PVC run ...what to use on the bottom, if anything?

[Jadnils]

I live in a small house in SW FL , the only predators in this neighborhood would be racoons and opposums I believe. I was considering putting 2" chicken wire on the entire bottom of the run or leaving it open for the girls to scratch around....the walls of the run will have 1/2" hardware cloth...any thoughts on the bottom? Or skirting? I want to be able to move it around.

 

[CorinneP]

If you are meaning to use this as a travel cage to move to differant spots . I wouldnt put any thing on the bottom.. so they can dig better.

 

[Jadnils]

Well this will be their run attached to the coop, I just want to be able to move it when I want to. They will be fairly safe at night where we live. I plan to have a small coop that does shut but it is very hot in FL even at night so....was thinking of leaving it open for better air circulation. So, you think leaving it open on the bottom will be ok?

 

[Jadnils]

Here is what we have built so far..I think it's a good start. Waiting on the wire and contemplating the "coop" part of it now...All joints are cemented.

 

[Jaxon4141]

I wouldn't 't put chicken wire under your chickens. This is a very thin wire and when it gets stuck in dirt has no give. It will hurt your chickens feet, because chickens will dig. Use an exterior skirt along the ground and let your chickens do what they like to do best, dig.

 

[Dagirls]

We have various version of PVC runs we were wondering if your uprights are too wide for you wire. We put our uprights the width of chicken wire so we can attach the wire. We do not have predators so PVC is ok. It has broken as we move it alot. We then build roost off the ground the width of the run. put wire across the bottom half of the run and the girls jump in and out of the roost. I also like the addition of a bar across the width of the run so they can sit on it and I cover the run with shade cloth as it is hot as blazes.

 

[Jadnils]

We have various version of PVC runs we were wondering if your uprights are too wide for you wire. We put our uprights the width of chicken wire so we can attach the wire. We do not have predators so PVC is ok. It has broken as we move it alot. We then build roost off the ground the width of the run. put wire across the bottom half of the run and the girls jump in and out of the roost. I also like the addition of a bar across the width of the run so they can sit on it and I cover the run with shade cloth as it is hot as blazes.

My uprights are 4' and I ordered 4' wire so it should just fit so we don't have to cut it much. If by some chance it does not fit, I can go from the bottom up and over the top and down the other side and piece the wire together if needed.I am going to make them some sort of roost in the run also. I wanted to be able to move the run around the yard which is why I chose PVC. I will throw a tablecloth over one end for shade. It does get blazing hot here !

 

[Jadnils]

Well..4 hrs later in the 90' sun, here is what we did...it came out just as planned so far. 4'x4' and 2' off the ground... The middle pic should go first...