What you do for the bottom depends on what the ground underneath is. On a slab, do nothing. On soft dirt, put hardware cloth on the bottom. I use hardware cloth for the sides: Around here, the coyotes will come and chew right through poultry net. It should be fine for the owls and hawks on top. You can always add hardware cloth after they come and eat your first batch of chicks. Funny: My wife asked me if we should put the chicken coop inside the fenced backyard or outside. I said: "That depends on if you want the coyotes or the dogs to eat them."
guygrotke
Hi Ken, If you got critters like trash pandas that roam the property you're gonna want to reinforce the bottom of your run to keep them from breaking your metal poultry netting to get to your chickens. The metal poultry netting will be good enough to keep the flying threats like hawks owls and crows out, but ground threats like rats, raccoons, fisher, and fox will break through the thin wire that makes up metal poultry netting. We use 1/4" hardware cloth for ours. It is rugged enough to stop most everything but bear, strength wise, and fine enough mesh to stop weasels, rats, and even mice from getting into the run. I run the hardware cloth up the side about 3 feet (about as tall as a fox can reach) and then along the ground around tight to the outside perimeter about 2 feet out to stop them from digging their way in. You can bury that perimeter hardware cloth if you want to be able to mow next to the run safely. If you have a bear problem electric hot wire is the way to go.
BTW - Just FYI for your next build, metal poultry netting is stretchable because of the wire weave. A 4 foot wide roll will usually stretch about 6 inches without much trouble, but you loose a little in the length as you stretch its width out. You could have gone with a full 6 foot sides and made it stretch to fit.
Mark_Nadams
Ken is it time for you to get a garden tractor? Not just to cut the grass but also to pull stuff around? Thanks ☺️
clarencewiles
Hello Ken, to secure from digging critters, there are two common remedies. One is making a narrow trench around the perimeter of the run 8 to 12 inches deep and vertically burying hardware cloth fastened to the shoe. The second is putting a hardware cloth floor in the run, making it more portable. I enjoy all of your videos and appreciate your sharing of your experience with those of us who aren’t as experienced in building things
KunesRGr
The wider door will be useful for cleaning out the run. 4 chickens in a run that size will have it down to dirt in no time so you'll need to put down pine shavings to keep the mud down. And after adding enough shavings over time you'll need to get them out. Next build - big compost bin for chicken litter!
brucealvarez
I can just see what's going through the dog's mind. Ken keeps talking but there's nobody else here, so he must be talking to me. Not totally sure, but he must want me to run in circles and jump around, right? After all, he keeps saying "good dog" and patting my head.
rupe
Use hardware cloth. Poultry netting keeps birds in. Predators can rip through poultry netting easily.
markpieklik
i would put wood braces on all the corners of the framing to make it stronger and put 3 ft hard wire cloth on bottom and lay it on the ground around the run too and cover with a little gravel to keep from tripping on it
MYtinyPLace
Hi Ken. Nice build & everything is starting to take shape good to see your planning
& build. Take care.
bobt
I never use chicken/poultry wire for a chicken run. I use what they call "rat wire" around here. It's 1" x 2" spaces with a heavier gage wire. I've seen chicken/poultry wire get torn open.
HoneyHollowHomestead
Skunks, fox, and wessels are bad for digging under a coop, they come out at night and do their handy work, so just do yourself a favor and bury fencing around the coop and run area 6"or so.
RECKLESS
Ken add some diganal bracing to the frame to make it sturdy. Love watching you.
otsfoud
Double speak at 07:10 but able to follow along. It did sound good, I would leave it. Thanks for your work. 😊
Kind of ready for a update on lumber and building materials if you could share your thoughts 😊
clarencewiles
I just love the puppy. She is the best helper ever.
kingocad
Really like the down to earth approach taken with all your projects. Kaya (Kiya?) Is cute. Reminds me of our rescue dog who was a corgie chow cross but looked like a taller corgie. Good companion during the builds.
austinporco
Good Morning Ken . I use hardware cloth for all sides of my chicken run, especially the bottom . Almost every morning I find several spots where a raccoon tried to dig its way under the run, only to be stopped by the wire underground.
stevecaprossi
Watch your head lol nicely done my friend...🌴😎
lmars
I would sit the run on cinder blocks and hardware cloth on the ground around the outside of the run so no critters dig their way in:) Have a wonderful weekend.
cherylbertolini
Ken, really good chicken run. Please add some diagonals for frame stability. Also, so that other animals will not dig underneath, advise purchaser to: (1) position the chicken run, (2) paint a mark around it on the ground, (3) move the run away, (4) paint a second mark around the first but about 1.5 feet away, (5) all the way around remove the soil to a depth of 1-2 inches and from the outer mark to a width of 2 feet, (6) cut 2-foot-tall galvanized 2"x4" welded-wire to the lengths of the soil-removal zones, (7) lay the welded-wire flat in the soil-removal zones, (8) replace and tamp the soil, (7) install the run where it was, and (8) stake-down the run on its 4 corners. This will keep soil-scratching chickens inside, digging predators outside, and the run from blowing away in high wind.
dannybradley
that came out great Ken! Like other have said about a reinforced lower section, could not hurt. You might want to drill a few holes through the bottom plate and drive some rebar anchors in the ground. You know the Big Guy visits occasionally!!!!😉
