How to 'fox-proof' a chicken fun?

[Phillbryant]

Hello,

I am about to buy a wooden chicken house and run. The house will be fox proof however I am worried about foxes digging under the base of the run during the day- Is there any thing that can be bought or added to it to make it safer? I like the eglu model of having an L shaped wire base to the run that stops foxes being able to tunnel under the edge and I'm looking for similar security for the tradtional wooden framed runs.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Phill

 

[Marigold]

I have a fixed run, and when we made it we lined the base with wire mesh, attaching this to the mesh sides with wire clips. If your run is moveable, you could do the same, as the hens could nibble the grass through the mesh. Actually this would also help protect the grass from being dug up.
We also roofed the run with 1/2'' wire mesh so it is a completely enclosed mesh 'box'. We did subsequently put a waterproof roof over part of it, but the 'mesh box' idea is very strong and protects the girls from climbing as well as digging foxes, and also keeps wild birds out.
i started with an eglu with the 'skirt' you mention, but it was a bit of a pain in that a) I kept tripping up on it, which was painful, and b) when i wanted to put the run right up next to somewhere it needed an extra 9ins of useless space to accomodate the skirt. Pegged down, it was very strong, but again it was quite time-consuming to unpeg it, move it, and re-peg round the edges. It had to be pegged down because on slightly uneven ground it didn't sit flat and do its job as it was supposed to. Also it was far too small, and so low I couldn't get inside to clean it out or catch the hens.
other than that, it was fine!

 

[cuwiar]

Hello, we have a standard wooden chicken house on stilts with a small run space underneath - way too small so we have built a mesh run which is currently 1.5m x 2.5m (and in the process of being extended) but it's only 1.5m high with a hinged mesh lid. First thing I would say is build a run taller if you can, 'walk-in' preferably.

With regards to fox-proofing though the run is very sturdy and we have attached a 12" wire skirt around the bottom with u nails and dug a channel all around the run which we have laid the skirt in and then back filled the channel - nothing should be able to dig in under the run. I have heard of people placing paving slabs around the run also, this has the added bonus of serving as a path.

The run is pretty permanent which has it's own problems i.e. bare earth in no time, possible worm ladened ground, the girls will always want more, more, more room! But, overall we're happy with it as it feels safe for them when we're not there - lots's of bolts clips and brackets keeping things in place and we let them out into the whole of the veg plot when we are there so they get a good forage at least a couple of times a week.

Oh and hubby alternates between peeing on the compost heap and round the run boundary!

 

[bantiekeeper]

We have a home built covered run. The roof is 2" mesh chicken wire on a wooden frame with clear pvc panels on top. The bottom two feet of the sides are made of wood with 1"mesh chicken wire above up to 2 metres. The whole structure, which is 2.4m square, is surrounded by 18" square paving slabs. The coop which is made of 18mm shuttering ply sits inside the run. There are foxes about but so far,touch wood, we have been ok for nearly 4 years. Can post pics if it would be helpful. Re: mud, could you fix wooden boards round the bottom of the run and put a layer of woodchip down? This also gives the chooks something to scratch around in.