Chicken run roof or no roof

[Familyfeeders25]

Hello everyone! My question centers around coop runs and their need for a cover or roof to ensure a full enclosure and safety from predators. I currently have an indoor coop with an outdoor run both with roofs. It is fully enclosed and predator proof. I am considering an additional run to offer more space at least during the day. I don’t want to make it permanent at this time so I was considering using 6’ kennel panels pieced together creating an additional pen. My intent is to incorporate an automatic door on a timer to let em out to it only during the day.

I used to let them free range during the day but have had too many issues with fox/coyote attacks.

Outside of hawks from above what other risks are there of leaving the top open? Food/water will all be under the roof of coop and primary run. Have you experienced a predator try to climb? If hawks really are a serious threat I would consider a net an option.

TIA for your opinions!

 

[ValerieJ]

Hello everyone! My question centers around coop runs and their need for a cover or roof to ensure a full enclosure and safety from predators. I currently have an indoor coop with an outdoor run both with roofs. It is fully enclosed and predator proof. I am considering an additional run to offer more space at least during the day. I don’t want to make it permanent at this time so I was considering using 6’ kennel panels pieced together creating an additional pen. My intent is to incorporate an automatic door on a timer to let em out to it only during the day.

I used to let them free range during the day but have had too many issues with fox/coyote attacks.

Outside of hawks from above what other risks are there of leaving the top open? Food/water will all be under the roof of coop and primary run. Have you experienced a predator try to climb? If hawks really are a serious threat I would consider a net an option.

TIA for your opinions!

Bird netting will work for the birds of prey. Well, I should say it's working for me and one tried to breach it last week without success. I would consider putting hardware cloth around the bottom few feet at least.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

I live in NW PA where there are coyotes, fox, skunks, stupid turkey vultures and we even had a bald eagle picking off a bear carcass in our field. Luckily, we have not lost one bird, duck nor chicken to prey when are fenced. Plus, our one fence has a “ No coyote “ sign, so that might just be the key...lol

 

[Quailobsessed]

Plus, our one fence has a “ No coyote “ sign, so that might just be the key...lol

YES! Now I know how to get rid of my rat problem!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Some predators can climb (like coons, possums) or leap (dogs) to get into an open top run. If the main concern is birds of prey then just netting should be ok in most cases.

If you can afford to roof it I would say roof it, but if not then you need to consider your predator load, type and loss tolerance.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined us!

We all have different risk tolerances. And we have different predator pressure. I have a pretty predator-proof coop, a highly predator resistant run, and an open area enclosed in electric netting. I used to free range but two separate dog attacks from people abandoning dogs in the country that cost me 13 chickens convinced me that I needed to do something different. That's why I got the electric netting.

In five years since I got the electric netting I've lost two chickens to airborne predators. None to ground based predators. One of those was to an owl that went into the coop and drug one out when I was late locking them up for the night. The other was a hawk in the middle of the day.

I do not consider my main run truly predator-proof but it does a good job of keeping most critters out. I lock mine up securely at night. That works for me.

I have large red-tailed hawks around a lot. I see them practically every day. I occasionally see a bald eagle. I hear owls many nights. I figure only losing two in five years to flying predators with an uncovered area inside electric netting to be pretty good. Other people have a serious issue with flying predators. They would soon be wiped out if they tried that. That's what I mean by different predator pressure.

As far as climbing predators fox can climb really well. So can bobcats. These will often hunt during the day and are capable of bringing down a grown chicken during the day. Other critters can climb but usually are more dangerous at night when the chicken is on the roost and cannot see in the dark. You are never out of danger but a run without a roof is much safer in the daytime than at night.

I feel like I've been rambling. Some people are OK with a run that is nor covered, others require one. You won't know where you stand until you find out the hard way. That might be the first night, it might be five years from now.

 

[ValerieJ]

I live in NW PA where there are coyotes, fox, skunks, stupid turkey vultures and we even had a bald eagle picking off a bear carcass in our field. Luckily, we have not lost one bird, duck nor chicken to prey when are fenced. Plus, our one fence has a “ No coyote “ sign, so that might just be the key...lol

LOL!!! I need a No Bald Eagle sign!!!

 

[Chickassan]

I say netting on top at least.
If your run isn't huge "like your entire yard" an open top run seems to draw in birds of prey like a boxed lunch.
It never fails, my small temporary runs will have at least a handful of hawks perch on top to look at the goodies even though that is where it ends.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens this is a wonderful community and website poultry nets come in all sizes yes at least poultry net great prices all sized on Amazon

 

[Soy Milano]

Roof!!!!