I need help on some fencing we are going to put up for our chickens,we can get a good deal on some that was ordered and never picked up,2x2 inch squares 150 ft x6 ft for 36.00 dollars a role.I just need something to keep out coons and skunks and fox,will this be safe for my chickens?Is the 2x2 square to big?We will be covering the top as we have hawks.Will be using 8 ft metal stakes about 6 ft apart The run will be 12x 60.Does this all sound good to you.
Question about fencing
Is 2x2 what is used in dog kennels? That is what I have. Best wishes Green.
When you say 2x2 I assume you mean (Inches)? If that is correct then that sounds like very good fencing, and wow! What a great price. I'm so excited about your new flock of girls that are comming. I wish you every success. You know Green my neighbor is a twenty acre field that is hayed every year. There are Hawks over that and my property all the time, as well as occasionally Eagles. I have Banties as well as my laying flock. I (keep fingers crossed) have never yet had a Hawk try to get one of my chickens. However their are different types of Hawks and maybe that could be the difference. I watch them dive for field mice and even small rabbits but so far so good. Take good care. Haystack
That is probably OK for most things. Two warnings....
1. Raccoons have been known to put their paws through fencing, such as chicken wire holes, and just pull the heads of the chickens out and bite them off. I know, it's gross, but just be aware that if paws can go through, unless all the chickens roost up in a building of some sort (i.e. a coop with sides) then that is a risk.
2. I *think* mink/weasels can get through 2 x 2 openings, but not 100% sure. We haven't had them here. Again, if the birds are in a building/coop at night, probably not a problem.
I watched them dive for mice to untill a few weeks ago one decided to get in the run and try to kill my chickens,I was on my way out and caught him just in time there was feathers everywhere,he got in the run and could not get out because of the fence on the top,no casulties just sacred birds,I guess we are going with regular chicken wire because my husband said the other would be to hard to work with cause it was to heavy.
Yes they will be in at night and locked up nice and tight so nobody gets the heads eaten
Green!! What happened to you with that Hawk is very interesting. How did the Hawk get in the run past the fencing overhead? You know I had something similiar, a ferral cat somehow got in my run with my chicks, he never got any before I saw him but it was pretty wild, as he did not seem to remember how he got in and by the time he and I were finished going round and round the poor girls were plum tuckered out. I'm sure it was funny to watch but not so in the heat of the battle.
Great point Mox about Racoons, Years ago while raising rabbits I had a coon to exactly what you said to two of my rabbits. Your also right about weasels and mink, They can squeeze through about anything. Haystack
The snow had stretched the netting on the top so it pulled away from the coop a liitle and I would guess thats how he got in but could not figure out how to get out,I though the chickens would not lay for a few days it was so tramatic for them but it did not stop them.It was so pitaful when I went in the coop they were all trying to fit in one corner and the rooster was on the outside of them with his wings covering them with his head in the corner as far as he could get it,he had tried to protect them I think because there was some of his feathers in the run to,that hawk was trying to eat one of the hens alive and had tore the feathers out of one of the others,those two were so scared they were just walking around in cirlcles making sounds I had never heard before,but they healed up and are as good as new.Nasty old hawk!!