Run wire question

[marcciv]

Hi all. We are new to chickens and I've spent lots of late night hours over the last week or so reading this forum. Great information that has helped figure out how to proceed. Now I'm faced with a question stemming from a financial angle. The run we want to build is 12' x 12' with posts every 6'. I plan on metal roofing over some of the run to protect against sun, rain and snow plus allow us to capture rain water as the coop/run will be some distance from the house. Initially I had figured I'd run 6' 2x4 welded wire around the outside then go over the bottom few feet plus some underground with hardware cloth. I can save some money by using 4' 2x4 welded with a slight overlap from the hardware cloth. I realize this would create a seam between the two so I'm thinking some 2x4s between the posts to tack both the hardware cloth and welded wire to. My question is am I missing something by not running welded the whole height of the run?

 

[Wol1]

For the run, it would be ok as long as it is firmly attached and they have a thoroughly locked up coop for night time.

 

[chfite]

I used two runs of 2 x 4 welded wire 4 feet wide on 6 foot posts. I started at the top and installed a run of wire. Next I folded the lower course and fastened it to the top course with J-clips. Hog rings are better. This finished the lower two feet of fencing wire and allowed a 2 foot wide border along the ground to prevent digging into the run. Cut the wire at the corners and layer over the opening with scrap. I lined the interior of the run with chicken wire to prevent reaching through.

I have watched a dog try to get in. It kept it out.

Chris

 

[aart]

I used 2x4 wire with an 12-18" apron at the bottom on ground level for a covered run....keeps the hawks out and probably would slow most other predators down at least. Chooks are locked up at night and I am at home most the time.

Illustration of apron...corners out of scale but you get the idea:


Run defeats hawk first day chooks were in it:

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Think about using "J" clips and "J" clip pliers to connect the two different types of wire. Hog rings and hog ring pliers also work.

 

[n3kms]

My husband and I are putting up our first run and it is similar to the questioner's. I bought the one inch square wire for bottom two feet and then 4 ft wide 2X4 welded wire for top 4 ft. We are also putting horizontal boards where they meet as well as top and bottom. It was more expensive to do the 1 in. all over, but I wanted it secure near the bottom. I got the 2X4in. 4 ft. WW when it was on sale. It just seemed the most secure for the money. On one side we will probably do the buried wire. Part of another side is the wall of the chicken coop and the rest will be lined with large rocks. We are blessed with a multitude of rock. Is there any reason that anyone might know for not doing the rock around the outside of the run? I've seen others use that in pictures.

 

[Wol1]

That might work. Are they large enough that your biggest predator can't move them?

The things we do to protect our chickens.

 

[n3kms]

That might work. Are they large enough that your biggest predator can't move them?

The things we do to protect our chickens.

Well, in the process of using some of the rock to build a path my husband lost part of a finger. I'm hoping if he can barely scoot them that a dog or fox won't be inclined to try. We have been working on the run for the past two days. Hope to finish this week. I'll post pics when we're done.Thanks.