Run question... hardware cloth or welded wire?

[Hamiam]

@Tlmcq, I love your avatar pic. Cutie Pies!

 

[Tlmcq]

Right now I only let them in the run & out of the run when the dog & I are outside. Yes, I think some type netting is in order. Need to figure out something lightweight & easy to remove & place back on. We are moving the chicken tractor & kennel every 4 days. Around here the Hawks are pretty small, i think when the girls are full grown I will worry less. Another BYC'R showed me how she sets up a tarp for the chickens to run under when a hawk is in the area. She also has a chicken tractor & moves them around.

Yes I know people have had success with just putting fishing line or strips of colored cloth on top to deter hawks cuz most won't risk getting caught in it.

 

[jeria]

Fyi a coon can squeeze through a 2 by 6 hole not sure about smaller. Young coons probably can get through smaller.

 

[TominWa]

You *could* use the welded wire and use hardware cloth only on the bottom 2-3 feet to help protect against the ground based predators that will make most attempts to get at birds in that lower range.

Did the same thing. Working great. They only have access to the run in the daytime, the coup is a bunker. I was more worried about hawks and neighborhood dogs in the daytime.

 

[Doc Schoepp]

I had originally used the 2x4 'deer fencing' for about a year and it didnt keep anything out, even the mule deer. We found a chain-link dog run that someone was getting rid of and now we have that as the primary fencing with about 2ft of hardware cloth around the bottom. We had some raccoons that were actually prying the chain-link off the bottom bar to get at the feed (never had an attempt on the flock when they were locked up at night). We did have an issue where one morning after we opened the coop a family of fox decided that the all you can eat buffet was open and got 3 before I could chase them off. After that we used the deer fencing and zip ties to make a roof.

Right now the chain-link, hardware cloth and deer fencing combo has staved off any further attempts, even digging and I know we have a menagerie of predators from coyotes to bobcats to a black bear family that has been seen wandering through a couple of times over the last 4 years living here.

 

[Hamiam]

I had originally used the 2x4 'deer fencing' for about a year and it didnt keep anything out, even the mule deer. We found a chain-link dog run that someone was getting rid of and now we have that as the primary fencing with about 2ft of hardware cloth around the bottom. We had some raccoons that were actually prying the chain-link off the bottom bar to get at the feed (never had an attempt on the flock when they were locked up at night). We did have an issue where one morning after we opened the coop a family of fox decided that the all you can eat buffet was open and got 3 before I could chase them off. After that we used the deer fencing and zip ties to make a roof.

Right now the chain-link, hardware cloth and deer fencing combo has staved off any further attempts, even digging and I know we have a menagerie of predators from coyotes to bobcats to a black bear family that has been seen wandering through a couple of times over the last 4 years living here.

Bears! Wow Doc, you definitely have more predators to worry about than we do. Sounds like you've got your set up figured out. It's 1:00am here & I just got woke up by a noise & looked outside to see a gray cat walking around the kennel. It's 6ft high, 12' x 24' encircling the chicken tractor. Chickens are closed up tight in the tractor. I just shined the flashlight at the trespasser & he ran off. I then let my dog outside & she never saw a kitty cat. I was hoping there would be a bark or chase. Just too send a msg to the cat that it's not welcome here. Nope such luck. This is the first cat I've see around here & we moved here 8 months ago. I'll set a live trap tomorrow. Maybe it has tags & I can get it back to the owner with a nice neighborly warning.
You've given me some ideas that might work for my set up. Thanks

 

[Noaskye]

We did welded wire and hardware cloth over top. Probably overkill but we know we have fox & raccoons in our yard so we went extra safe. We paid less than $105 though and our roll was 4 ft x 100 ft. We did hardware cloth all the way up and used it for skirting around.

 

[Doc Schoepp]

We live in Colorado Springs but a little bit more rural part of it. They never bothered us much but they can be a concern while they are wondering around in Spring. Problem with them is if they want the chickens... they *are* getting the chickens and there isnt much we can say or do to stop them....

 

[J's chickens]

May I suggest predator poop?? I don't use it because I own dogs that hunt lions and Bear and coyote so really nothing comes anywhere near my property but I have had success in the past. Call the zoo or order online. Lion poop ) no housecat, Bear, coyote, or smaller rodent will want to come near those chickens.

 

[Hamiam]

May I suggest predator poop?? I don't use it because I own dogs that hunt lions and Bear and coyote so really nothing comes anywhere near my property but I have had success in the past. Call the zoo or order online. Lion poop ) no housecat, Bear, coyote, or smaller rodent will want to come near those chickens.

If I lived in an area with bears, I'd try it! But I'd also have an electric fence as insurance!