Solitary chicken - need advice

[ChickenPoopGarden]

I am THIS close to bidding on a nice big run from eBay for my ladies. It is steel farmed with a stable door type lockable arrangement. The mesh seems to be 18 guage. It's made by a company called feel good uk - does anyone have any experience of them?

I thought it was a pretty reasonable price for such a big WIR and if i lay some concrete paving slabs as a base (with bark chippings for a substrate) this would make a pretty awesome home.

However, If I am basically buying a run that will be super-easy for Mr Fox to get into then it's a waste of money. So far they are in a very pretty wooden coop with a 6ft run attached and I let them free range when I am in the garden with them. I haven't seen a fox, or heard one, but I am terrified they'll be taken one day and i'd be gutted!

[Dolly]

I've had a quick look at their website and the images appear to show the chicken runs with chicken wire, from what I understand and have heard on the forum, this wont keep a fox out. I think its a common misconception, but chicken wire is made to keep chickens OUT of an area, not in it, if that makes sense.

 

I vaguely remember someone having a similar run which a fox broke into, so it may be worth doing some more investigation before you buy. Weld mesh is the best type to use in my opinion.

[ChickenPoopGarden]

yes, I was wondering that... The consensus seems to be that the wire guage should be 16, or ideally 14 or even 12, but looking at everything else on the market, I can't help wondering whether it would actually be economical to buy the run with the rubbishy mesh and then put weldmesh over that? Everything is just soooooo expensive to buy a run ready made! i really don't think we could ever afford one! I had thought about other ways to make a nice run using an old gazebo or pergola, but they seem pretty small. the other option is to save up and buy aviary panels as that works out at less.

Would be great to have them in a big run soon, before the weather gets much worse!

[Eggshell]

I have a covered run that is similar to the one you're looking at, but I have it surrounded by an electric fence as well. That's worked for me so far.

[mullethunter]

The mesh looks really flimsy to me so if it's their only protection from a potential fox I wouldn't risk it. I have no idea how much it would cost to replace it all with weld mesh.

[Cat tails]

Pixiedust made her own run and used welded mesh. You could ask her where she got it and how much it would cost.

[gavclojak]

It was Leeweedon who has that type of run. I think you would also need to add an anti dig skirt to the run too.

[Guest]

A friend of mine recently moved house so had to get a quick to build run, she too found the affordable ones were mostly chicken wire so she searched for a dog run instead. The dog run was the chain link style so fox proof, she added a layer of chicken wire low down just to prevent the hens sticking their heads through the gaps then the whole thing was placed on slabs.

 

I think she need to put a roof on too which she used 3 layers of chicken wire topped with a tarp.

[ChickenPoopGarden]

That's a good idea, bigger mesh plus chicken wire for safety...

[Mar1a]

I have a frame run like you're describing. It came with two rolls of mesh with different gauges. I bought a third roll with a tighter gauge to double up all round. Cost me £30 and covered the whole run, including the roof. Nothing's got in yet, and believe me, they've tried