So I came up with this run design...

[Tightanium]

Hello, I know I'm a new face here, so I'll post an introduction topic soon
I am saving up right now and working my chickenass off to go start a homestead in Italy. Hopefully if everything goes right with the owner, I'll move there next July! So I came up with this sort of, half free-range, yet still a fenced run, for my chickens that I will raise. It looks a bit much however that's my style to be honest. I understand that I could do with just some chicken wire and a couple of cheap metal posts, however this would look much nicer and I think would last more.

Just to explain it a bit, the 2 big posts at the corners are the corner posts, which is why they are nice and thick. The medium size posts between each 'panel' are relatively small posts, just for structural integrity, I'd estimate half the corner posts. The panels would be pre-made by me, by simply nailing the frames and stapling some wire mesh. I would first set all the posts, using concrete at the bottom of the post holes, then once they are set, I would bolt the panels onto each posts. Just to let you know, this is a very rough drawing, the number of panels, posts etc will vary once I actually live there. Also, I visited the place last month, and it's incredibly flat, so this type of run/fence would look really nice. I'd love to hear some of your opinions, what to change, etc! Hope to see you all around

 

[PirateGirl]

I do not know what predators you have in Italy, so perhaps someone local to you can advise you if your plan will be sufficient in that regard. I like your design and by building it in panels it will be sturdy and you won't need a whole team of people to try and assemble it. I'm not sure how flat/even the ground will be at your location, but dealing with the slope may need to be considered as well.

I'm not sure what type of staples you mean, some types will work fine, others not...

"Fence Staples" are more heavy duty and would likely be adequate for your construction. If you do not have a pneumatic stapler/nail gun, these can be hammered in by hand (we did this, it's not too hard for a small run).

Lighter weight staples for a hand held staple gun probably aren't going to cut it.

 

[Tightanium]

Hey, thanks for liking the design! And yes, I did plan on building it in panels, as I will live there alone till I settle, definitely easier than having to ask random strangers for help xD
Originally I was thinking of the staples that you use with a manual stapler, however upon reading your reply and looking up the fence staples, you are right, they look much stronger, and would probably last longer. Thanks once again!

 

[Ridgerunner]

So you like to overdo things!!! I can help you with that.

Another way you might consider attaching the wire to the frame is to use furring strips. Take strips of wood about ¾” thick and lay it over the edges of the wire, then use screws to make a sandwich of wire between those strips of wood. If you put those screws in the holes in the wire and clamp them down tightly that wire is not going anywhere. Raw ends of the wire are covered so you don’t snag skin or clothing and it might look better. Drill pilot holes in the furring strip to make it easier to install the screws and keep from splitting the wood.

One issue you can have with a fence of any kind, even on really flat land, is that it takes very little room underneath for a lot of critters to squeeze through without digging, and many like to dig. I suggest you consider aprons. Take a strip of wire mesh maybe 18” wide and lay it flat on the ground on the outside of the run. Then firmly attach it to the bottom of your fence so nothing can squeeze through. In your case I’d suggest you take up the turf, say 2” thick and put that back on the wire mesh. That makes it look good plus it keeps the wire away from weed-eaters and lawn mowers. The idea is that the digging predator goes up to the fence and starts digging. They hit the wire and do not know to back up. It is really effective.

 

[Duckworth]

Choosing fencing really is dependent on both what you are fencing in and what you are fencing out. Function will drive form. Chicken wire and a few posts might keep your chicken contained, unless they chose to fly out, but predators are a concern for most poultry and waterfowl keepers, and fencing them out is typically harder than fencing the birds in.

I would encourage you to research the predators that are native to the area in which your homestead is located. Talk to other poultry keepers in the area and find out what they are experiencing and what they have found effective as protection for their flocks. Consider whether the area you intend to fence has natural cover to protect from birds of prey, no to mention storms, and whether your birds have ways to escape ground-based predators or whether you need to effectively fence them out. Then design your fence to accomplish the needed functions in whatever form suits your tastes and budget.

 

[Tightanium]

Out of curiosity, I messaged the owner on Facebook and asked him for some possible predators to poultry. He told me the only thing I should worry about are stray dogs and cats, as hawks and owls are rare.

 

[jthornton]

Out of curiosity, I messaged the owner on Facebook and asked him for some possible predators to poultry. He told me the only thing I should worry about are stray dogs and cats, as hawks and owls are rare.

Unless you have big cats and no rooster I would really worry about dogs. Dogs killed my entire flock in a minute or two. I'm still hunting the one dog that got away.

JT