Soon to be newbie

Welcome to BYC! We're glad to have you.

I personally wouldn't use the 2" x 4" wire. Holes that large are large enough for a raccoon or other predator to reach through and attack a chicken. Hardware cloth is what I would recommend. It is sturdy, and raccoons can't reach through it.

 

Glad you joined us!

In my opinion, hardware cloth is the best material for runs. Its durable and its holes are small enough that chickens can't get caught in it or pulled out by predators. The only disadvantage that I know of is that it is rather expensive.

One thing you definitely don't want to use is chicken wire--it is weak (easily torn apart by animals), and predators can stick their claws in to pull out or eat parts of birds. The 2"x4" wire would probably work okay for only daytime use, but I personally would play it safe and stick with small holed hardware cloth.

 

Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. Hardward cloth is the only way to go. It's strong enough that larger predators can't tear through it, and the openings are small enough that small predators can't squeeze through the opening in the mesh and predators can reach through the openings. Hardware cloth has saved many chicken owners a lot of tears. Golden Comet is one of a number of labels under which some hatcheries market their Red Sex Links. They are produced by crossing a red gene rooster with a silver gene hen, and not only can the chicks be identified by color at hatching, but they are egg laying machines, outlaying either parent breed. You will get loads of eggs from those ladies. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in getting your flock.

 

The only negative I have ever heard about hardware cloth is the price. People use chicken wire because it is dirt cheap. It's flimsy and sags and any predator worth his salt can tear through it Hardware cloth securely affixed to wooden framework etc. will not sag or tear& will last a lot longer than chicken wire. You may want to focus on the predator and coop forums and see how best to protect your flock. Rule of thumb is allow 4 sq.feet inside the coop for each bird - not including roosting and nesting areas
Allow 10 sq. feet per bird in the enclosed outdoor run. A covered top will keep out climbers and raptors, if it's a solid top it will also provide some shelter from rain and snow.

 

Welcome to BYC - good luck in your coop/run construction.

 

glad you joined us and congrats on your spring planning.

Totally agree with the 1/2 " hardware cloth.. Unless you will always be close to protect them.

A prefab house is usually small? So likely they will be only roosting, laying there and spending most of their daytimes in the run. IMO you should think about a roof on the run, it does run the cost up, but gives then somewhere to live,scratch, play when raining…and bet in your area snowing.

If you are planning on baby chicks in the spring, you have plenty of time to get it done.

 

Hello and Welcome To BYC!