Type of wire for chicken run????

[CarlaRiggs]

Taratrip ~

The wire angles out and away from the run; if a predator digs, she'll hit the wire and won't continue digging. One hopes!

Jdypat ~

Sounds as if you've got things perfectly set up.... happy chickens and happy grandsons.

Aren't grandchildren just the best??

Carla

 

[taratrip]

thank you carla!
thats what i thought but wasnt sure!

i've been calling around all morning to hardware stores and the cheapest i found the hardware cloth was $150 for 100 feet at 4 feet high with 1x1 openings. does that sound right to everyone?!
he also had 4x2 openings for $100. but i figured the extra $50 would be worth it so then i wouldnt have to add chicken wire over it.
i only want to make my run about 4 feet wide x 10 feet long x 4 feet high....but then i was thinking if i bury a foot of it then that would only leave me with a 3 ft tall run! the coop is going to be one of those wooden playhouses for $300 at lowes. but i dont want to break my back everytime i have to clean out the run. so maybe should i get 5 foot high?! i just dont want to waste money but i also dont want to have to do it over again!

 

[sms1225]

I just found 1/2"x1/2" hardware cloth, 4' wide by 25' long at a local Ace hardware for 32.00. TSC and Rural King only had 5' lengths. You would think those 2 stores would have a better selection, vs a hardware store. The hardware cloth is so expensive, but I want to build the run really well, so there will be no predator problems later on. I don't want to lose any of my chickens ever.

 

[calee]

I'm gonna use hardware cloth too, but I'm not sure what I'm gonna cover the run with. What are you covering yours with? Hardware cloth would be too expensive to use as a run cover for a 30 x 30 run.

 

[okiemommy]

i'm not sure if you have already answered this but, could someone tell me what an apron is?

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Tara,
A 100' roll would give you all the wire you need for a run, and then some. I would suggest making your run 6' tall; you can put two horizontal strips of 4' tall wire around the run. This would give you 8 feet from top to bottom, which is plenty to bury under ground. Put the playhouse up on a wooden foundation with 2' legs, and it will be the same height as your run. Easier to piece it all together this way.

Okie Mommy,
An apron is extra wire at the bottom of the run which is spread out onto the ground, preventing predators from digging under the run. It can also be thought of as a type of flange.

Usually a predator will attempt to dig under right at the bottom of the coop. If the wire makes a 45 degree turn, then the predator can't dig through/under to the chickens.

Carla

 

[sms1225]

I don't know what would be the best material for the top as well. I know the hardware cloth would be expensive, but it would be much stronger than a netting. I'm afraid a racoon, etc could crawl up the side walls of the run(hardware cloth) and once they get to the top, if the material is not strong enough, they could get into the run. They are heavy animals.

 

[KPort Chick]

how do you all "bury" the wire? Just dig a trench all the way around the outside of the run and set the wire in?

 

[taratrip]

Thank you so much Carla!
I just went to order the hardware cloth at the hardware store and that is exactly what the guy suggested! I recruited my neighbor who is in construction to help me along. My husband actually said he will build the house. I knew he would eventually come around but this was a little quicker than I thought! I really thought he'd make me suffer a little more! ugh MEN! but I cant wait till its done and I get my little babies in there!
Do you know how accurate mypetchicken.com is with the sexing of the chicks? are some breeds easier to tell than others? I would really love for my kids to see the chicks but I cant take the chance on getting a roo. and I also wanted to have a good layer and from what I'm reading the silkies often go broody and stop laying! so I was thinking maybe only getting one or two silkies and a buff orp.
thanks again for your input!
tara

 

[spook]

We used "chick" wire, the 1" holes, this is 6' heigh. Then tied ropes to each other and to the roof of the hen "porch" (winter use, explain later), draped fruit tree netting over the top. During the day, we worry about Fox and hawks, the girls are locked in at night.
For the quick route, spring so it seems like everything needs to be done yesterday, we had cut a tree down, I rolled the logs over to the bottom of the wire and stapled it to it.
I plan on digging down a 1 1/2 ft and replacing it with wire and wood to look better.
Hope the sun comes out at some point...then I'll submit photos for all to see. (Its nothing special but DH has ADD and ADHD)