Run covering hole size

[Sunnymommy]

We live in a neighborhood with a 3/4 acre yard but it backs to other large wooded properties, so we have a lot of predators - racoon, fox, hawk, opossum, coyote, etc. I have read that chicken wire doesn't cut it, especially with raccoons and was planning to do 1/2" hardware cloth to cover the entire 8' x 14' x 8' tall run. But, it is really expensive! I saw a friend who lives close by who has only the bottom few feet covered in hardware cloth and the top part is chain link fencing which she says lets more bugs in. Can I use something with larger holes than the hardware cloth for the upper part of my run? And what about for the part of the fencing that is just buried in the ground to prevent digging? Can that just be chicken wire or 2-3" wire garden fence?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Many people use this approach. There are a number of wires that can be used with the hardware cloth. Will you lock the coop at night? That is key, imo, when the run is not entirely predator resistant

 

[aart]

Can I use something with larger holes than the hardware cloth for the upper part of my run? And what about for the part of the fencing that is just buried in the ground to prevent digging? Can that just be chicken wire or 2-3" wire garden fence?

This is a tuffy. It can depend on what kind of predators you may have nearby and if you are around during the day when the birds are in the run. I'm assuming your coop is secure from all preds at night when the chooks are locked up inside.

I have HC on everything in the coop, but my run is just 14ga 2x4 welded wire including the anti-dig apron, but I am home most the days.

I wouldn't use chicken wire for your anti dig apron,
14ga 2x3or4 would be fine unless you've got rats.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[B Redhawk]

For daytime predators you need something that those predators can't get through or even reach through. chain link would probably be ok for the upper part of a run since the chickens would not likely be up that high. 1/2 inch mesh needs to be at least 4 feet tall around the bottom, coons can climb as can all other predators. The best night time protection is a solidly built, predator proofed coop with the chickens locked in at night.
Chicken wire is in my opinion really good for papermache and not much of anything else.

 

[jeria]

We live in a neighborhood But, it is really expensive! I saw a friend who lives close by who has only the bottom few feet covered in hardware cloth and the top part is chain link fencing which she says lets more bugs in. Can I use something with larger holes than the hardware cloth for the upper part of my run? And what about for the part of the fencing that is just buried in the ground to prevent digging? Can that just be chicken wire or 2-3" wire garden fence?

Have you looked on line? It is really expensive here in the stores but found it on Amazon for much less.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have chain link with hardware cloth reinforcing the bottom few feet and aproned out. My coop is fully enclosed and locked at night. There's no hard and fast rule that you must do one thing or another, it really depends on your area's predator load and type as well as overall layout if that level of security is sufficient.

 

[aart]

Have you looked on line? It is really expensive here in the stores but found it on Amazon for much less.

Amazon is definitely the least expensive place to buy in large quantities....it's still pricey stuff tho, probably the largest expenditure when building chicken enclosures.

 

[jeria]

We live in a neighborhood with a 3/4 acre yard but it backs to other large wooded properties, so we have a lot of predators - racoon, fox, hawk, opossum, coyote, etc. I have read that chicken wire doesn't cut it, especially with raccoons and was planning to do 1/2" hardware cloth to cover the entire 8' x 14' x 8' tall run. But, it is really expensive! I saw a friend who lives close by who has only the bottom few feet covered in hardware cloth and the top part is chain link fencing which she says lets more bugs in. Can I use something with larger holes than the hardware cloth for the upper part of my run? And what about for the part of the fencing that is just buried in the ground to prevent digging? Can that just be chicken wire or 2-3" wire garden fence?

The hardware cloth to do the walls of my 8x10 coop cost about $120.00 for 2 --4 foot x 50 foot rolls of 1/2 inch the 100 foot was a bit cheaper but it would be too heavy for me to move. I also ordered a 50 foot roll of the 3 foot for dig proofing $40 some $$ and am also using a roll of welded wire rabbit fencing that I had bought last year for garden fencing that didn't work in one raised bed to keep my dogs out (they eat my veggies).

Chicken wire keeps no predators out.
Chain link would have cost me much much more.