Will this be sufficient to keep things out or do I need to add electric fencing around?

[duluthralphie]

Thanks. I do have a good ground rod. I'm getting tired of pounding it in and removing it. I live in boulder country. That ground rod has taken on some interesting contours over the last 30+ years I've had it! I could do the stand off plastic insulators around the run, and then hook that to my electronet. Run polytape around coops/run, garden, and area between. Work the electronet into the area somehow, with deer netting over the top to keep the blasted hawks out.

I use 2 inch bird netting from Amazon for the top, I use the yellow poly-wire around the edges on mine with those insulators Howard showed.

I have about 4 strands of wire around the fencing as I have really smart persistent predators here.

https://www.amazon.com/Netting-Bird...=1522848729&sr=8-6&keywords=game+bird+netting

I have had some up 5 years and the snow has not taken it down yet. I have one I have to drop this year and remove the branches from it and hang it back up. Works great..

 

[lazy gardener]

How much snow do you get? The snow sticks to my 2 x 4 welded fencing over the top, and I have to knock it down. Last heavy wet storm we had, about 15" worth, I had to knock it down 3 - 4 times. The last time I did so, the snow had completely covered the fencing, and was building up across the whole top.

 

[HoopyFrood]

How much snow do you get? The snow sticks to my 2 x 4 welded fencing over the top, and I have to knock it down. Last heavy wet storm we had, about 15" worth, I had to knock it down 3 - 4 times. The last time I did so, the snow had completely covered the fencing, and was building up across the whole top.

I opted for aviary netting, too, like @duluthralphie . I don't think you and I can ever completely avoid the knocking-off chore. But since the wind makes the net flex, even in the worst storm we had, there was no way for even 2" able to accumulate on the aviary netting. Certainly not enough to ever close the holes. I still had to knock snow off after every storm, but at least I didn't have to do it DURING the storm

 

[HoopyFrood]

So this is the chicken run I'm currently building. ... My question is should I still safeguard and run some electric netting along the base? I don't want to go through all this expense to just have something get in and kill all the chickens.

If you have raccoons, possums, weasels, or anything like that they will be able to climb any run fence that isn't electrified. If those are a threat, a run roof or an electrified fence are probably your best answers. But that is a big run! So maybe the electric fence makes the most sense?

But do you have aerial predators? Obviously they are not deterred by an electric fence Perhaps aviary netting might be an option?

Oh and "common wisdom" says the fencing should be buried 2 feet, which is ridiculous. So X2 what others have wisely suggested, just lay a skirt of fencing on the ground away from the run fence for as far as makes you feel good. Most people say two feet. I have one section where it's closer to one foot. But I haven't seen any diggers trying to exploit that.

But that is a great looking run! Good luck!

 

[lazy gardener]

I laid my skirt under the sod, or where there was no sod, I buried it 2" deep. I agree that it's simply not practical to bury it down vertically 18" or more as is often suggested.

 

[duluthralphie]

How much snow do you get? The snow sticks to my 2 x 4 welded fencing over the top, and I have to knock it down. Last heavy wet storm we had, about 15" worth, I had to knock it down 3 - 4 times. The last time I did so, the snow had completely covered the fencing, and was building up across the whole top.

I get lots of snow, I have about 18-24 inches on the ground right now. I received most of that in last 4 days. Not on bit stuck on the netting. Once in a while it will stick but the wind moves it enough like @HoopyFrood says it falls through. I have had more trouble with snow sticking and getting overly heavy on wire than on the netting.

As I said I will have to pull one net down (a side at a time) to remove sticks and branches that are in it. But that net is 5-6 years old and is right under my old oak trees. This will be the first year I pull it down.

Picture from yesterday:

 

[HoopyFrood]

I get lots of snow, I have about 18-24 inches on the ground right now. I received most of that in last 4 days.
...
Picture from yesterday:View attachment 1324345

I'm glad to know Maine isn't the only place with odd "spring" weather

Thanks for the info on the netting! I bought one (more than) twice as big as I needed figuring when the old one wore out, I'd have a replacement. Sounds like I may be covered for quite some time!

 

[duluthralphie]

I'm glad to know Maine isn't the only place with odd "spring" weather

Thanks for the info on the netting! I bought one (more than) twice as big as I needed figuring when the old one wore out, I'd have a replacement. Sounds like I may be covered for quite some time!

The hard part with these is figuring out where "square" starts they are cut so weirdly.

 

[HoopyFrood]

The hard part with these is figuring out where "square" starts they are cut so weirdly.

Mine was 25' x 50' - trying to get that squarely stretched out in grass and then cut perfectly in half was a bit of a head scratcher!

 

[2003ChickenZamon]

It's always good to be safe and not sorry and it sounds like an amazing run. Just a suggestion, but you might want to double check your mesh for the top. If it's too thin the hawks and owls and such will just tear right through.