Do you want some amazing chicken fencing ideas for your backyard coop, run, or barn? If so, this guide will help you a lot.
People mainly rear chickens for eggs and meat, but there are many other products we can derive from them, such as fertilizer, electricity, and biogas.
However, to get these benefits, you need to keep them safe from heat, cold, and predators.
Putting a fence around a chicken coop is important because poultry birds are always in danger from predator attacks. Predators like dogs, foxes, raccoons, and possums usually attack chickens.
As a chicken farmer, you must ensure your chickens are safe; fencing is the best way to do this. Fencing restricts chickens’ movement, so they won’t go to places you don’t want them to.
You can use many types of fencing, and in this article, you will learn more about them.
Chicken Fencing Types
Chicken fencing protects the chicken from predators, allows the chicken to eat within a restricted area, helps maintain a clean environment, and so on.
There are many types of chicken fences you can apply. However, you can’t use all of them, so you must undergo a selection process.
Consider cost, protection, farm size, and durability when choosing chicken fencing.
There are mainly two types of chicken fencing available in the market:
1. Standard Chicken Fencing Wire and Hardware Cloth
The majority of chicken raisers use a standard type of chicken wire fencing. In this, the hardware cloth has different sizes of meat to keep the chickens in a particular area.
They are easy to install using iron nails and hard wires. So, any poultry raiser can use it around a small to a big chicken coop and run.
The standard chicken fencing wire and hardware cloth are very cheap and readily available in all hardware stores.
Read more: List of best chicken wire and hardware cloth
2. Electric Chicken Fencing
Electric chicken fencing is an advanced type of netting, mostly used for high predator attack areas. You need a little technical information before installing electric fencing around a coop and barn.
An energizer running electricity through the fence connects to the net in this type of fencing. The fencing gets an electric shock when a predator tries to get inside.
This type of chicken fencing comes with a battery and is solar-powered. So, it works efficiently during power failure and no power areas.
Electric chicken fencing is more expensive than regular fencing, but it is worth it because it works better.
Read more: List of best chicken electric chicken fence
Chicken Fencing Ideas For Better Flock Protection
There are 11 chicken fencing ideas that you can build around your chicken coop. We have also added the advantages and disadvantages of these fencing designs for your barn area.
1. Chicken Wire Fencing Around the Coop
Chicken wire fencing encompasses the use of wires to install a fence. Different types of wire are used for chicken fencing, and when choosing chicken wire fencing, one must find out the best wire to use.
Advantages of chicken wire fencing for coop and run
This chicken fencing idea gives your flock safety from predators. Chickens are prone to predators like snakes, dogs, foxes, hawks, raccoons, and owls. Wire fencing will ensure your flock is safe.
Farmers allow chickens to forage within an area. Wire fencing will keep the chickens in a certain area, so they can eat without wasting food for the whole flock.
It helps to keep your garden safe. Chickens are very destructive. They will destroy everything green in your garden and cover it with poops. The best way to stop them from doing this is to fence them in.
It’s a good way to keep your chicken out of the neighborhood. Have you heard people being taken to court because their chickens invaded a neighbor’s garden or home? This happens if one hasn’t fenced their chicken.
It helps chickens to feed without stress. You are going to give your chickens feed where they are. You can also decide to fence the chicken in a bushy area where they will be foraging. This ensures there is no stress in feeding your chickens.
It’s easy to get chicken wire. You can get chicken wire in almost all hardware shops around you and online.
Disadvantages of chicken wire fencing
It is not reliable. Even though chicken wire is used for chicken fencing, it is not 100% reliable because predators can still get through the wire holes.
Another disadvantage is that chicks can get trapped, so it’s not very good for them as well. But still, it works if you have a few flocks and if you’re living in a low-predator-attack area.
2. Standard Fencing Around the Run
This is another common chicken fence used by many chicken farmers. You will likely find one when you walk around your area. This type of chicken fencing has advantages and disadvantages, too.
Advantages of a standard around the run
The farmer keeps the chickens safe from predators. It’s a cheaper method of chicken fencing. This type of standard fencing is easy and fast to install.
Disadvantages of a standard around the run
It doesn’t offer a complete solution to the problem of predators. Some
3. Height or Tall Fencing Ideas
This is one of the best chicken fencing ideas for poultry safety. If you have a breed of chickens that fly high, invest in this kind of chicken fencing.
Since this fence will be tall, expect it to cost a lot of money, as the materials will be more expensive.
Advantages of height or tall fencing
One of the most important things to know is that this chicken fencing idea will ensure that your flocks are safe in the coop, so long as you put the fencing at the right height.
Another advantage of this chicken fence is that it’s cost-effective. Even though it will be costly, it will be much cheaper than most other chicken fences.
Drawbacks of the height or tall fencing
It doesn’t keep all the predators away, so your chickens are not 100% safe. Such predators are like snakes.
4. Branches Chicken Fence
This is one of the best low-cost natural chicken fencing ideas. If you have many trees with extra branches in your backyard, you can cut them and use them to make a fence for the chicken coop. They are best for building and saving you lots of money.
Advantages of branch chicken fence
Branches chicken fences are made from natural branches from trees, hence, they are cheap.
Building a chicken fence using branches is also environmentally clean since you are using natural materials that will be easy to decompose.
It doesn’t require any professionalism to install this fence.
