Why not chain link??

[yardbird40]

I have 6 RIR in a large dog kennel .I put more chain link on the top. Then i put 3' chicken wire around the bottom .One foot was buried and the other two feet i wire tied it the dog kennel. I have coons and dogs try to get in with no luck so far. A buddy off mine just gave me 100' x6' chain link the other day .i can see a large run in the future.

 

[wombat]

Chain link would be extremely sturdy. I'd suggest getting a roll of 3' high hardware cloth and running this all the way around the bottom of the run, just attach it to the inside or outside of the chain link. That will stop any problems with reach-ins by racoons, or birds sticking their heads out. Better yet, get a 4' high roll, and bury the bottom foot of it.

 

[osagebill88]

I built mine out of chain link and I have the bottom reinforced with chicken wire. With me it was the pain of momma hen's chicks shooting through the wire...that is why I split the wire into and in-cased the run.

 

[Garlydog]

There are slats that you can weave into the chain link that virtually blocks the hole. This is the approach I am planning for my run.

 

[kuntrychick]

Quote:
I completely forgot about these! But now that you mention it, I remember seeing those. I'm remembering some diagonal looking green ones...

A quick google search:

http://www.discountfence.com/Slats/pvtslats.htm

and

http://productionfenceworks.blogspot.com/2009/04/privacy-slats-chain-link-fence-privacy.html

Looks pretty neat!

 

[Davaroo]

... and the slats would remove the visual element. You may not be able to see them as well, but then neither would those predators that are visually driven, like domestic dogs.

 

[MIKE555444]

My run is made from 6' chain link fence. I burried 6" in th e ground all the way around using a pick type tool. It was alot of work but I feel it is very secure. We allso useded landscaping timbers as post. I don't have small preditors in my area and don't feel the need for anything else to reinforce the larger holes. I have already bought my electric fence though and plan on running it around the top egde very soon.

Here is a pic

 

[patandchickens]

I'd be careful about those slat things. The ones I'm familiar with, you can still see through them a bit (thus, I'd worry about attracting as much or more predator activity) but also it is possible to poke something alongside them and then get it stuck against the sharp edge of the aluminum. (I think the slats come in vinyl too and maybe that's not as sharp). I'd worry about a chicken trying to peck towards the edge and its beak going in and not coming back out without a nasty wound. Perhaps I am just being overly paranoid, but, if it were me I would not use them for anything but a windbreak or shade, and if I *did*, I'd still put some smaller mesh over them to be safe.

BTW if you use chainlink, make sure it is GOOD stuff -- there is some really thin weebly stuff on teh market these days, which is very "affordable" but I can virtually rip gaps in it with my bare hands and I am no bodybuilder

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[allison finch]

I use chain link. I, originally, only put chicken wire on the bottom half of the fencing. This was to prevent the chickens putting their heads through making them vulnerable to attack. THEN, squirrels and birds were going through the upper portion of the fence to eat the chicken food. I have since fully lined the chain link with chicken wire.

Since I only needed three sides for the run, I used the extra panel for a roof. I finished the roof area off with chicken wire too.

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

I use dog kennel panels for my run, and have 4' of chicken wire covering the bottom half of the panels. Never had a problem.

Good Luck!