Run floor

[EvansMeXo]

You might want to consider some electric fence run around the perimeter too, especially if you have some persistent predators.

I never thought about an electric fence, thank you I'll have to look into it.

If you're dealing with bobcats from the top, yes fortify as much as you can. If you can afford it, go for the 1/4" cloth on top. I have a neighbor dealing with bobcats also, took 2 of his ducks and a few hens. He went with solid walls and 1/4" cloth for the windows. I haven't heard of any issues since.

Thank you for the ideas! I hope it keeps them out

I don't know that 1/4 is stronger, it actually could be more easily ripped as it's lighter gauge wire(23ga vs 19ga).
Any hardware cloth, or any mesh, is only as strong as how it is attached.

Large strong animals are best deterred with heavier gauge mesh...like 14ga welded wire mesh.

Thank you, I didn't realize it wouldn't be stronger, I thought it had smaller holes, which means more metal, which meant more strength lol, thank you for the correction

Why not just put a solid roof on? Mine will be plywood covered with metal roofing. Protects some from the weather as well and for where I live , creates shade

I never even thought about a solid one, I'll have to look into it thank you

 

[Kiki]

Kikki....smh.. ..not if you use this kind of stuff on the ground:

I am a fan of the deep litter method too

 

[Kelley G]

We have a lot of predators around here so I'm trying to make my coop as predator proof as possible. I want them to free range but only when I'm out to protect them. So I'm building a 14X10 run (14 chicks, maybe less as I think 4 are Roos and I only want 1) so for the walls I'm using 1/2" hardware mesh for the walls, 1/4" for the ceiling.. should I also do hardware mesh for the floor or would chicken fencing do? I don't want to risk anything getting in but I'm expecting big predators from the top, I'm not sure if hardware cloth is needed for the bottom? I know I could just bury it a bit but that's a lot of digging I don't want to do lol[/QUOT
I used pavers all the way around, 12 inch you can place inside and out of the run this give 2 feet solid. Roof is fence wire and hardware cloth around the bottom two feet.

 

[aart]

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Kikki....smh.. ..not if you use this kind of stuff on the ground:

Click to expand...
I am a fan of the deep litter method too

It's not really deep per se.....in many places it's fairly shallow...but the mix of carbons 'eats' up the stink.

 

[EvansMeXo]

How big is your run?? I've been thinking about putting the coop in the run

 

[jeria]

I never even thought about a solid one, I'll have to look into it thank you[/QUOTE]

My backyard adjoins a park and a creek. Coons and foxes are huge concerns. Coons can get through so many things and are incredible climbers. With our sometime torrential rains, occasional ice storms and the critters I didn't even consider a run with a wire roof.