Solitary chicken - need advice

[emmalou]

I am seeing a variety of ways to secure chicken fencing around the bottom of runs. I would like to know who has successfully managed to do what with their runs? Some forums suggest just laying some wire down (maybe a foot or so) and allowing it to bed in the grass.Some suggest digging down a foot and then angling it out so it makes it difficult for the fox to burrow into the run. Is anyone kind enough to give me some foolproof suggestions, if there is such a thing? Thank you

[Justadmin]

Not much of a helpful answer for you as we've only had our girls a week but we opted for the foot of "skirt" of mesh extending a foot from the bottom of the run. We used Weldmesh rather than ordinary chicken wire as it is stronger. Then laid a weed membrane and then a thick layer of gravel on top, then pots! I'll be damned if Mr Fox is getting our girls!

 

It looks and feels secure, but as I say, early days. I'm sure someone with more experience will be along shortly!

[emmalou]

Thank you. Most pages online suggest the same or very similar don't they. Think that is the most secure way to go. Hmm looking forward to the digging! Did you dig down far or just lay the membrane on the surface level?

[Justadmin]

I confess we only did surface level, but I think that is fine as there are a lot of articles online suggesting you do just that. And the Weldmesh really is strong, I tried to pull it apart with my fingers and it wouldn't budge, so I think Foxy would have a tough time too, hopefully!

 

Good luck with your defences!

[emmalou]

Well you mention wildmesh? I don't fancy my chances of trying to tear open chicken wire either...fingers crossed.

[majuka]

We were quite lucky when doing our walk-in-run that my Dad had a load of unused flagstones that he was keen to get rid of so we put these round the edge of our run, took a fair bit of digging to get them all at the same height but we are very pleased with the result. I think a lot of people use a wire skirt though, we have in the past and used tent pegs to secure it.

[emmalou]

Yes we bought lots of tent pegs and they just don't stay in the ground. Mr Fox would have a field day!

[Patricia W]

We have flagstones against the skirt of weldmesh of the Cube and the Omlet WIR, which seems to work. There's been no need to secure the weldmesh to the ground as its under tension by the flagstones.

[Cat tails]

Yes we bought lots of tent pegs and they just don't stay in the ground. Mr Fox would have a field day!

 

Did you use the straight kind or the screw in kind? You have (mostly plastic) tent pegs that are very similar to big screws and they stay in the ground much better.

[emmalou]

Well they are like stakes and a long U shape so should hold. Ground is quite uneven and soft which doesn't help.