Washingtonians

[KMHunter]

Quote: I layed chicken wire around and up the side about 4-5 inches of my run to keep bigger animals from digging. It's now covered in grasses and weeds so you can't see it but if something starts to dig it will run into it. I also have electric wires running around my coop. Most predators lead with their nose and will come into contact with the wire closest to the ground(5-6" up) and will be zapped!

It is more expensive to do this and if you have little kids you may want to skip it to avoid shocking them. They may not appreciate the fact that you are just trying to keep your flock safe. I live out in an urban area and coyotes and bobcats come through here, so I have taken more precautions.

 

[FirewifeJess]

I wouldn't leave food out at night. It attracts rats and raccoon, and possum, and Lord knows what else. Chickens don't eat at night, so they don't need it.

I will have a hanging feeder from the roof of the run, and a waterer sitting on a concrete block. There's not really another place for the food besides my bedroom, which has a door straight outside near the coop. I guess I just wanted something that would be rodent-proof...would the hanging feeder 6-8" above the ground and away from all climbable walls be enough to keep rodents from accessing the feed?

 

[FirewifeJess]

Another thing: it would be MUCH cheaper to use chicken wire instead of hardware cloth if y'all don't think I need to use it for rodent protection with the hanging feeder. I would love to just buy that stuff and be done with it, vs. saving up for a while to afford the hardware cloth. eesh.

 

[KMHunter]

Another thing: it would be MUCH cheaper to use chicken wire instead of hardware cloth if y'all don't think I need to use it for rodent protection with the hanging feeder. I would love to just buy that stuff and be done with it, vs. saving up for a while to afford the hardware cloth. eesh.

I leave feed out and have it hanging so it is harder for rodents to get in. I won't say that it keeps 100% out but I am always looking for signs and I put traps out at night. I have Rat Zappers in my shed to catch the field mice. As I posted a little earlier, I used chicken wire to put around the bottom for preventing digging. I haven't had anything dig around my run yet except the chickens on the inside. Lol!

 

[FirewifeJess]

I leave feed out and have it hanging so it is harder for rodents to get in. I won't say that it keeps 100% out but I am always looking for signs and I put traps out at night. I have Rat Zappers in my shed to catch the field mice. As I posted a little earlier, I used chicken wire to put around the bottom for preventing digging. I haven't had anything dig around my run yet except the chickens on the inside. Lol!

Perhaps I'll look into that! I think it sounds MUCH easier to just use chicken wire! How high off the ground should I expect to hang the feeder so they can access it, but so that it is as high off the ground as possible?

 

[Totalcolour]

Today marks a the completion of what has proven to be a very tough year for me. See it was one year ago today that after 30++ years I gave up smokeless tobacco. This has not been easy and I am still struggling with it.
I have had some pretty tempting times to go back.

congratulations! I gave up almost just over 6 years ago (April 22nd). Best thing I ever did and the craving will eventually go away!

Quote:
Thank you - we are still "adjusting"

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Fire...,
Running out of time this morning.

Here's a possible solution to your gate gap issue. This is not my run, but I did the same thing when I found a possum wiggling through.
My resolution:

ETA- I really dislike using chicken wire.
I have some you can have for free if you want.
I believe I have 1 new roll of 1" hex 2 x 10 ft.
and most of roll of 2" hex, no idea how big right now. Not sure how long the roll was. I don't remember ever using it.
And just an afterthought, I use a chainlink dog run for the chickens too. See my page for a picture. I put one panel/side inside as the floor. 8 years later no rust. Does keep the chickens from digging so much, but there is a few inches of mulch/dirt in there.

Imp

 

[Zgoatlady]

Hi! Another newbie like me. I don't really know who to talk to here, so I'll talk to you, LOL! Where's Omak? I'm in Covington, near Kent. We got our first ever chicks March 31, they're 5 weeks old now and super fun! I have 3 Buff Orpington, 2 Easter Eggers, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Black Australorps, and 2 Welsummer. I think we have one roo but not sure yet, could even be 2 in there. What kind of coop are you building?

I use to homeschool one of my sons he is now 21.
So we all need to make a date and get together and talk chickens.

So my Cream Legbars only had one egg hatch go a cute little girl and of course the Sizzle did pretty good. I left the CL eggs in the incubator to see if they will hatch. Im not holding my breath. I will have a hatch again on the 6th of blue eggs but not the CL..
Oh I need to run and get stuff done around here have to go to work early..

 

[FirewifeJess]

I use to homeschool one of my sons he is now 21.
So we all need to make a date and get together and talk chickens.

So my Cream Legbars only had one egg hatch go a cute little girl and of course the Sizzle did pretty good. I left the CL eggs in the incubator to see if they will hatch. Im not holding my breath. I will have a hatch again on the 6th of blue eggs but not the CL..
Oh I need to run and get stuff done around here have to go to work early..

Hi nice to meet ya! I would love to get together with another chicken mama! My kids are 5, 3, and 2, and we're home schooling (mildly, he's only in K). I just bought a great book which will arrive today called Chick Days, should be super fun for the kids to go along with our IRL chick experience while we learn during school.

 

[Imp]

Have a good one. I'm off to work.

Russ