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Building a run 16' x 8' how to reinforce the top part after spotting a hawk today?

post #1 of 13
4/27/12 at 9:12pm
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We are building our chicken run this weekend and my husband wants to use contractors stucco mesh over the top of the run on one half and the other half closest to the coop will get that wavey fiberglass sheeting. Is all this strong enough to keep hawks and owls or other predators out? Also I was wondering what I could add to the run as "play" equipment besides a roost. Any advice, suggestions?
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post #2 of 13
4/27/12 at 9:34pm

Well, it just so happened that the top of my run got tested for the first time today by a hawk!  If I wasn't sitting on my front porch and saw it happen I wouldn't have believed it!

 

I only have half of the top of my run protected with poultry netting and the other half has a white tarp over it.  My rooster saw the hawk long before I did and warned the 2 hens, as only a good rooster will do.

 

I looked over towards the run just in time to see a red-tailed hawk swoop down at the chickens and literally bounce off the tarp and fly away.  I'm surprised he didn't get tangled in the poultry net in the process.

 

This might not be for everyone but today it worked for me and my small flock.


Edited by OnceAroundTheBlock - 4/27/12 at 9:57pm

Mama to 2 hens and 1 rooster, 4 dogs~~~2 rescued greyhounds from the racetrack, a hound mix and a rat terrier, both strays.  Newest pet addition...4 hermit crabs...bought 4 more....total of 8 now. 

Also "Mimi" to 5 grandkids, who keep me busy going to their school soccer, basketball, volleyball games, community and school plays and dance recitals. 

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Mama to 2 hens and 1 rooster, 4 dogs~~~2 rescued greyhounds from the racetrack, a hound mix and a rat terrier, both strays.  Newest pet addition...4 hermit crabs...bought 4 more....total of 8 now. 

Also "Mimi" to 5 grandkids, who keep me busy going to their school soccer, basketball, volleyball games, community and school plays and dance recitals. 

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post #3 of 13
4/27/12 at 9:49pm

I have a black, heavy duty shade cloth over my 13' x 23' run.  It looks decent, doesn't hold water, keeps the run cooler, and hawks can't get in. 

wife to long suffering husband who has built more miles of fence, barns, coops and enclosures then one man should have to, two teenage boys, current flock of 13 assorted hens and 1 big red roo, 2 goats, 2 dogs, 4 cats, 2 bunnies and 1 cockatiel. 

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wife to long suffering husband who has built more miles of fence, barns, coops and enclosures then one man should have to, two teenage boys, current flock of 13 assorted hens and 1 big red roo, 2 goats, 2 dogs, 4 cats, 2 bunnies and 1 cockatiel. 

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post #4 of 13
4/27/12 at 9:54pm

I have seen posts where people are using shiny things, like cd's, strung along wires across the top of the run, and that is enough to keep the hawk out.

 

 

  Check out this thread:

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/44145/hawk-saucer

 

Awesome!  For my run, my husband put up orange string in a cris-cross pattern.  But I have only seen turkey buzzards, so I am not sure if it is useful or not idunno.gif

We have a dozen different breeds of chickens and we love them all!

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We have a dozen different breeds of chickens and we love them all!

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post #5 of 13
4/28/12 at 1:23pm

I crisscrossed fishing line across our run.  It has been up since last fall.  Before I put it up, I had several hawk attacks and yes, I lost several chickens.  The fishing line sparkles in the sunlight and I think that helps to keep the sky predators away.

 

Lisa :)
 

Lisa   (one very special husband, 1 ornery cat, 3 Australorps, 3 Red Speckled Sussex, and 2 Barred Rocks)

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Lisa   (one very special husband, 1 ornery cat, 3 Australorps, 3 Red Speckled Sussex, and 2 Barred Rocks)

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post #6 of 13
4/28/12 at 1:33pm
Hello,

To keep my run secure I wired 2 pieces of 2"x4" fence together and wired to to top of the fence to cover the whole thing, that way it keeps out the four legged climbing predators too. Very secure no problems.

