12x20 Pen Roofing

[nmr]

Hi all! After finishing our 4x8 coop and fully enclosed 8x12 run for our chickens, we turned around and got ducks! While they're all currently getting along in the run (the ducks won't go into the coop) and there's plenty of space for everyone, we decided to build a duck pen since we now know that two of our ducks are drakes.

The pen shares part of a wall with the run and is about 12x20. The sides are fully covered with hardware cloth and skirted under the soil (the picture is from before we finished the hardware cloth).

Now we're ready for the roof. At it's highest point the pen is 6ft and in the back it's 4ft or so.

So now I'm looking for ideas that we can do for the roof that provides predator protection but also doesn't require me buying 2-3 more rolls of hardware cloth (or polycarbonate panels, or shingling). Avian netting doesn't strike me as being safe enough.

My husband wants to like tent canvas or a mesh tarp but I don't know how great that'll be or if it'll give enough sunlight (everything is build kind of in the forest-y part of our backyard, so there is a lot of tree coverage).

Any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[AllenK RGV]

If the run only needs day time protection from avian predators and the coop is secure then avian netting should be fine. Just be sure you lift it high enough so you can get around in there under it too. I personally don't fret too much about it as the dogs for me alarm to chicken alarms. We free range all birds on the property during the daylight hours.

It is only the night time predators I worry about in my location, and winter hawk season for chicks here.

 

[aart]

Do you want it to be snow proof......or do you have plans to manage the snow inside the pen?