Chicken run improvement suggestions anyone?

[Jeanw]

Hi, you could put out items in the open areas for the chickens to hide from aerial predators (Pallets, a 55 gallon drum cut in half, folding table, etc).

 

[Laetha]

Hi, you could put out items in the open areas for the chickens to hide from aerial predators (Pallets, a 55 gallon drum cut in half, folding table, etc).

Thank you

Hi, you could put out items in the open areas for the chickens to hide from aerial predators (Pallets, a 55 gallon drum cut in half, folding table, etc).

Hi, you could put out items in the open areas for the chickens to hide from aerial predators (Pallets, a 55 gallon drum cut in half, folding table, etc).

i thought about that but wasn’t sure if they would use them. Now that someone has suggested it, I can definitely put out some cover for them. Thank you!

 

[Laetha]

Being in a wooded area....I would not trust deer netting at all.
You have ariel and ground predators there for certain. I used chicken wire for years on top of my run. It kept raccoons out but I would not trust it as anything other than for just the roof. Raccoons can rip through it. For whatever reason they did not when it was on top of my run. It may be a way to stretch your fencing for a bigger space though....field fence on the walls, chicken wire on top. It is a risk but not as bad as just the short fence is now.

I appreciate the input on the deer netting. Saves me money and heart ache learning from others. I’m going to research some prices. I also really like the craigslist idea and going to start looking there.

 

[Ryguy3684]

Places to hide are a must if there's no roof. I think @21hens-incharge has the best plan. I know you want to keep the entire area, but all that space won't do much good if all your birds get killed. You can temporarily make the run smaller, in exchange for making it more secure. Overlapping the fence, staggered, can make the openings smaller. Then, when funds allow, you can open it back up to the entire area behind the barn. I had to do the same thing when I first built my run. Even if you had to cut in half, for now, your birds will have more room than most. Luckily, you have a big area you're working with. Good luck, and keep us posted with your improvements.

 

[Laetha]

Places to hide are a must if there's no roof. I think @21hens-incharge has the best plan. I know you want to keep the entire area, but all that space won't do much good if all your birds get killed. You can temporarily make the run smaller, in exchange for making it more secure. Overlapping the fence, staggered, can make the openings smaller. Then, when funds allow, you can open it back up to the entire area behind the barn. I had to do the same thing when I first built my run. Even if you had to cut in half, for now, your birds will have more room than most. Luckily, you have a big area you're working with. Good luck, and keep us posted with your improvements.

Thank you. I will end up doing that I’m sure. I can’t thank all of you enough for sharing your ideas, your time and encouragement. I’ll keep everyone posted!