Hawk in the neighborhood need to cover the run

[sawilliams]

My chicken run is the full side of my house, about 40-50 ft long and 6-8 feet wide. I'm thinking of cover the half closer to the coop becuase the further half has bamboo and I don't want to cover over it. So I'm thinking like a curtain wall that they can go in and out of freely but go in for safety. 6ft fence on one side house on the other I'll probably have to place running boards on the house to secure too.

What would be an ideal material to use as the cover? It has to be breathable as it gets really hot here in the summers, maybe like a shade covering though. I don't really want to put hard wire or chicken wire up unless it's my only option.

The hawk hasn't bothered the chickens yet but was in the tree over the neighbors yard and that was apparently close enough to worry the girls. They all went and sat under the bamboo till they felt it was safe

 

[centrarchid]

Deer netting is tough enough to stop hawks in my setting and does not get damaged by wind but is vulnerable to very heavy freezing rain. I have used the shade cloth but it needs reinforcement for wind, snow and freezing rain. Shade cloth will need lots of attachment points so it does not tear itself apart in winds. Overall shade cloth better in summer months owing to the shade.

 

[cavemanrich]

I have a similar run as you. House to fence and the whole length of house. I have multiple lite duty tarps attached to house and held to fence by rubber straps. The tarps wave some during wind but do not rip because the rubber bungies allow for flex. Keeps rain and snow out, and provides shade in summer. Main thing is it keep chickens safe from overhead raptors,, What the hawk does not see does not temp them. Most times hawks will avoid enclosed areas. They will go to easier food sources. If the food is scarce, then they may try extreme measures. I have lost a few to hawks, but while they were free ranging in the open back yard. Never in the semi, covered run.
WISHING YOU BEST

 

[sawilliams]

I don't have to worry much about snow or freezing rain but the wind can be a big issue.

Would covering just half the run work with some kind of wall that can pass through? They also get yard time in the evenings. That's when I found them hiding in the bamboo they all ram back to the run to hide in the bamboo.

I just want to make sure they have enough areas to fell safe or take cover if needed

 

[sawilliams]

I have a similar run as you. House to fence and the whole length of house.   I have multiple lite duty tarps attached to house and held to fence by rubber straps.  The tarps wave some during wind but do not rip because the rubber bungies allow for flex.   Keeps rain and snow out, and provides shade in summer.   Main thing is it keep chickens safe from overhead raptors,,    What the hawk does not see does not temp them.    Most times hawks will avoid enclosed areas.   They will go to easier food sources.    If the food is scarce, then they may try extreme measures.    I have lost a few to hawks, but while they were free ranging in the open back yard.  Never in the semi, covered run. 
WISHING YOU BEST 

How did you attach to the house?

 

[cavemanrich]

I wrapped it on a 1 x 2 piece of wood and screwed it to the wall using deck screws. You can attach it to your eves, or where possible. Soffit, facia, On the fence end I ran a steel cable from a tree to the garage. I then used the straps from the tarp eyelets to the cable. The tarp slopes from the house down to the fence. Rain fall off at the fence end. Here is an unrelated pix from another project that shows slightly how the thing looks.

It is just showing how the tarp is fastened to the cable on the fence end.

This picture shows how light it is during day under the tarp. These girls are in the run.

 

[sawilliams]

Awesome thank you