run security

[kirkster5]

I was wondering if my Run design sounds secure enough?
I am building a 8x6 4 foot high run using 2 by 4rs and 1 inch welded wire fencing on all sides and top. I will have a latching/locking lid and door. I was going to use chicken wire but that just looks too flimsy

I live in a very rural area and we have racoons/foxes/coyotes/dogs/opossums/eagles you name it we got it.

Also, at 9 weeks old is it ok to leave them outside(in coop) with nightime temps no lower than about 48 F.?

 

[tiffanyh]

Chicken wire is pretty flimsy....
are you putting them in at night??? If so, you can get away with that. If you plan on leaving them out overnight, you might want to go with the hardware cloth. Welded wire is strong but most predators can stick their arms through and do some damage...

 

[Chirpy]

Definitely use the welded wire (you're right - chicken wire is just to keep chickens in, not to keep predators out).

I would be concerned about it only being four feet high, even with the top covered just because I had a friend here who had coyotes continually jump up on top of her four foot high enclosure and bounce on it until they succeeded in tearing the wire apart. She lost all her chickens! So - if you do only go with the four foot high enclosure make sure you really, really attach the wire together very well. I would use baling wire (the real wire not twine, obviously) to literally 'sew' the parts together.

Also, as Tiffany stated, several predators (raccoons, cats) can get their paws through the welded wire and literally grab a chicken and pull it back through. So, you should add 1" chicken wire (or hardware cloth if you can afford it) around the bottom 2 feet and bury that or the welded wire at least 15" into the ground. If you can't bury it then lay it out flat on the ground about two feet outwards to thwart attempted digging.

As long as they are secured in a building at night (the hen house) I think they will be fine at that age in those temps. If it was me, I'd check on them several times during the night for a night or two to see if they are all huddled together (thus being too cold) or sitting next to each other on the roost.

 

[kirkster5]

CHIRPY;

I'm using 1" welded wire so I'm not sure how 1" chicken wire increases the secuity? Both are 1' openings (unless I'm missing something). I will add the 2' ground pieces as you mentioned to prevent the diggers.

 

[Chirpy]

If you are already using the 1" wire then you most certainly don't need the extra chicken wire. Most people use 2x4 welded wire and that's why we/they put the 1" chicken wire around the bottom.

Sounds like you've got it covered. Great job.