16 Chicken Fencing Ideas – Keep Predators Out

Today, we will be talking about 16 chicken fencing ideas.

It is fun to raise chickens. Today, there are thousands and thousands of chicken handlers out there. However, that doesn’t mean that chicken raising is easy!

There are many things to consider and worries to solve. One of the many worries handlers face is protecting their chickens.

Chickens are not exactly the best at fending for themselves. That includes the fierce ones. They need protection from illnesses, stress, and predators!

Predators are probably one of the main problems of chicken handlers. There are predators from above, below, and all around! Stressful.

Are you new to the poultry world? On the other hand, maybe you’re having a hard time eliminating your predator problem. Well, look no further! We’re here to help you. So, let’s go ahead and explore your chicken fencing options.

16 Chicken Fencing Ideas

There are many different types of chicken fences. Of course, there are also many materials from which you could choose.

We grouped the chicken fences in this list based on the chief material. This way, we would be able to list the advantages and disadvantages of the materials. Hopefully, this will better help you decide.

Wire Fences

As the name suggests, wire fences use all sorts of wires. You might find the best wire fence for you in this list if you’re looking to use chicken wires or the like.

Advantages of Wire Fences

Many chicken handlers opt for wire fences. Here are some of the reasons why:

• Easy to Find–Wires are easy to find. Many hardware stores have them. Opting for it could save chicken keepers some time.
• Easy to Install– Fencings that use wires are pretty straightforward when it comes to installation.
• Easy to Take Apart– Wire fences are as easy to take apart as it is to install.
• Flexible– Literally and figuratively. You can form most wires to the shape you want with ease.
• Cost-effective– Compared with other materials, wires are pretty cheap, but it does the job.

1. Simple Wire Fence

Our first fence is probably one of the easiest and most cost-effective fencings on this list. As you will see later, many require some heavy work. You would need to do some lifting, but there won’t be any digging with this one.

Depending on where you are, you can use this fencing on its own or as an extra layer of protection.

Upside and Downside of the Simple Wire Fence

• Upside: It’s easy and cost-effective fencing. Dogs and predators would have a hard time tearing it down.
• Downside: It might not be that effective if used alone.

2. Standard Wire Fence

You have probably seen this fence because it’s one of the more common ones. There isn’t much work with this one too. Depending on the problem you have, you could opt to use one or two types of wires.

Upside and Downside of the Standard Wire Fence

• Upside: It’s easy to install and take apart.
• Downside: Predators will eventually break through this fencing. You need to be constantly on guard with this fence.

3. The Tall Fence

Our next fence is perfect for you if you have some flighty chickens on your hands. It should not be surprising that an effective tall fence would require more funds than a shorter one. The materials needed would most probably double, after all.

This fence hits two birds with one stone. It works, but it doesn’t require that big of a fund.

Upside and Downside of the Tall Fence

• Upside: It’s cost-effective. It’s not that expensive, and it will keep the chickens in.
• Downside: It’s not great for keeping some predators out (e.g., snake). You might want to opt for a welded wire with narrower gaps for the lower part of your fence. Alternatively, you could extend the chicken wire to the lower half as well.

4. Quick and Easy Chicken Fence 

This fence is for you if you don’t have any problem with predators and you only want your chickens in an area. This fence is great for backyards, especially if you don’t want to ruin the grass.

Upside and Downside of the Quick and Easy Chicken Fence

• Upside: It is easy to install and take apart. Also, it’s low-cost and keeps the grass looking from getting ruined.
• Downside: It is not the best choice if you have any predators around. It probably won’t stop predators from going in, especially if they’re persistent.

Disadvantages of Wire Fences

• Sagging– A saggy fence not only lets your chickens out but also lets the predators inside.
• Issues– Usually, you need two or more wires for the fencing to work. That is because each wire has a problem. For one, chicken wires are usually fragile. Welded wires have wide gaps. Chain-links are expensive.
• Weak– Alone, wires are usually not enough to keep persistent predators out.  

