Newbie to site, not to chickens

[Gail Honadle]

Hi, I'm new here. But not to chickens. My Grandma raised them. I garden, water bath can. I like to read, crochet, sew, and quilt. I've lived in W. TN for nearly 60 years. Married to a Ret. SCPO. Have 2 sons and 3 grands, 2 girls 1 boy. My flock, has a new large run. We have hawks, moles, rats, and have had a possom. They critters come from the farm field behind us.

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello and Welcome to BYC. Glad that you are here with us in this fun and poultry loving community.

 

[SilverBirds]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Thanks for joining us.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Welcome to BYC, Gail

 

[Helping No-Tail-A]

Welcome fellow Tennesseean!!

 

[CurlyChickenGirly]

Welcome to BYC! Nice photo!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, Gail, and welcome to BYC!

Such a pretty flock! We're glad you're here!

 

[Tookie]

Hello! Welcome!

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Thanks for joining! I hope you have a great time here

 

[DobieLover]

Hello Gail, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

I would remove the chicken wire from the run. It will scratch the chickens' feet and damage their nails when they try to scratch and dig. If you are concerned about rats, spread a 3' wide predator apron made from 1/2" hardware cloth all the way around your run set up and pin the outer edges down with HD landscape staples. Then cover with a thin layer of soil and plant grass or whatever to grow through the HC. A rat will have much more difficulty getting it's mouth around a wire to bite through on HC vs. chicken wire.