Welded Wire for run, can't find 1X2, only 2X4

[silkiechicken]

2x4 should work for the run, and if you're too worried, wrap it in cheaper 1 inch chicken wire along the bottom. If the birds will by chance perch by the 2x4 openings at night, they would be at risk of being pulled out through the wire by a pred, so just make sure they are in the coop at bed time.

 

[heaths]

I can only auto-create a new thread, but not figure out how to auto-reply to a thread.

simulationcredit

 

[MrGreenJeans]

Not sure if it helps or not - I used hardware cloth on the bottom 3' of the run, then this stuff on the top half and roof. It's not quite as rigid as weld wire; it's looped where the wires cross.

 

[patandchickens]

IMHO, heavy gauge 2x4 wire is perfectly fine if you put something smaller along the bottom 2-3'. I like 1/2" chickenwire but it can be hard to find; 1/2" hardwarecloth is real good but pricier; really just normal ol' 1" chickenwire is really pretty adequate for any daytime purpose. Even plastic 1/2" garden mesh is not bad as long as it's just for daytime and you don't expect massive predator load on the fence -- you're just trying to keep heads and hands on the correct sides of the fence, you know?

Baby possums and very small baby raccoons can get thru 2x4" wire mesh, but they're not going to be out during the daytime to any meaningful degree, so as long as you lock the chickens up by dusk I don't think it's a big issue. Rats and weasels will get thru pretty much ANY run fencing so the fact that they can get thru 2x4 is not really an issue

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Quote:
Yes, I have the same problem with the door. If anyone has any good ideas on how to still use the door / gate and keep critters from squeezing through please let me know.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i use dog kennels on several of my pens. For the door openings, you can cut the hardware cloth so it is larger and overlaps the openings on each side of the door, so that when it's closed those openings are sealed. You would only be able to open the door outward. Does that make sense?

xfilesnumber1fan, very nice pen!

 

[patandchickens]

Or you can just attach wide boards to do the same thing (making a frame against which the door closes with a bit of overlap, on the bottom as well as both sides). That's what I do with chainlink gates, and it works very well and is easy to set up.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Can't those nice little raccoon hands that are made like us big peoples' pull that frame outward and then they can squeeze into the pen?

 

[patandchickens]

Mine are on the inside (so door only opens outwards), and raccoons can't push as strongly as they can pull -- but mine are also pretty strongly affixed to the frame, with metal pipe clamps screwed in and a buncha heavy gauge wire. I seriously do not think anything is going to budge them. Or if it does, it will rip the chainlink apart as easily.

So, just make it strong and strongly-attached

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Quote:
Good idea!