Dog Run Chicken coop! Help with roof?

[Shinyhappymomma]

Hello,

I am new here and also new to owning hens. I wanted to upgrade my hens run to a dog run so I could get in there easier to clean it (I clean often and its hurting my back in the long 3 ft high run) I got a 6wide 10ft long by 6 feet high chain link dog run with a gate. I want to know what is the best way to secure the top and how to do it. (I am NOT HANDY) And to do it at low cost. I was thinking chicken wire but not sure how to do it. We don't have a lot of predators around here really and I have a gated back yard but I have seen racoons about and I know they are lethal to hens. I have put quite a bit of love into these little ones since I have had them since they were baby chicks. I want to keep them safe and happy. Any advice would be appreciated. But be kind.. I am new!!

Lisa

1 White Crested Black Polish, 1 Leghorn, 3 Buff Orpington. All pullets right now.

 

[MJCooper42]

look here!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=394224
good luck

 

[Kelpie]

Chicken wire is not strong enough to stop predators by itself. I have two kennel runs, one with sheet roof and one with large heavy duty fence to keep predators out and a layer of chicken wire to keep chickens in. You can't tell in the pics but I have 24" small holed chicken wire starting about a foot from from the bottom and lays down a foot down against the ground so it makes a L shape around the whole perimeter. This is to stop predators from digging or raccoons grabbing the birds' heads if they sleep up against the fence on the ground (I lost a duck this way, very traumatizing to find a headless duck!). Predators aren't smart enough to back up to dig.