[Chrysalis]

Hi.  We are about to remake our chicken run.  It's done pretty well for four years, but gets a bit wet underfoot.

We have a lovely drawing/plan for roof and sides, BUT - and here's the question - do we have to use weld mesh/chicken wire?  There is a good source of well-made wooden trellis locally and it might be more attractive and easier to fix... so please, does anyone have a good reason for not using wood? i.e. will Mr Fox be able to chew his way in?

Thanks... C

[GrannieAnnie]

Foxy and ratty will both be chewing their way through that Chrysalis.

Weld mesh is best, although all weldmesh works out expensive depending on the size of the runs.

Our runs are very large and we have chicken wire round them with no roofs.  Luckily we have never had a fox here.

You could possibly do weld mesh round the bottom say 3ft, then chicken wire above it and the roof,  Although at least a partially covered roof with onduline or polycarbonate for example will give a dry area underneath.

But that is only my opinion.  there will be others!!

[Chrysalis]

Thanks.  That what I said to Him Outdoors! 

Mesh it is!

[yaxley]

Thanks.  That what I said to Him Outdoors! 

Mesh it is!

Yes i would recommend mesh better safe than sorry ...

[GrannieAnnie]

Mind you, nothing stopping you putting a bit of trellis up round part of the outside of the run for aesthetics.  But careful what you plant there, if the chooks can reach through the mesh they will eat whatever they can find!