Texas

[Texasmja]

Hung did you ever work at Christus?

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Chicken wire will keep chickens in but will not keep predators out. Even small predators like possums, raccoons, and small dogs can rip apart such flimsy wire. Heavy gauge woven or welded wire is a better option. We use it along with 4 ft tall chicken wire on the inside bottom of the runs - the chicken wire helps to keep small chicks in as well as keeping most of a mature chicken's head inside the run instead of sticking it out for a something to bite/pull off.

So you double up the wire?

This will be my chicken coop. I am putting that inside a larger run area that will be fully enclose (all sides and top) with chicken wire. Should I look at getting something like this too?

 

[hungnguyen]

Hung did you ever work at Christus?

No, I don't even know what that is ... but I did stay at the Holiday Inn last night.

 

[bnjrob]

So you double up the wire?

This will be my chicken coop. I am putting that inside a larger run area that will be fully enclose (all sides and top) with chicken wire. Should I look at getting something like this too?

Yes, we double up the wire. We use the heavy gauge wire that is for keeping larger animals penned and then put on a layer of chicken wire - inside the run so predators can't just grab it from the outside and tear it up.

That wire in the link would work. The wire we get just has the larger rectangles in it all over, rather than having those smaller squares at the bottom as the wire in the link has. I don't know what is cheaper. We buy it in big rolls because we use so much so I don't know if it would be any cheaper compared to the garden wire fencing you linked to.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Yes, we double up the wire. We use the heavy gauge wire that is for keeping larger animals penned and then put on a layer of chicken wire - inside the run so predators can't just grab it from the outside and tear it up.

That wire in the link would work. The wire we get just has the larger rectangles in it all over, rather than having those smaller squares at the bottom as the wire in the link has. I don't know what is cheaper. We buy it in big rolls because we use so much so I don't know if it would be any cheaper compared to the garden wire fencing you linked to.

I have that wire around my garden right now and I am replacing it with chicken wire. I might be able to reuse it on the chicken coop, but will probably buy new since it will be easier to install. My whole back yard is fenced in with chain link fencing so hopefully with all three fences I won't have any issues.

 

[TexasLisa]

This week I have audit going on at work now. Then next week I have another audit on Mon-Tues. I can't wait till wed next week... I will be free after that.. This is when the fun begins. First I will be in Houston for the Thanksgiving, celebrating my mom's 90th b-day. Then at end of Dec.... a long trip to Vietnam to wed my wife and kiss my upcoming Charlie.

Hurry up... next week Wednesday ... pleeze

PS: Oops, it will be a cold wet weekend coming up... are ya'll ready? Time to move the chicks in-house

Hungnguyen, how long will you be gone? Are you staying until the baby is born? Tell your mom HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Lisa

So you double up the wire?

This will be my chicken coop. I am putting that inside a larger run area that will be fully enclose (all sides and top) with chicken wire. Should I look at getting something like this too?

I like your chicken coop. VERY NICE!!

From the picture, it looks like the coop is using hard wire. You can always run an electric fence around the bottom of your run.

Lisa

 

[gooselady]

Anyone have RIR`s?

I have 3 and they started laying about 8-9 months.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Thanks Lisa I hope mine turns out as nice as the photo. I am painting mine though so it will look different.

I don't have much power in my back yard and given what I have is two wire, not three wire, an electric fence is not an option. I have seen the solar batteries so that could be an option if I need more predator protection in the future.

 

[TammyTX]

Ms. JellyB - I don't know if it makes you feel better or worse, but I have had a dog rip open chain link fencing to get to a pet rabbit and a stray pitbull tore open our welded wire like butter. So, you do what you can and hope for the best.

The same person who said that "everything likes chicken" was right but should have added "...and if they want it bad enough they will find a way in." The only 100% secure chicken coop will be a concrete room with no windows or doors.

Don't let this discourage you. Luckily, most wild animals are lazy and don't want to work too hard for their food. Unfortunately, your neighborhood dogs have nothing else to do....

 

[TammyTX]

I am sad to say I lost all my black coppers. I had a friend hatch some blue coppers, and got 3. Then a broody killed two of the 3. So all I have left is a blue copper roo, albeit a gorgeous one, but none the less has been sold as he doesn't fit in my program.

I have a cuckoo Maran chick in my brooder. Hoping its a pullet.

I'm not sure I'm meant to raise Marans. I also lost one of my EEs yesterday. Some time between 12-5pm she disappeared. Not a feather or struggle or anything to indicate she was taken by a predator. Just....poof....gone. I'm really upset over it. She was gorgeous. Gold wheaten ish with a gorgeous blue hue to her feathers.

I'm sorry!

The Cuckoo Marans pullets are darker than the roos.

It sounds like a coyote or a coydog that grabbed your EE. We have had a coydog run through here in the middle of the day...and I saw a coyote a few months ago stalking some sheep in the middle of the afternoon.

We need spike collars for our chickens!!