I'm planning to build a chicken run as soon as the mud dries up. I'm debating between a large chain-link dog kennel, and using boards and hardware cloth (or maybe 1x4 welded wire). My main question is: If my chickens go in at night, do I still need hardware cloth around the bottom of the run? I've read alot about raccoons reaching through and getting them, but I'm thinking that happens at night. I can't imagine a chicken just standing there waiting to get nabbed during the day. My other issue with the chain-link would be the thread of mink and weasels. We have those, too. I've had chickens for years, but have free-ranged them. Those days are over since I lost most of my flock to coyotes last year. The birds were disappeared during the daytime. There were several coyotes living in the cornfield next to the barn. Anyway, thanks in advance to any advice offered.
