What really is cheaper, buidling ones run or new panels

[patandchickens]

They're not really comparable, you get a different end result.

If you use kennel panels, only however much you choose to cover with hardwarecloth will be proof against small things reaching or climbing through. (Also, I am not clear on the reason for your needing an extra door panel in addition to the standard dog kennel which usually *includes* a door?)

If you use all-hardwarecloth, then, well, it's all hardwarecloth.

Personally I do not see a lot of real necessity for all-hardwarecloth in most situations, unless you are trying to keep out rats (lots of luck there, even if you DO have all hardwarecloth!), or are exceptionally paranoid about weasels or snakes, or are planning to leave the coop door open all night (not a good idea IMO even if you DO have all hardwarecloth).

But, it's a personal choice.

Also be aware that a lot of cheap chainlink is not dogproof -- yeah, this INCLUDES a lot of stuff being sold *as* dog kennels. Make sure you inspect it first. If it is light-gauge and/or not stretched real tight and/or attached only with clips instead of bolted-thru fasteners, be real suspicious of it, unless you will be putting it somewhere no dog or coyote is likely to be able to get to in the first place.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[wannabchick]

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[elmo]

It's a cost/benefit/risk analysis. I'm super paranoid about predators because our chickens are beloved pets, and we would be crushed if they fell victim to a raccoon, etc. So we built the run with hardware cloth even though we lock the flock inside a solid coop at night. It's certainly possible that I could go out someday and not come home in time to lock them in before dark, or theoretically (ha ha) possible that we could go away overnight and leave the pop door open so they could put themselves to bed and come out in the morning.

And I've also seen a racoon once in our yard during daylight hours, shortly after sunup one morning.

 

[Netherworldtaken]

most of the expense of build my coop and run came from the coop portion. the run was chicken wire and 2x4s. check out the page and you can see it. 2x4s are cheep and so is the chicken wire.

 

[georgialee]

First, you can use t-posts instead of wood posts. You can do it yourself and they're strong. Put several posts or something along the center of the run (7 ft tall) and then drape bird netting over the entire run and zip tie it tightly to the fence.


Let's break it down:

1 roll livestock fencing - 60" x 50' - $44 at Lowes (makes the run 12x12)
12 - 6 ft t-posts - $50 ($4.19 each at Lowes)
2 - 7 ft t-posts - $11 (5.50 ea)
1 bird net (14'x14') - $12 (I think - you'll have to check at lowes)

Total: $117

If you want to divide the run in half and not have to buy more fence, make the run 9x9 (take out one t-post on each side - one every 4.5 feet should be fine) and run the extra fence down the middle of run and attach it to the two poles you have holding the netting up.

Hope that helps a little bit.

I will say, if you do the netting on the top make sure your coop is fort knox.

 

[Qi Chicken]

We did a 300 sq ft run and we used hardware cloth. 1 inch sized for the apron and bottom two feet or so and larger for the rest. We also did the top. We used wood posts. It was a ton of labor but the end result was good. If we go away for a weekend we can leave the chicken door open so they can go into the run. They are very secure in there. Personally I don't think a 200$ difference in the long run makes much difference. Make it the right way one time and you won't have to learn the hard way. We did the coop and run at the same time and I didn't divide it out but I am pretty sure it wasn't over 500$ and we did it a little bigger than you plan and also did the top. We have a lot of predators out here and have not had any problems when they are inside the run. Our home store is Theisen's, they have a bag every so often that anything you can fit in it is 20% off. Menards does this too. You can save quite a bit of money that way if you plan ahead.

 

[paisleycj]

Quote:
have you checked into electric netting fencing? I get mine from Premier Fencing, it's actually more of a sheep supply store, but they have electric poultry netting. I love mine. I can move it around as I want to, dogs, coyotes and other creatures give it a wide berth, and the chickens don't fly over it. As far as I'm concerned, this stuff is better than sliced bread!!

 

[patandchickens]

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Well again you end up with a much different product, they're not directly comparable.

Cattle panels have great big holes. You would absolutely HAVE to put something small-mesh near the bottom, and for whatever portion is above that, there are a bunch of predators that can get thru cattle panel holes that cannot get thru chainlink holes. OTOH nothing is going to pull apart a cattle panel, whereas *cheap* chainlink panels can be ripped open (good ones cannot)

You cannot compare the gauge of the cattle panel wire with the gauge of the chainlink, the weakness of chainlink is that it is merely wrapped not welded so a strong creature can just distort the meshes to pry a hole open, unless the chainlink is heavy gauge and real well stretched. Can't do that with cattle panel b/c the wires are welded together. But again, the cattle panel has bigger holes so more is able to simply go *thru*.

It comes down to what you most want the fence to do, what you consider your biggest risks.

BTW you can use t-posts for the middle of the fences but I would seriously suggest using WOOD posts for the corners. You can install the wood posts yourself unless you have some seriously limiting physical problem, all you have to do is dig a 3' hole (a lot of people get away with 2'6" although I am not *recommending* it) and then tamp the dirt in real good every 4" or so when refilling around the post. It is not a big deal. And makes a MUCH stronger and more sag-proof corner post than a t-post does (unless you do complex bracing schemes that are rather difficult to do properly with t-posts and realistically nobody DOES anyhow)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[wannabchick]

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have you checked into electric netting fencing? I get mine from Premier Fencing, it's actually more of a sheep supply store, but they have electric poultry netting. I love mine. I can move it around as I want to, dogs, coyotes and other creatures give it a wide berth, and the chickens don't fly over it. As far as I'm concerned, this stuff is better than sliced bread!!

Interesting, now what do you for for hawks flying into it..swooping down, or a raccoon leaping from a tree limb into it

Sounds great if it were like 6 foot height

And a top across it..lol

 

[wannabchick]

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Thank u for your advise

All so overwhelmed

I was reign to have a really nice size run for really under 300.00

That's why I began gearing more confused

But thank u so much