Wire and Wood Fences

Out next set of fences makes use of wire and wood. These fences are still quite common to see. These fences give a solution to some of the problems of wire fences.

Advantages of Wire and Wood Fences

• Frame– Making use of wood prevents the wire from sagging.
• Easy to Find– It’s easy to find the type of wood you need in the size you need.
• Convenience– If you have a nail gun or something similar, it will be easier to stick the wires to the wood.

5. Standard Wire and Wood Fence

This fencing is similar to the second fence we talked about before. The difference is in the frame. While it might not look much, using wood would improve the whole structure in more ways than one.

Upside and Downside of the Standard Wire and Wood Fence

• Upside: The wooden posts are a good and easy way to make sure the wire doesn’t sag.
• Downside: This fence includes a good amount of digging. It will be hard to put up in rocky areas or hard soil.

6. Split Rail Fence

This fence and the previous fence may look different, but they’re pretty similar. The only difference between the two is the additional support you could get.

Upside and Downside of the Split Rail Fence

• Upside: The extra support assures that there will be no wire that would be sagging. If you’re into gardening, the rail could also act as a place to hook some hanging plants.
• Downside: It’s not that easy to install or take apart. Expanding would be hard.

7. The Portable Fence

Out next fence is one of my top favorites. I’ve always liked the idea of movable structures. It’s the best choice if you’re constantly on the move or you’re not yet ready to commit to an area.

Upside and Downside of the Portable Fence

• Upside: You can move your fence. You don’t have to commit to an area immediately.
• Downside: Taking it apart is not as easy as installing it.

8. Tall Wire and Wood Fence

This fence is similar to our third fence. As you might have guessed, the difference is that this has a wooden frame supporting the wire.

Upside and Downside of the Tall Wire and Wood Fence

• Upside: It’s good if you have some flighty chickens.
• Downside: It’s not the most low-cost fence on the list, and it could be hard to install.

9. Rustic Fence 

The rustic fence is probably one of the best choices on this list. That is because it is one of the safest and most low-cost fencings here. Also, you might be using free material from nature, but it looks neat!  

Upside and Downside of the Rustic Fence

• Upside: The rustic fence is economical but can do its job well. Also, if you’re into rustic aesthetics, then it will probably fit right in your land.
• Downside: It could take a lot of work. It’s not that easy to install or take apart.

Disadvantages of Wire and Wood Fences

• Installation– Usually, wire and wood fences include a good amount of digging.
• Taking Apart & Restoration– Taking down wire and wood fences is not easy. In addition to tearing down the structure, you would probably have to spend time restoring the place where it has been.

Net Fences

These kinds of fences are not for everyone. It will work wonders for some, but it will be a complete disaster for others.

Advantages of Net Fences

• Budget-friendly Option– Nets are low-cost materials when you compare them to wires, timber, or planks. If it will work on your land, it’s certainly an option worth considering.
• Durable– It won’t easily be affected by weather changes. Rain or shine, it will do just fine.
• Easy to Install– Most fences using nets are easy to put up. It doesn’t involve much heavy work.
• Easy to Take Apart– As easy as it is to put up, it is also easy to take apart.
• Safe– Unlike the first two groups, nets are much safer for us. You don’t have to worry much about injuring yourself while setting it up.

10. Fish Net Chicken Fence

You might think that a net is not the best material for a fence. Maybe you think it’s not that sturdy. But have you seen a fishing net? With a good base, the fishnet chicken fence could be as sturdy as the other fences.

Upside and Downside of the Fish Net Chicken Fence

• Upside: It’s easy to install, and it won’t include much heavy lifting. It is easy to take apart and doesn’t require you to commit to an area immediately.
• Downside: It might not be able to hold off big predators. Also, if not installed properly, it could sag. Again, a sagging fence can’t keep the birds in and the predators out.

