Covering the run

[karri25]

We are very new to raising chickens and we are almost finished with our coop. My husband raised chicks to eat when he was growing up and insists that he never covered their run so we don't have to either. I am very afraid though that a cat or something else will get to my babies. Please, some advise would be really appreciated. Thanks so much!

 

[TJ]

Hello, it is to everyone's own personal opinion but I am all for covering the chicken run. It offers your flock added protection from predators and it gives you peace of mind ~ that alone is priceless.

Best wishes in your decision! : )

 

[nikkimay]

I would strongly recommend covering the run - I believe most people on here have covered runs.

 

[karri25]

Thanks for the advise. I feel kind of bad as it is because my poor hubby has had to do almost all of the work on the coop so far and I don't want to put him out. At the same time I am an enormous worrier and I know that I will fear tragedy every morning I think I won't ask him but I will drop an awfully lot of hints

 

[Picco]

My run is not covered but I live in an area that is almost free of predators (other than dogs). If I lived somewhere else I would cover my run. You can make a cheap cover by using a product called deer netting. its black blastic netting that is inexpensive and easy to use. Its not the most durable stuff but it should deter most predators. You can get it at Home Depot or Lowes. An easy way to anchor it is to use plastic zip-ties.

 

[2mnypets]

Mine is covered with the same thing and it only cost like $9 at Lowe's. We had extra so I used it as screens for my windows. I haven't seen any flying predators, but my peace of mind is worth the $9 and a few staples from the eletric staple gun. Best of luck to you.

 

[karri25]

WE are free from everything other than dogs too. So than everything is alright with yours? Also, how high is your fence? I don't want a dog getting over ours. I had let our babies out to run around the other day b/c we are still working on the fence and a dog got one?!!?!?!?!? I was out there watching them but he came up from out of nowhere! I lost my cool and chased him down our VERY residential street shooting him in the butt with a BB gun I ma lucky to not be arrested and the poor girl ended up fine as could be. I love happy endings. I haven't seen that dog since but it worries me anyhow.

 

[karri25]

Also, I am very glad to learn that it's only $9.00 at Lowe's. Online I have seen it for $30.00 which would only cover half of our run. I think it will end up being 17 feet by 50 feet.

 

[2mnypets]

Well, my run right now is only 10x10 so one roll did it. So the netting is just a tad over 3ft wide. We ran our netting 3 times and tied them together with wire to ensure there were no holes.

 

[Picco]

My coop is in the middle of my back yard. I used four foot picket fence with chicken wire on the inside for a small yard. My entire back yard is fenced in with 5 foot or 6 foot fence (chain link, stockade and welded wire). My own dogs are have acces to to the whole yard via a doggy door so I think its more their presence than the fence that protects my birds from predators.