Chicken run skirt

[BanoOmg]

We also hardware cloth'd everything but the roof.


We foamed up all the gaps in between the roof and the frame, and buried hardware cloth or bricks or pavers vertically along the sides. I ran out of money in my budget, and settled for leftovers from other jobs instead of more hardware cloth for the skirt. No predators have broken in yet, but there are signs of mice. No rats though!

My partner had a great idea to seal the gate when closed. She screwed part of a fence plank onto the top of the inside of the gate (it opens inward) so that it sits flush with the frame when closed.


I screwed in furring strips to cover up the hardware cloth stabby bits, and made sure there was the tiniest gap between the gate and frame when closed.

It has been great for keeping coyotes, squirrels, and rats out!

 

[Rldad1]

My entire run/coop is covered by hardware cloth. The apron extends out 18 inches. I held it down with landscape staples until the grass could grow through it. Yhis pic is from a couple of years ago. The grass is now solid so you can't even see the apron.

 

[Saveria]

We did hardware cloth on the whole run, roof too, covered by metal roofing. I was just on another thread talking about how a bear tried to climb on it

The roof won.

 

[ugachickenmama]

Ideally, the entire run should be covered in 1/2" hardware cloth with an 18-24" horizontal skirt or 12-18" of wire buried vertically in a trench as an anti-dig barrier.

I'm on the wrong device to get a good photo of my coop's skirting.

what gauge(s) of hardware cloth are best . . . and does coated vs not matter?

 

[WI chickens]

The 1/2" hardware cloth I use is 19 gauge. I use it over all my windows, and then a layer of 1/4" over that on my big front windows. The smaller gauge really helps keep rain out, but it's thinner so I don't trust it alone to keep out bigger predators like raccoons. The stuff I use is galvanized but not coated with plastic.

 

[3KillerBs]

I honestly don't know what gauge my hardware cloth is. It's the standard size for 1/2" -- which is thicker and sturdier than the wire for chicken wire or 1/4" hardware cloth.

 

[KyCoop]

One note about using pavers or rocks to hold down a skirt. Mine is buried so I don't know but would it not be difficult to mow or weed eat around them and the wire?
Mine is just part of the yard now and have forgotten all about it.

 

[3KillerBs]

One note about using pavers or rocks to hold down a skirt. Mine is buried so I don't know but would it not be difficult to mow or weed eat around them and the wire?
Mine is just part of the yard now and have forgotten all about it.

Using pavers or rocks on top of the skirt refers it ineffective since it shows the predators where the edge is too dig under.