Help with fox proofing run, please!

[ChicksInJax]

Hi all! This little alley down the and back side of our garage is a perfect run extra run for our chickens—nice and shady with lots of tasty spiders and grubs. We’ve already laid a hardware cloth skirt along the bottom of the fence but I’m at a loss on how to predator proof the top of the run. They will only use the run in daylight but several neighbors have lost chickens to the foxes during the daytime lately. Does anyone have any ideas on a manageable way to protect against an attack from above?

 

[aart]

The fox can get in from above?

Attaching mesh to fence and garage wall is the only way I can think.


Welcome to BYC! @ChicksInJax
Jacksonville FL?
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[DougVC]

I would think as long as you have the bottom secured with hardware cloth, it should be secure from foxes. The main thing to worry about from above during the day would be hawks/falcons. However that appears to be a narrow passage so I don’t know that many hawks would venture in there as they prefer open spaces.

 

[Finnie]

Fox can get over that fence easily. I agree with Aart, put mesh over the top of it.

 

[mowin]

I've seen fox chase squirrels up a tree. No they didn't go up 30', but 10' was easily obtained in a blink of an eye.

Plus, if you have fox, you have coon who can climb much easier.

I'd definitely add some kind of roof structure, fencing, spanning that gap. Maybe some metal roofing as long as it's sturdy enough to hold a snow load if you're in a snowy area.

 

[muddy75]

View attachment 2262812
Hi all! This little alley down the and back side of our garage is a perfect run extra run for our chickens—nice and shady with lots of tasty spiders and grubs. We’ve already laid a hardware cloth skirt along the bottom of the fence but I’m at a loss on how to predator proof the top of the run. They will only use the run in daylight but several neighbors have lost chickens to the foxes during the daytime lately. Does anyone have any ideas on a manageable way to protect against an attack from above?

i have HD netting covering my aviary and installed a 2-wire electric fence perimeter along the top of the fence and roof of shed to deter predator entry from above