Hi folks I'm new to the site, and new to raising chickens, and I have a question about fencing. I have restored about 45 acres of prairie on my farm which makes for great habitat for all kinds of critters, including our fair share of predators. In addition to redtails, owls, skunks, coyotes, and racoons, I have two dogs in a fenced yard.
I am building an 8x8 ft coop, and have placed it where I can fence off a run that's about 20x50 ft. While I'd prefer to free range my birds, I'm thinking I should keep them in a run for their own safety. To keep the birds in do I need overhead netting? or is just fencing in the sides adequate? I do have a lot of redtails...are they likely to be raiders if I don't put up overhead netting?
I am building an 8x8 ft coop, and have placed it where I can fence off a run that's about 20x50 ft. While I'd prefer to free range my birds, I'm thinking I should keep them in a run for their own safety. To keep the birds in do I need overhead netting? or is just fencing in the sides adequate? I do have a lot of redtails...are they likely to be raiders if I don't put up overhead netting?