We have a secure area for the girls, covered and all to keep the hawks and resident owl at bay. That area is only about 400 square feet and we're going to extend the run using one existing fence line and putting new up to the tune of 400-500' of fencing. Our main predator is the coyote, but really have a combo platter. So if I run a strand of barbed wire on the top of the ground , 6' of 2x4 fence mesh and a strand or two of barbed above- does that sound about right? Thanks.
Chicken run VS predators
- Thread starter tomplum
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RNeumann
Elite Member
They likely dig under before going over a 6’ fence.
nybirdman
Super Member
Best to bury a foot of wire around the out side perimeter for ground predators.I also have an electric fence around the outside.I have about a 1/2 acre of pheasant pens so predators are a constant battle.I have 2" net over-head for birds of prey and to keep mine in.
Thomas
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Might be good idea bury fence least 6" below ground.
So bury some barbed wire or some poultry netting maybe? Or the bottom of the 2x4 mesh? Under our chain link, I just laid some mesh 18" out from the fence to discourage digging. Once fence line is established so digging there won't be a joy as it would be by hand. Just at the edge of a hay field so it's going to be trimmed out so I can work there. Fortunately the other long edge just might be near enough to the road bed of the drive that it will be rock filled. It not, I can at least zip a quick trench w/ the tractor.
atsah
Elite Member
Heavy boards 12 inches wide with three inch nails upwards at the base of you're fence. They don't try to dig under our fence anymore since we did this..
TnAndy
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2x4 welded wire won't last long buried....rusts out. We used 16'x54" cattle panels, buried 8", with 6' 2x4 welded wire tied to them for height. Never had a 'dig under' issue, but climbing predators like raccoons will simply scale about anything and be right in. Only solution for them is lock up the flock at night.
BTW, rebar tie wire loops (we use galvanized ones) and this twist tool make tie wire to wire, or wire to T posts (get 10" ties) a snap.
BTW, rebar tie wire loops (we use galvanized ones) and this twist tool make tie wire to wire, or wire to T posts (get 10" ties) a snap.
2LaneCruzer
Super Member
TomIre
Gold Member
We zip tied poultry netting to the outside of the woven wire so that a couple of feet lay flat on the ground in the outside. Before too long grass and dirt his the poultry net. That was four years ago. Still there and nothings dug under. Coons will climb about anything though. For them an electric wire a foot short of the top works.