Disadvantages of branches for chicken fencing
Tree branches don’t offer a reliable solution concerning the chickens’ safety. Sometimes, chickens jump and fly over this type of fence.
5. Chicken Wire With Wood Fencing Ideas
This is where you combine wire and wood. The wire is not strong enough to stand by itself; it will sag if you don’t include wood. Combining these two ensures better performance.
Pros of wire and wood fencing
It’s easy to make. You don’t need plenty of tools to fix this; all you need is nails and a hammer, and within a short period, you will be done.
They are locally available. Wood can be found everywhere. It stops the wire from sagging.
The wire is very weak and can’t stand straight on its own. Supporting it with wood improves its performance.
Cons of wood and fencing
It adds more cost. With this fence, you must buy nails and spend more on labor.
It takes more time to install the fence. The time you will use while doing wire fencing will not be the same as the time you will use when you use wire and wood.
6. Easy-to-Move Fencing
This kind of chicken fencing idea is also known as portable fencing. As the name suggests, you can move this fence from one place to another.
This is the best method if you often move and want to rear chickens.
Merits of easy-to-move chicken fence
Easy-to-move fence allows you to move with your fence whenever you go. This is convenient since you won’t have to make another coop for your chicken when you relocate to a new place.
Disadvantages of the portable fence.
When you want to take this fence apart, it will be more complicated than when installing it.
7. Fishnet Fencing Around the Coop
The fishing net here does an impressive job installing a fence. It is a very good material for covering a particular area.
Pros of fishnet fencing
It is one of the easiest chicken fencing ideas. Installing it will not be a headache.
Removing this fishnet fence is very simple. If you want to relocate or remove the fencing from its original place for any reason, you can comfortably do it.
Cons of fishnet fencing
Some predators can get into the chicken coop. It’s not strong enough, which makes it sag.
8. Wood Fencing With Chicken Wire
Here, both wood and wire are used. However, wood is installed first, followed by a fence, or the fence comes on top of the wood.
Merits of wood fencing with wire.
It is the best way to ensure predators won’t get access to your flock
Installing wood fencing with wire is simple, and you don’t need special tools to do this job. The method is cheap compared to several fencing options.
Demerits of wood fencing with wire.
Wood can be destroyed by rodents and other small animals, and chicken wire can cause accidents if it is not trimmed well.
9. Electric Chicken Fencing
The electric chicken fence is electrified netting. The net is connected to an energizer, which was connected to either current or a solar panel.
The electric chicken fencing idea is one of the safest ways to keep small to medium pets safe.
Merits of an electric chicken fence
The electrical fence is installed around a chicken coop to discourage big predators from going near the coop.
No predator can go close to an electric fence. Your chickens are protected from large predators. It also discourages theft.
Disadvantages of electric chicken fence
It’s expensive to install an electric chicken fence. It can be dangerous since it’s electrical.
10. Portable Solar Chicken Fencing
Solar chicken fencing is a type of electric poultry fence. It is solar-powered and helps during power failures and in areas without electricity.
Advantages of portable solar chicken fencing.
Provides better security from predators. Can be moved from one place to another. It will keep the battery of the electric fence charged.
Drawbacks of the portable solar chicken fencing
In case of a power outage due to bad weather, your chickens are left in danger since they will be exposed to predators.
It’s costly to manage. Installing this fence and managing it is expensive.
11. Rope Netting Around the Coop and Run
Rope netting is another one of the cheapest and efficient chicken fencing ideas. This is best for low predator attack areas.
Benefits of rope netting chicken fence
You can get them from an array of colors. You can monitor your chicken’s health through rope netting around the chicken coop. It protects your chickens from predators.
Disadvantages of using rope netting for fencing
The method doesn’t fully protect chickens, and the ropes aren’t strong enough to stop animals with sharp teeth like foxes, wolves, and big rats.
FAQ on Chicken Fencing
Where to get chicken wire?
You can buy chicken wire from different manufacturers locally or from online stores. You must know the measurements of the chicken wire you want to buy.
How much does chicken wire fencing cost?
Chicken wire for fencing costs between $20 and $300. You can, hence, budget according to your financial masculinity when buying chicken wire.
How much chicken wire do I need?
The size of your chicken coop will determine the size of the chicken wire you will build. You should take the measurements and calculate according to your coop, run, and barn.
Do my chickens need a fence?
Of course, you should if you want your chicken to be protected and you want to forage it in a certain location.
What type of chicken wire should I use?
First, consider all the merits and demerits of different chicken wire and choose the best.
How high should the chicken fence be kept?
When installing chicken wire, consider the breed of chicken you have. Some chickens can fly so high, so if you are rearing this type, make the fence as high as possible.
The average height of a chicken fence should be 6 feet. But if you have a few flying chicken breeds, you can add more 2-4 feet in height.
Summary
The above chicken fencing ideas are from various online resources. You can follow them if you want to add a chicken fence around your chicken coop and run.
But if you don’t like the above ones, you can experiment. The quality of life of your chicken will determine its protection.
Therefore, it is crucial to install a good chicken fence that will give your chickens the freedom they need.
Always have the right budget when considering installing a chicken fence. You should install a fence that is safe for both your chicken and yourself.
I hope you liked these top 11 chicken fencing ideas for your backyard poultry coop and run.
