my khaki campbells. i used metal fence (the stuff on the perimeter of a tennis court) the dogs don't bother and my hens and ducks are un disturbed

 

[Amykins]

I'd be terrified of keeping dogs that had aggressive tendencies towards my birds! That's why no terriers for me

 

[lomine]

I now that at my Lowe's the galvanized steel welded wire is about 2/3rds the price of the hardware cloth. It says it is used for cages so I would assume it works well. Unfortunately it won't work for me because I know I have racoons and the openings are 1 inch, but if you don't have them then it's another option. The chain link fence (that goes around tennis courts) sounds good too.

Either of those should protect against other predators as long as it is tightly secured. I think the only other predator that you have to worry about getting into small spaces are minks. I read that they can fit through a hole that is only 1 1/2 inches. That's a little scary so I'm glad I don't need to worry about them. You'll also have to consider any predators in your area that can climb on whether or not to wire the top.

Don't forget to bury fencing at least 8 inches down around the perimeter (unless you have concrete floors). Things will dig under otherwise. Also, make sure to protect against birds of prey if you aren't wiring the top. I've read that people use bird netting for that. I've got that for my fruit trees in the past. It's not expensive.

 

[TLWR]

If the bottom half is wood (how high is half?), then you should be fine with welded wire for the top half. Chicken wire is easily ripped by critters that want in.

We will soon be moving the duck pen (their current one is now all sun, all the time - even the chicken hides out under the duck house now). We are planning to do a layer of concrete block for the first layer and then put up welded wire like they currently have. There will still be electric fencing along the bottom of the wire fence as well since the birds are penned because we have a fox in the summer/fall.

 

[tmarr]

About 2/3ft would be wire, will have to look around but think galvanised and smallest gaps could be the best way to go! Good idea over netting for the top, the main predators I would have would be foxes+possibly hawks! I was going to concrete around the first panel to stop things digging in. My dogs are cavaliers, they will go mad at the start but once they realise they can't get in they'll give up! Def need it as sturdy as possible!!

 

[Abesinger]

I now that at my Lowe's the galvanized steel welded wire is about 2/3rds the price of the hardware cloth. It says it is used for cages so I would assume it works well. Unfortunately it won't work for me because I know I have racoons and the openings are 1 inch, but if you don't have them then it's another option. The chain link fence (that goes around tennis courts) sounds good too.

Either of those should protect against other predators as long as it is tightly secured. I think the only other predator that you have to worry about getting into small spaces are minks. I read that they can fit through a hole that is only 1 1/2 inches. That's a little scary so I'm glad I don't need to worry about them. You'll also have to consider any predators in your area that can climb on whether or not to wire the top.

Don't forget to bury fencing at least 8 inches down around the perimeter (unless you have concrete floors). Things will dig under otherwise. Also, make sure to protect against birds of prey if you aren't wiring the top. I've read that people use bird netting for that. I've got that for my fruit trees in the past. It's not expensive.

Totally agree I send some pics in to show you what I did

 

[tmarr]

Thanks, good ideas that I would never have thought about!