Enclosed run with trees? Is it possible?

WaterGoat

Chirping
Jan 10, 2019
36
118
89
Humboldt County, California
Does anyone have an enclosed run with trees? How did you deal with fencing around the trees without hurting them? Am I just a fool that should rethink where I want to put my future chooks?
I'm still in the planning stages of building a coop and run and the area I'd like to put my run has several mature trees. Aerial predators are an issue so it will have to be enclosed.
 
I don't quite understand what you're asking. Do you want the trees inside the run with the chickens? Or are you planning on encircling each and every tree with fencing? Are you looking for suggestions on how to deal with netting over the top of the run, but around the tree trunks?

Could you maybe sketch what you want to do or describe it in a little more depth?
 
Does anyone have an enclosed run with trees? How did you deal with fencing around the trees without hurting them? Am I just a fool that should rethink where I want to put my future chooks?
I'm still in the planning stages of building a coop and run and the area I'd like to put my run has several mature trees. Aerial predators are an issue so it will have to be enclosed.
Bushes may be a better way to go. Some are quite hardy. It would take some research on your part, but I'm sure you would find hardy, nonpoisonous, bird friendly bushes.
 
I don't quite understand what you're asking. Do you want the trees inside the run with the chickens? Or are you planning on encircling each and every tree with fencing? Are you looking for suggestions on how to deal with netting over the top of the run, but around the tree trunks?

Could you maybe sketch what you want to do or describe it in a little more depth?
Sorry for not being clearer. I'm looking for suggestions for how to deal with netting or fencing over the top of the run but around the tree trunks.
 
Sorry for not being clearer. I'm looking for suggestions for how to deal with netting or fencing over the top of the run but around the tree trunks.
I'm no contractor, but maybe a piece of hose or something similar in a ring around the trunk? Use a few of those metal screws with the hooks on the end to drill into the trunk a bit (I can't imagine it would damage them; think maple syrup sap harvesters) and support the loop of hose, and you could use a thick cord to "sew" the netting onto the hose.

Just a thought. Someone else can probably come up with a better idea.
 
That’s what I’ll be doing with my new pheasant run; I cut the big trees for firewood last fall, but left the bushes and trees 5-6’ tall; my enclosure last season was covered in deer netting, I added supports (think tent poles) inside to help hold up the net.
The deer net was expensive and didn’t last. A local guy who used to have pheasants had a huge round enclosure, he used an old gill net over top and “stitched” it with rope around one big tree in the middle, like a circus tent...but I haven’t had any luck finding a fishing net.
So this year my pheasies will have a long skinny run, filled with shrubs and small trees, and covered with hay bale netting, which is super strong and easy to find.
 
I will be covering my run in the next few weeks, and it has a large cherry tree in it. Planning on just screwing in a couple cup hooks/eye hooks to the trunk and securing my netting/wire to that. It won't kill the tree as long as we are not talking about a tree that is really skinny in diameter. You do want to avoid damaging as much of the layer just under the bark, but a few drill/screw holes are no big deal as long as the majority of the trunk is intact.

Think a horizontal ring around the trunk. You want to avoid breaking the ring as much as you can. So if you DO need to do some damage, try for vertical damage to the trunk (multiple screws going up in a line) versus horizontal damage (20 screws all in a ring around the trunk at the same height). A good way to kill a tree is to simply cut a small circle around the entire trunk that goes thru the layer just below the bark, low to the ground.......
 
I have seen several enclosed runs with trees.... Actually they are useful for providing support... But you have to provide room and flexibility for the tree to grow and move with the wind. Predator proof ing will be an exercise in creativity....

You can fasten directly to the tree.... Id do the hardware cloth up the tree for a bit then form an aprin around the tree... Then use that point for your supports for the overhead wire.

Just remember the snow load can be an issue for the wire... dont make it an issue for the tree.

deb
 

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