Show Me Your RUN!

[Opa]

In my area I have driven past numerous chicken runs that had been covered with mesh to protect the birds from hawks. It was sad to see how many were collapsed by the snow load. You might not think the snow would pile up on mesh but it does and in prodigious amounts.

I would recommend that if you intend to cover your run, and you live in a snow area, you take that into considerations. As the first picture shows I have 12 rafters that attach to a center post. This past winter there were times that I actually had 12 inches of snow standing on the mesh. Once the snowfall is over the accumlated snow does fall through the mesh, but if not for the properly sloped rafters the mesh would collapse before it does.

 

[tdgill]

WOW! nice!
cool pics and ALOT of snow

 

[AK Michelle]

ok, read 'em all, now I have questions.

I live in Alaska, we have red foxes pretty close by and feral bunnies all over the neighborhood. Our ground is a glacial bed, basically pit-run gravel mixed with silt, and rather hard for a human (Me) to dig through. Where the run is going has 3-5 inches of gravel type soil on top of the gravel base.

The questions are, I see alot of people using the wire mesh apron to deter diggers. Does that work? How wide does the apron need to be? I would really love to lay the apron and cover it with rocks (I have plenty of those) instead of trying to dig a trench around a large run.

We are lucky as we don't have weasels, racoons or other nuisance predators in the area. the coyotes are not too far but all the local dogs seem to keep them at bay. the bears prefer the rivers as they have plenty to eat and it's alot of bother for them to come over to our neck of the woods and deal with dogs and noisey kids.

I'm probably covering the run with old gill netting I can get from the recycle center at the landfill. I have heard from my friend and local hatchery Queen Tori (aka Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain) that this netting is effective at detering the hawks owls and eagles that hang out around our house. I am really just wanting to keep the bunnies and foxes from digging under.

Any helpful hints would be wonderful!

Thanks,
Michelle

 

[will hunt for food]

The idea behind the apron is to deter predators from digging under the run- they will do it right at the fence line. I think 24" would be adequate, and that's what I am shooting for.

Some references that I have seen suggest digging a trench down AT LEAST 6", then apron out the wire another 12". Seems like 24" of apron, with some rocks etc. should do the trick without the trench.

My humble opinion: honestly, these are just generalizations based on what works or doesn't work for folks. The only way to find out if anything works (fortunately or unfortunately) is try things out for yourself in specific habitats.

 

[Opa]

I would get some 2x3x36 welded wire. It's reasonably inexpensive and I would bend it 90 degrees at 18". I would next dig a trench 6" deep and 18" wide around the area you want to fence. Place wire in trench and attach to posts. Backfill trench. Fox aren't going to spend much effort digging once they hit the wire. I also would add a hot wire around the perimeter about 6" off the ground. We have a raccoon, skunk, and possum population in our area that is out of control. Lots of fox and coyotes can be heard nightly, yet with this arrangement I haven't had any problems.

 

[g_a_brand]

OPA that is a beautiful run and coop !! when I seen it I had to show my hubby. We are trying to figure out how we are going to build our run ( we want them somewhat free range but within our yard and not the neighbors lol )
The pics of your run will help us alot .. Thanks

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:
WOW!!!!! That is awesome!