Why hardware cloth for the run?

[RockyPhoenix]

Quote:
i have to disagree....ive had chicken wire on my run for a year and a half now and none of my birds have been killed,injured,etc.

 

[Msbear]

I believe it all depends on where you are. If you are in a very rural area that backs up to trees, then the hardware cloth would be your best option... well, it probably is your "best" option anyway...

But, if you live somewhere like I do ... near a busy road with lots of housing developments around, the only thing I really need to worry about is an occasional stray dog or a hawk. Im a stay at home mom and spend a lot of time with my birds and in my garden so welded wire is definitely not necessary here. A hawk cannot penetrate it and the strays have been a little curious (like 3 in the past 3 years) but never paid them much attention.

My birds are all out loose right now so welded wire definitely wouldn't help them today

I only use the runs when I am going to be gone all day and don't want them locked up.

 

[drmeyes236]

Thank you everyone! I live in a suburban neighborhood, I have never seen a stray dog and I have 2 dogs of my own. If a stray cat or dog were to come into my yard my ankle biter would bark his head off! I plan on housing them at night. We have deer more than anything in the yard. I plan on having only 5 silkies in there.

 

[TwittyBird]

snakes will EAT your chickens! Be your own Judge, choose your own faith! Learn from your mistakesif you make one!

 

[Msbear]

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There are 6 ft. long black snakes that live in my dad's barn. They have gotten peeps before but never the full grown birds.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

OP -

I would recommend you at least put hardware cloth on the bottom 2-3 ft and then apron it out to prevent your ankle biters or anything else from biting off the heads of your little silkies that stick their heads through the chicken wire or preditors that could/would dig under.

With the shorter days coming and work schedules, your little fuzzy butts may be out in the run when it's still dark out.

Go to the Preditor and Pest section and read up on all the posts about people who lost their birds because they only had chicken wire or they forgot to lock up their birds at night or relaxed about locking the birds up at night because they never had a problem before.

It all comes down to what degree of protection is IMPORTANT to you.

 

[Mahlzeit]

I use this green garden fencing for my runs. It looks nicer than the chicken wire and in my opinion it is also stronger. Not any more expensive than chicken wire here either. I lock mine up at night also. So this is just for the daytime.

 

[Msbear]

WOW!! That is quite a chicken compound. Awesome!!

 

[CityChook]

Quote:
Don't underestimate your predator population just because you are in the burbs. Citi-fied raccoons are fierce and some are completely unafraid of humans. And they will come out during daylight hours, especially if they have babes to feed (I know this from experience). Glad to hear that you will lock your chooks at night. Just be aware that things can happen during the day, too. It must be a risk you are willing to take. For me it was better to bite the bullet, get out my wallet, install the hardware wire and sleep comfortably...

Good luck!

 

[mdbokc]

I use just chicken wire and electric fence. With enough juice running through the electric fence that even an adult will yell, cuss and shout some more if they make contact. Raccoons hit it over two nights and they haven't been back. I leave nothing to chance the electric fence is on 24/7, the exception being during their daily free range periods. And I check it (the actual fence electrical circuit)each time it is turned to ensure the fence is not grounded out anywhere. I want it ready to fry anything that touches it. Knock on wood, no problems.