Maye
Ride the Glide....LIVE YOUR BUCKET LIST NOW!!!!!!  Home of 5 RMHorses, 2 ACD, 8 cats, 4 Welsummer hens,1 Welli Roo,1 EE Buff Orp. X Roo, 5 Skiddie hens,BLRW Roo,2 Dominique,6 Ameraucana hens+2 Roo,1 FBCM Roo, 4 mutt goats, and best of all Don who puts up with us ALL and is Mr. Fix It. RIP my BRIDGET girl.... Foundation Rocky Mountian Horse --1 of 33 that started a new breed.....
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Ride the Glide....LIVE YOUR BUCKET LIST NOW!!!!!!  Home of 5 RMHorses, 2 ACD, 8 cats, 4 Welsummer hens,1 Welli Roo,1 EE Buff Orp. X Roo, 5 Skiddie hens,BLRW Roo,2 Dominique,6 Ameraucana hens+2 Roo,1 FBCM Roo, 4 mutt goats, and best of all Don who puts up with us ALL and is Mr. Fix It. RIP my BRIDGET girl.... Foundation Rocky Mountian Horse --1 of 33 that started a new breed.....
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post #7 of 13
4/28/12 at 1:48pm

I have a 20' x 60' run and i used Tenax orange warning barrier that i had left over and use that on half of the run and fishing line on the other half. I see hawks all the time how out in the trees near by but they never go into the run. Here is a link on the barrier for a visual.

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/building-materials/fencing/tenax-guardian-safety-fence/4-ft-x-100-ft-orange-warning-barrier-20640.html

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post #8 of 13
4/28/12 at 2:22pm

Stucco wire will definitely be strong enough to keep out hawks and owls.  I don't know about raccoons.

 

Raccoons can rip poultry net.  I know the stucco wire is stronger, but don't know if it is that much stronger that it will stop a raccoon.

Exhibition quality Blue Swedish Ducks and Gray Saddleback Pomeranian Geese,   Hatching eggs available in late winter and spring. NPIP

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Exhibition quality Blue Swedish Ducks and Gray Saddleback Pomeranian Geese,   Hatching eggs available in late winter and spring. NPIP

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post #9 of 13
4/28/12 at 7:59pm

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by chicks2012 View Post

I have a 20' x 60' run and i used Tenax orange warning barrier that i had left over and use that on half of the run and fishing line on the other half. I see hawks all the time how out in the trees near by but they never go into the run. Here is a link on the barrier for a visual.

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/building-materials/fencing/tenax-guardian-safety-fence/4-ft-x-100-ft-orange-warning-barrier-20640.html

 


My run is only 20' x 20' and I'm thinking about replacing the 1/2 of the run that has poultry net on it someday with the same stuff you used.  Did you have to have some kind of a brace under it?  Will it sag if you don't?

Mama to 2 hens and 1 rooster, 4 dogs~~~2 rescued greyhounds from the racetrack, a hound mix and a rat terrier, both strays.  Newest pet addition...4 hermit crabs...bought 4 more....total of 8 now. 

Also "Mimi" to 5 grandkids, who keep me busy going to their school soccer, basketball, volleyball games, community and school plays and dance recitals. 

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Mama to 2 hens and 1 rooster, 4 dogs~~~2 rescued greyhounds from the racetrack, a hound mix and a rat terrier, both strays.  Newest pet addition...4 hermit crabs...bought 4 more....total of 8 now. 

Also "Mimi" to 5 grandkids, who keep me busy going to their school soccer, basketball, volleyball games, community and school plays and dance recitals. 

Reply
post #10 of 13
4/28/12 at 8:05pm

my run is 30 x 40.  no top on it.  i do have a shade cloth 18 x 20 suspended between the trees.  it floats up & down as the wind blows.  i'm hoping it will continue to serve as a deterrent as well as give much needed shade.  time will tell

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Predators and Pests › Building a run 16' x 8' how to reinforce the top part after spotting a hawk today?