With the fall approaching, I feel like I need to add some extra protection to my chicken run. Their coop is on a concrete slab under a lean-to and I have hardware cloth going from support beam to support beam making a 12 x 12 run for them surrounding the coop. The hardware cloth only goes up 4 feet where it is secured to a 2 x 4, above that is just bird netting. So far, we’ve had no issues with predators but the bird netting isn’t very strong and I’m certain a determined predator could get into the run if they wanted. The girls are locked in their coop at night and feee range during the day.
I have an extra fence charger and lots of extra fencing, but I’m not sure the best way to electrify the outside of the run. What heights would you place a wire? How would you attach it?
You might consider net fencing, like is used for sheep and goats. Put it up around the outside of cement slab. Then plug it in. Predators can’t get close to the coop fencing or coop to tear anything loose. Not sure how you go thru to enter the enclosure. Probably comes with instructions on how to close the circle and be totally electrified. Do not add a separate gate, predators will climb the non-electric gate to get in.
I could easily attach insulators to the 2x4s where the bird netting and hardware cloth meet, so that would be simple enough. I’m just not sure what to attach another strand to higher up on the bird netting .
@goodhors You can’t see in the picture, but there is a small door where I enter the run that is made out of a metal dog kennel gate with 1x2 rectangles. I’m thinking I could use a piece of electric across the gate with one of those electric fence gate handles? That area is another weakness I worry about, the holes are large enough for something to squeeze through, so maybe even do two strands of electric across the gate?
A line a few inches above ground level might also be useful, but a hassle with things that grow and snow.
Can you just line the gate with hardware cloth? Protecting all of those openings is probably impossible otherwise. Dealing with electric at the gate would be a hassle everyday!
I was thinking of having the netting seperate from the coop, not touching a thing but the posts fence is supported by. So you would have to enter the net fence, then enter the coop door. We get serious predators here, so net fence on posts away from coop (like a stockade wall) does not allow any openings or climbable things, to let animals in/over, to reach the coop at all.
And make sure the hardware cloth is well grounded!
If a small critter is climbing the bird netting (plastic, right?) and touches the electric wire, it won’t be grounded so no shock. So a wire there would only serve for big things (bear) that have feet on the ground, or at least something long enough that its hind legs are still on the hardware cloth.
I’d put 2-3 strands of electric fence wire on stand-off insulators attached to the posts, one low, one at the top of the hardware cloth, maybe one in the middle (probably overkill). That’s what the neighbors do to keep bear out of their chickens - in that case the metal fence is about 6’ high with 2 or 3 hot strands. Maybe not spaced too far from the hardware cloth so smaller things can’t climb without contacting the hot wire.
For the gate, an electric gate hook would work, but easier to just attach the hot wire to the gate on standoff insulators - they do make insulators to hook into chain link fence. The wire could be continuous across the hinge of the gate so it’s always hot, gate open or closed. (Again, that’s what our neighbors have.)
I used to keep chickens in a 10x10 dog kennel and ran a thin strand about 8" off the ground and about 8" away from the edge of the kennel fence. In the mornings I’d turn it off, open the kennel and let the babies run for the day. At night, more than once I heard a raccoon squeal in surprise, pain, and frustration. So gratifying.
Hmm that’s a good idea. The gate is probably only 2’ wide, it was part of a dog play pen thing and it’s currently lined with the bird netting but hardware cloth would definitely be more secure. I just despise working with it, it never fails that I slice my fingers open :lol:
I love that idea, but am afraid it wouldn’t work with my set up. Three sides of the lean-to are enclosed in a 4’ post and rail fence, and a chain link dog kennel is on the fourth side. I pretty much have to attach it to the corner posts of the run. Your setup sounds super secure though, I’d imagine you don’t lose many chickens!!
Thank god we don’t have bears to deal with! And really, our coop is super close to the house and our three big dogs have a dog door and are outside barking anytime they hear anything…they do a great job scaring things away. Knock on wood, I haven’t once seen anything trying to mess with the chickens!
I’m trying to picture what you mean for the gate, if the gate is always hot do I turn off the fence to open and close it? If the chickens touch it, won’t they get shocked? I’m sure I’m just interpreting it wrong…can you break it down for me :lol:
Hahaha that’s definitely satisfying!! I may do something like that on the front side, where the gate is located. That part is inside the fenced area so could be set a few inches in front of it…
There are just a few hot lines across the gate (however many hot strands are on the rest of the fence) and they’re on stand-off insulators so you just don’t touch that part of the gate - but the vast majority of the gate (including the latch) aren’t hot. The hot wires are on the outside of the gate so the chickens shouldn’t be able to touch them.
I should try to go over to the neighbors’ place tomorrow to get some pictures! I feel like I can’t describe this simply, but it is simple.
I think dogs do discourage a lot of wildlife. We haven’t had bears in our yard and I think our dog may have something to do with it - and he’s not that big (not small, either - 65 lbs - but no competition for a bear). Of course we don’t have that much to attract them. But no one is eating the fallen apples in the lawn. And the groundhogs who had moved in & were steadily increasing their clan before we got our dog now appear completely gone. On the other hand, we have some resident fox, and if I’m right about who’s been leaving signs for the last year (footprints in snow, scat in summer), they spend a lot of time very close to the barn & pasture gate, so clearly not concerned by the dog (who barks from inside the kitchen & back screen porch at night but can’t get out). I recently ID’d the ungodly sound of some smallish critter strolling slowly down the road (shone light, saw 2 eyes) as a vixen scream.
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