Enclosing my run...

[Cockle-Dood]

So i am starting my first flock in the next week or so, just finishing up the coop/run project. I have been reading my copy of Storey's Guide to raising Chickens, and in there she mentions that a 2'-3' grid of twine or wire would suffice to deter any flying predators. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this and at the same time, if it does deter the outside predators, will do the same to keep the chickens in?

Any thoughts on the subject are appreciated!!

 

[AlienChick]

I've never used any wire grid, but it sounds interesting (and an awful lot of work).

My chickens free range and we have some large trees (as well as a pole barn) where they will run to whenever there are hawks overhead.
The guineas and roosters spot the hawks first, and they sound the alarm, then everyone runs for the nearest shelter. (It's funny to watch.)
I also attached those shiny twirly toys (pinwheels?) to fence posts nearby to deter the flying predators.
The sunlight catches the blades on the pinwheels and reflects it above.
I have never lost any chickens to flying predators; however, my neighbor in the next farm over keeps his chickens penned in an enclosure (open top) and the chickens have no trees to hide underneath (easy pickins). He loses about 10 birds a year to hawks. He even has hawk traps at his place.
He's afraid to allow them to free range because he says they'll get eaten by predators.

 

[Cockle-Dood]

where i live i have, not only hawks (probably the least of my actualy worries) but also have dogs, coyotes, and a lot of cats around. I am not opposed to free range and actually really want to, but for what is going to be my breeding pen down the line i wanted to seal it.

 

[JanetS]

I have a roof over part of the run and 1/2" hardware cloth over the rest.

 

[chfite]

I have a run 8 x 20 with twine run back and forth the length of the run for the purpose of deterring raptors. The twine is spaced about 6 inches or so apart. There are trees over the run, large oaks, that help prevent there being a straight line flight into the run. The plan was that raptors would not elect to try to fly into an area with an obvious blockage to hamper their getting and out unimpeded. I suppose that it works. It is hard to tell if a preventive works, if nothing happens.

I have fencing 6 feet tall around the run. I doubt these big, mature chickens could fly over a 6 foot fence in any event.

The rooster got out once or twice before the strings, but he was climbing up onto a perch that is now gone and jumping into flight from there.

My chickens forage daily, but the yard has many large bushes and trees to provide a hiding place the chickens can quickly and easily reach for shelter.

We have hawks here, but none has come calling.

Chris