aerial protection for irregular shaped run

[jbmarigold]

hello! i am new to posting on this site but have been using it as a valuable resource since incubating duck eggs a few months back.

i need help buttoning up my duck enclosure. i have four 6-7 week old ducks who are now living outside in california.

my issue is that my run is very irregularly shaped with lots of shrubbery.

the ducks have access to the run all day but sleep locked in the coop at night (they can still go in and out of the coop during the day if they’d like).

are shade sails effective for hawk netting? will wild birds get stuck in my bird nets (i have a few large shrubs in the enclosure for shade)? what is the best way to protect from aerial predators on such an irregularly shaped run?

another question about my coop: it’s raised and screwed down to a solid wood box so nothing can burrow up underneath but i’ve been locking them in the coop area at night. i’d love to give the ducks access to the whole run at night as they get older and bigger, but i’m afraid a raccoon could just pull out the mesh?

we are very attached to these ducks (they’re so friendly), and want to make sure we are protecting them!

any advice appreciated!

thanks !
jess

 

[cavemanrich]

i’d love to give the ducks access to the whole run at night as they get older and bigger, but i’m afraid a raccoon could just pull out the mesh?

Best to have ducks secure at night. Trying to secure your run from raccoons, can get more challenging than expected.

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