Ideas needed to figure out how to cover top of run

I have had great success with forming a grid of Mason Twine across the top of my run. My run is 6' tall and 28'x35' so it took a LOT of twine, but works well. I heard commotion from the hens one morning and went out to see a hawk sitting on the top of the fence with no way to get in to the hens....he was frustrated, I was angry, I won! The grid is run about every 8"-12" over the entire run.

hope this helps!!

I have an apple tree in my run....I used mason twine to run a grid over the run and through the branches of the tree.....works great.....see my other post for more detail.

The problem with using chicken wire or fencing over the top of the run under a tree is leaves and branches get caught on it and it begins to sag.....voice of experience....

Why not take your chances and see what happens before cutting the tree? Is my suggestion irresponsible? I've had chooks for only 18 months, they are free range on a 4 acre field but roost in a roofless compound next to my dogs. There are foxes, pine martins sparrow hawks etc. all near by, but to date they have all kept a distance, except a cheeky magpie that has pinched a couple of eggs. Perhaps i've just been lucky but in any case, I would risk a bird or two before cutting a mature heritage apple tree.

wyrme said:

Why not take your chances and see what happens before cutting the tree? Is my suggestion irresponsible? I've had chooks for only 18 months, they are free range on a 4 acre field but roost in a roofless compound next to my dogs. There are foxes, pine martins sparrow hawks etc. all near by, but to date they have all kept a distance, except a cheeky magpie that has pinched a couple of eggs. Perhaps i've just been lucky but in any case, I would risk a bird or two before cutting a mature heritage apple tree.

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We are not going to cut the tree, maybe a couple branches. All the wonderful people who have shared what they have done in similar situations have given us plenty of ideas on what to do and we think we will probably use a combination of ideas. Mean time the heat and humidity made us rethink the coop a bit and it now has a 12' x 16' covered addition(chicken patio?LOL) to keep the afternoon sun from shining in one of the windows and heating it so badly. it is actually a tarp but we framed it up with 2 x 4's so it is sturdy. Now reviewing whether we want to continue with this and make this a permanent covered but open section on the coop. I will try to get a pic tomorrow if it will load on here.

Why would your suggestion be irresponsible? I envy those who can free range and don't consider it irresponsible....just another choice. Every situation is different....mine does not lend itself well for free ranging UNLESS my dogs prove themselves bullet proof around the chickens. If that happens I will allow the chicks to free range at times. ...with the dogs. (Great Pyrenees) But I definitely agree...destroying a heritage apple is just not gonna happen. I just get frustrated because we bought this coop used and other than the fact that we would never have been able to buy the wood in it for what we paid....it has been a mind numbing deal of trying to turn a really pretty bad design into something usable. And then there was the apple tree....

lifein1840 said:

I have had great success with forming a grid of Mason Twine across the top of my run.  My run is 6' tall and 28'x35' so it took a LOT of twine, but works well.  I heard commotion from the hens one morning and went out to see a hawk sitting on the top of the fence with no way to get in to the hens....he was frustrated, I was angry, I won!  The grid is run about every 8"-12" over the entire run.

hope this helps!!

Click to expand...

Love this! Thanks for sharing how well it worked. Have to admit I had to google Mason Twine. Duh.

lifein1840 said:

The problem with using chicken wire or fencing over the top of the run under a tree is leaves and branches get caught on it and it begins to sag.....voice of experience....

Click to expand...

We already put some chicken wire up in a tight corner.....no tree over it. Thought about what you said. And can you imagine if apples fell into too? LOL Plus I discovered just doing that one corner that chicken wire is actually a royal pain .....it doesn't want to roll flat or straight. Serious doubts about using anymore. The netting is sounding better and better....

[quote name="Birdydeb" url="/t/1104877/ideas-needed-to-figure-out-how-to-cover-top-of-run/30#post_17074109 ...... I just get frustrated because we bought this coop used and other than the fact that we would never have been able to buy the wood in it for what we paid....it has been a mind numbing deal of trying to turn a really pretty bad design into something usable. And then there was the apple tree....[/quote] I completely get your frustration having a poorly made off the shelf coop myself that's required so much repair and modification to cope with the weather. This summers project is a new custom made coop I think. I love the idea of a chicken patio

Ours is actually 50 years old....it came off a farm and was brought here on a trailer. It is made of old wormy chestnut and hickory. Sturdy for sure. But the kind of wood that you will burn out the heads of screws or bounce a hammer off your head if you aren't careful. The design was terrible and features all out of whack. I didn't totally realize how bad until I cleaned it out and tried to set it up for my chickens. A mere cleaning, disinfecting and painting has stretched into redoin, replacing and redesigning. But....once we make it snug it will definitely be Fort Knox. I didn't count on the temps jumping 30+ degrees which has caused us to scurry to find a way to get the chickens in the pen ahead of what we planned( we have had rain daily for weeks now) and so the "chicken patio" was born. LOL A tarp connected to the coop framed by 2x4's and we are wrapping chicken wire around it to keep them in a small area so we can continue to work on perimeter fence and the cover....and that apple tree. Hubby likes the concept too and has already decided this morning to make it a permanent thing with roofing instead of that tarp.