Predator Apron on the inside of the run???

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks! You are so right. Also, a plastic zip tie to the bottom rail of the chain link will keep the HW butted up against the chain link. After posting, I saw the vulnerabilities -- and yeah, the "weights" are a bit tacky -- easily cured with staples. LOL - do you ever do something in an 'emergency situation' and know you will 'fix it' in just a bit, and before you know it 6-months have gone past?

I don't worry so much about "tacky" as long as it functions, but I could also see my dogs bumping some of those rocks while running around (they literally do circles around the run, chasing one another) and with enough bumps, the apron is now no longer doing anything.

At least staples are pretty easy to install. If time is an issue, I'd just nail in a few to get it tacked down on outer edges/corners, then go back later and reinforce when you have the time.

I use plastic zip ties as well but I don't like them in all applications. I try to use metal first (wire, o-rings, the lawn staples, even steel zip ties) on fencing over plastic zip ties. I mainly use plastic ones to secure my netting over the top (as that's for birds of prey) and any plastic ones on the fencing are intermixed with metal ones (due to cost and the fact that they aren't as easy to use).

 

[gtaus]

View attachment 1982389

... Here is my predator proof current coop....

Your coop looks pretty secure. I don't understand your need for a predator apron in the much larger fenced in area. What predator are you worried about digging under the wire fence that cannot also climb over that fence? Or even through that 2x4 fencing?

My chicken run is simply 2x4 wire fencing with bird netting on top. The 2x4 fencing is enough to slow down any dogs that may come by during the day, and most other creatures are not a threat until night - when I have the hens locked up in their Fort Knox coop. My main daytime predators are Bald Eagles and hawks, so the bird netting on top of the fencing is a must where I live.

Looks like you have a nice setup, but I know everyone has different predator concerns depending on where they live. Your setup is more secure than what I have, but maybe we are worried about different predators.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Your coop looks pretty secure. I don't understand your need for a predator apron in the much larger fenced in area. What predator are you worried about digging under the wire fence that cannot also climb over that fence? Or even through that 2x4 fencing?

My chicken run is simply 2x4 wire fencing with bird netting on top. The 2x4 fencing is enough to slow down any dogs that may come by during the day, and most other creatures are not a threat until night - when I have the hens locked up in their Fort Knox coop. My main daytime predators are Bald Eagles and hawks, so the bird netting on top of the fencing is a must where I live.

Looks like you have a nice setup, but I know everyone has different predator concerns depending on where they live. Your setup is more secure than what I have, but maybe we are worried about different predators.

I got a second coop built that I’ll be adding to that area and I’m building a second run. I don’t have the time or resources to build it as secure as that coop I have now. I see your point about not nothing with the wire if it won’t be covered anyways.

I think my current plan is to give the electric poultry netting a go to ward off ground predators, which are few and far between during the day. I’m going to add some tall t posts and attach bird netting to it to prevent hawk attacks. I think that’s my biggest daytime threat.

 

[gtaus]

I’m going to add some tall t posts and attach bird netting to it to prevent hawk attacks. I think that’s my biggest daytime threat.

That's pretty much what I ended up doing. Depending on how big your run is for the bird netting, I found that if I ran a strong rope criss-cross from one tee post to another on the opposite side that my bird netting was supported enough that it would not sag in the middle. If I had a really large run, I'd probably build a support tree in the middle of the yard to support the bird netting. I don't know about you, but I enjoy being able to walk upright in my chicken run. So I like that bird netting up and over my head.

 

[aart]

Depending on how big your run is for the bird netting, I found that if I ran a strong rope criss-cross from one tee post to another on the opposite side that my bird netting was supported enough that it would not sag in the middle.

@gtaus Has that held up with your snow loads?

 

[gtaus]

@gtaus Has that held up with your snow loads?

When the weather started getting cold and we got that first, wet snowfall, my bird netting filled up with wet sticky snow and got overload leading to a collapse. I had to go out there and beat the bird netting with a broom to shake off the wet snow. Then the bird netting sprang back into place. I had to do that a couple times, after a wet snowfall. Since then, the snow has been dry, does not stick to the bird netting, and has not collapsed.

 

[Grapeguy]

View attachment 1981526 Here’s a photo for reference. I’ll be adding fencing where the red line is, and the coop will be at the back. I’ll be utilizing the 3 existing sides of fence, but adding hardware cloth to the bottom 3-4’. I want to make the new side of fencing about 6’. It’ll slant down and I’ll add bird netting to the top.

Is there any chance you could re-set your fencing on the other side of the hedge or remove the hedge? Seems raccoon could easily climb the small trees from the outside and just drop over into your run. Also, if the hedge were inside your run it'd give the chickens a shady spot and someplace to be somewhat out of sight of overhead predators.