They come on automatically at dusk and blink until daybreak, adding another layer of security to your coop and run area, as well as keeping the deer and raccoon out of your corn.
CHICKEN WIRE FOR GARDEN FREE
Pros: Keeps larger predators out, provides extra layer of securityĬons: Change of malfunctioning, takes a bit to set it up, expensive, doesn't protect from aerial predatorsīest Uses: Large free range area, layer of security around day runĪnother thing to consider for a bit of added night time protection is installing some NiteGuard Solar Predator Lights around your run and garden area. While electric fencing can be an expensive initial investment, and needs to be checked periodically to be sure it's working, once you have bought the kit and get it set up, it can provide a relatively large area where your chickens can free range safely. Structuring a double layer of fencing works well - meaning your run electric fencing around your run fencing with a sort of 'no man's land' of a foot or so in between to keep your chickens even safer.Įlectric fencing can also be effective if you want to let your chickens free range during the day and often change the location in which they roam. If you're worried about larger predators like bears, cougars or mountain lions, then electric fencing might be the way to go. To make your run more predator-proof if you aren't home during the day, the bottom two or three feet can be wrapped in a smaller gauge wire to keep snakes, mice and weasels out, and to prevent raccoon from reaching through the larger openings in the chain link.īut especially if you're battling larger, stronger predators such as coyotes, bob cats, mountain lions or bears, chain link is a very good choice for your run.Ĭons: Won't keep smaller predators out, hard to reconfigure or change the sizeīest Uses: Day run safety from large predators If you have an old dog run or can find some fencing on Craig's List, think about repurposing it into a chicken run. So if you're home all day, the run is visible from the house, the chickens only use it during the day and are locked in their coop at night, and you're mainly worried about hawks, then chicken wire is an affordable option to cover the top of your run.Ĭhicken wire is also a good option to separate your run (if you're integrating new flock members for instance), or to separate a broody hen and her chicks inside the coop from the general population.Ĭhain link is a great option for your chicken run. It won't stop a raccoon or weasel that might climb the side of your run or keep it out forever, but it would at least slow one down a bit.
And it shouldn't be used for your run if you leave your chickens in the run all day when no one is home.Ībout the only thing I might use chicken wire for around the run area is to cover the top to keep aerial predators out during the day. Chicken wire is made of galvanized wire and usually comes with 1" or 2"-sized hexagonal holes.Ĭhicken wire should never be used on coop vents, openings or window. A dog, fox or raccoon can rip through chicken wire in no time.Īnother danger is that often baby chicks can squeeze through the holes.
My grandmother, a lifelong chicken keeper, always told me that chicken wire wasn't good for anything except keeping chickens in (or out, as the case may be).
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