Restricted free range idea help?

[SoonersDucks]

The netting is working for us, but in Spring we will be building one new big coop. Right now we have 3 small ones. With the new big coop we will build a safe run, which of course will be smaller, where they will be at night and whenever we aren't around. Then they can free range the orchard most days. If I understand your plan, you will end up with the same thing when you're done. Good luck!

How do the poles do with wind? I am thinking of building something like what you have there. One side will connect to my coop run, and the other 3 sides will be t-post fencing.

 

[springvalley123]

Depending on the size of the bird netting or deer fencing you use, you could use an 8 foot t-post and put an electric fence insulator on the top of it, and drape the netting/deer fencing over that. The 8-foot t-post should be about 6.5 feet once in the ground. Bird netting would sag, the deer fencing might not sag as much, so you might be able to walk around better inside the enclosure.

 

[ValerieJ]

How do the poles do with wind? I am thinking of building something like what you have there. One side will connect to my coop run, and the other 3 sides will be t-post fencing.

The corner posts are 8" diameter posts made from felled trees. They are buried about 2 1/2' underground. That provides the stability for the fencing, which has been standing for the last 4 years. The T-PVC Posts are tied off to the fence line for stability. We do have heavy winds, strong enough to regularly bring down trees. We did last night, in fact. Everything has been very stable so far. But, the netting is new this year. This is the first year we had to worry about the bald eagles. I don't expect it to come down in the wind. Snow is my only concern, but the holes on my netting for the larger part of the run are 2 1/2", so I think I'll be okay there too. The netting over the berry run is smaller holes. I'll have to watch that one.