Hawk proof Coop run

mamahen16

In the Brooder
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my main predator problem is from birds of prey so lately I have been keeping the girls locked up. They aren't getting eaten now but they are not happy campers. Plus I have a dozen pullets who will eventually outgrow their current residence and I'll need more space. SO, what I think I need is a big run off an area that I'll make into a second coop.

My question is, how do you make a big (plenty of space for 18 chickens) run that is BOP proof? What is the go-to netting that won't disintegrate in a year? If I did that, the run would be approx 32'x32' and I figured I'd cut it in 1/2 or 1/3 to rotate them through the space.
Any thoughts? There are raccoons and coyotes so I'd like to keep them out too, but the BOP have killed more of my hens than anything else.

I'll add a pic later when it doesn't crash my app.
 
I'm hoping that we are lucky enough not to net over the top and to eventually allow our new hens to be able to free range. We have lots of overhead tree cover so hopefully that will give a cloak of invisibility to my girls.........have you thought of giving them shelter spots / safe havens?
 
One time I found the dead hen AND a live hawk IN the coop. So I think they really need more protection. But the trees nearby are now fully leafed so that'll help but there is mostly big open fields.
 
Our attached run is a 10x10 dog kennel. We have the black shade cover that fits it with an additional tan colored shade cloth over it. There isn't any shade, so it's had full sun for more than a year. The black zip ties are the only things that have disintegrated; the zip ties made by the shade cloth company were more expensive, but haven't broken.
 
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my main predator problem is from birds of prey so lately I have been keeping the girls locked up. They aren't getting eaten now but they are not happy campers. Plus I have a dozen pullets who will eventually outgrow their current residence and I'll need more space. SO, what I think I need is a big run off an area that I'll make into a second coop.

My question is, how do you make a big (plenty of space for 18 chickens) run that is BOP proof? What is the go-to netting that won't disintegrate in a year? If I did that, the run would be approx 32'x32' and I figured I'd cut it in 1/2 or 1/3 to rotate them through the space.
Any thoughts? There are raccoons and coyotes so I'd like to keep them out too, but the BOP have killed more of my hens than anything else.

I'll add a pic later when it doesn't crash my app.

We used galvanised chicken wire and it's held up really well. No BOP has got through it.... yet
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