11. Poultry Net Chicken Fence

Nets may not be an appealing option to others, but they’re an option to be considered. Poultry nets are hard to cut. It’s not as stiff as a wall, and you probably can’t lean on it. That’s not exactly a bad thing! It could deter some predators from even trying.

Upside and Downside of the Poultry Net Chicken Fence

• Upside: It’s easy to set up and to take apart.
• Downside: You need to make sure the installation is proper. If not, it might not be effective.

Disadvantages of Net Fences

• Not for Everyone– As we have said earlier, net fences are not ideal for everyone. If you have large predators around, this type of fence would most probably not be able to stop them.
• Proper Setup– If the installation is not correct, these types of fences will not be effective.

Wall Fences

Walls make the perfect fences for poultry enclosures. They serve a dual purpose, and they do it quite well; keeping your feathered friends inside and keeping those pesky predators outside. Depending on how you build your wall, it can also keep out the occasional rodents and other carriers of disease.

Advantages of Wall Fences:

• Predator Protection- Foxes and other land-based predators cannot penetrate walls. These chicken thieves also lack the ability (or capacity) to scale these fences.
• Flight Containment- A wall can go as high as you want it to. If it’s high enough, your birdies won’t be able to fly over it.
• Visual Barrier- Sometimes, all you need is a visual barrier; it reduces the stress on your chickens when they can’t see the danger lurking beyond their enclosure.
• Weather Protection- A wall may not keep the rain out but can block strong winds.

Disadvantages of Wall Fences:

• Laborious- A lot of labor is required to put up a wall. You’ll need the help of a friend or a couple of friends to help erect this structure.

12. Stone or Concrete Walls

You can stack stones on top of each other and create a wall, or you can get some bricks, cinder blocks, and steel and glue everything together with mortar. Either way, the result is the same; an impenetrable fence.

Upside and Downside of Stone or Concrete Wall

• Upside: Stone and concrete walls are almost impossible to penetrate. They also act as effective wind and odor blockers. They can also stand for a very long time.
• Downside: Stone and concrete walls are expensive to construct and require a lot of labor

13. Wooden Walls

Yes, you can make walls from wood or wooden material. One way to do it is by using planks of wood, but another effective method is by weaving bamboo sticks through a network of wires. What can we expect from wooden walls?

Upside and Downside of Wooden Walls

• Upside: You can source materials from around your farm and greatly reduce your construction costs.
• Downside: Wooden walls are vulnerable to the elements, particularly rain which causes rotting.

Other Fences

Here, we will talk about the fences that didn’t make it to the groups above. If none of the ones above have tickled your fancy yet, then you might find the perfect one here.

14. Pallet Fence 

Do you have some pallets? Are you into recycling? You might want to opt for this fence. Pallet wood is usually sturdy, so you can expect a pallet fence to be sturdy as well.

Upside and Downside of the Pallet Fence

• Upside: Pallet wood is low-cost. You might even be able to get it for free!
• Downside: Pallet wood is hard to remove. It could be a lot of work if you want to work with smooth planks.

15. Electric Fence

A great way to completely discourage the predators around your land would be an electric fence. This type of fence won’t even let them try to break it down.

Upside and Downside of the Electric Fence

• Upside: It has a high chance of solving your predator problem.
• Downside: It could be expensive. Of course, you need to be really careful with it too. We’re dealing with electricity here, after all.

16. The Enclosed Fence

Most of the fences we’ve tackled dealt with ground predators. If you have a problem with flying predators, then our last one might be the one for you.

Upside and Downside of the Enclosed Fence

• Upside: It will keep your chickens inside and the predators out.
• Downside: It would be hard to build and takedown.

Summary

There you have it, 14 chicken fencing ideas!

Chicken raising is a fun and rewarding experience for many. However, it is full of challenges. One of those challenges is protecting our chickens from the many different predators.

Finding the right fence is necessary for keeping chickens – literally and figuratively.

We hope we were able to help you with another chicken problem. If you have any other concerns, then feel free to browse our other chicken tips!