Run Help

[firemedicjoe]

I am going to be building my run this weekend. It is going to be 20x10. I was wondering what to do about the bottom of the run. I am going to have the fence tight with the ground, but do I need to have wood on the bottom of the fence? Or is it fine to have the fence tight to the ground.

 

[mrbj2007]

we are going to make our run also ... we decided to make a frame then staple chicken wires around it top to bottom so they cant fly out

 

[Alaskan]

You are going to have to either

1. Dig a trench and burry at least 6 inches but more is better

Or

2. Take a bottom foot of the wire and bend it away from the run, on the ground, and stake it down, as an apron

The reason you need to do either 1 or 2 is that due to erosion, the hens digging for dust bathes, and dogs and who knows what else trying to dig in for a tasty treat, you will loose birds if you don't.

 

[khoe]

We dug a hole the size of our coops footprint and put the coop (with attached run) into the hole that was about 8 inches. Then piled the dirt back in.

 

[aart]

You are going to have to either

1. Dig a trench and burry at least 6 inches but more is better

Or

2. Take a bottom foot of the wire and bend it away from the run, on the ground, and stake it down, as an apron

The reason you need to do either 1 or 2 is that due to erosion, the hens digging for dust bathes, and dogs and who knows what else trying to dig in for a tasty treat, you will loose birds if you don't.

#2 is the best idea...go 18", stops 'em from digging right quick! Burying the wire even a foot won't help much, they'll just have to dig deeper...and they will.

Read up on aprons here

 

[khoe]

I

We dug a hole the size of our coops footprint and put the coop (with attached run) into the hole that was about 8 inches. Then piled the dirt back in.

i should add that the bottom of our coop has hardware cloth on the entire thing.