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Chicken runs, poultry netting and hardware cloth

Walk-in runs, run covers, electric poultry netting, energizers and hardware cloth, compared by size, height, mesh and what the kit includes.

Best chicken runsElectric poultry nettingPredator protectionPredator guide
A rustic board-and-batten coop with an open wire run and hens inside
Photo: Tim Evanson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr
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Coop size calculatorEnter your hens, bantams, ducks or quail: see coop floor, run area, roost length and nest boxes under three…

How to choose a chicken run or fence

A chicken run gives hens room to scratch while keeping dogs, foxes, raccoons and hawks out. Size it first: Penn State suggests about 8 square feet per standard hen in the run, and many keepers plan on 10. A covered walk-in run of 10 x 20 feet gives you 200 square feet and room to stand up while you work.

  • Walk-in metal runs (Garvee, PawHut, IDEALHOUSE, SDADI) come with hexagonal wire. Hex wire keeps hens in but is easy for raccoons to tear, so add hardware cloth along the bottom and an apron dug or laid outward.
  • Hardware cloth in ½ inch or ¼ inch mesh, 19 gauge or heavier, is the standard for vents, windows and the lower run walls.
  • Electric poultry netting (Premier 1 PoultryNet, Starkline) fences a moveable grazing area. It needs an energizer, a ground rod and short grass under the bottom strand.
  • Run covers keep rain and snow off and help keep wild birds out.

Electric netting kits and energizers

A kit with energizer, ground rod and tester is the simplest start. Premier 1 sells PoultryNet Plus kits with a solar or plug-in energizer; Starkline offers 48-inch kits in solar and AC versions. The joule output sets how much net one energizer can power, so check the maker's range figure before adding rolls. RentACoop lists a ground rod guide of 3 feet of rod per 1 joule of energizer.

Netting is a deterrent, not a roof. Hawks and owls still reach birds from above, so a covered run or coop at night matters most. More in how to protect chickens from predators.

Covers, wild birds and bird flu

Keep wild birds outUSDA APHIS Defend the Flock advises keeping wild birds away from your flock, feed and water. A covered run helps. Report sick birds or unusual deaths to your state veterinarian or USDA at 1-866-536-7593. See bird flu biosecurity.Source: USDA APHIS Defend the Flock

Read before you buy

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Guide

How big should a chicken coop be? Space per chicken, explained

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Guide

How to protect chickens from predators, day and night

How to protect chickens from predators: read attack signs, lock the coop at night, use hardware cloth, bury an apron,…

Runs & fencing: questions

How big should a chicken run be?
Penn State suggests about 8 sq ft per standard hen in the run; many keepers plan on 10. Six hens need about 48–60 sq ft. The coop size calculator works it out.
Is chicken wire enough to stop predators?
Chicken wire keeps chickens in but does not reliably keep raccoons or dogs out. Use ½ inch hardware cloth on the lower walls, vents and windows.
Does electric poultry netting work?
It deters ground predators when it is powered, grounded and kept clear of tall grass. It does not stop birds of prey, so lock hens in at night.
Do I need to cover my chicken run?
A cover keeps hawks, rain and wild birds out. Since HPAI spreads mainly from wild birds, USDA APHIS advises keeping them away from your flock.
What size energizer do I need for poultry netting?
Follow the maker's range: for example, Premier 1 lists its IntelliShock 30 for 1–2 netting rolls. A higher joule output powers more net.