Run Confussion Question!

[cajunhillbilly]

OK! I have been reading and researching options on run covering! I see alot of talk about coons breaking through chicken wire and chewing through netting around the run! Well if they could do that then Why cover your run with chicken wire or bird netting? Coons do climb therefore meaning if they cant get in on the ground, Dont ya think they will try to go over the top?
I would appreciate some clarity on this. I look forward to hearing your opinions!

Karl

 

[elmo]

Raccoons are seldom out prowling in daytime, but daytime is when hawks go hunting. Some people use netting or chicken wire on the top of their runs to keep hawks out, but lock their chickens inside a secure coop at night to keep them safe from critters like raccoons.

 

[Sparky2726]

I am using chain link fence for my run, and one thing I am planning on doing is running a strand of electric fence about 6 inches up and out from the bottom of the fence, and barb wire at an angle on the top, with a strand of electric there. With a good charger I would think that should keep out all but the most motivated predators.

Lee

 

[lovinlife]

We have a large racoon population where I live. I keep my chickens in a 20'x20' chain link dog run with a shelter over one corner (we live in a mild climate). I have chicken wire over the top and secured it all the way around so nothing can get in. I never had a racoon get into the coop. I never had a racoon go under the coop either. However, I did have a racoon scare the chickens enough that they got off the roosts and a racoon pulled a chicken through the chain link and ate as much as they could. This happened twice. At that point, I wired 2' chicken wire around the bottom of the coop so the chickens couldn't stick their heads through the chain link. I never had a racoon chew through chicken wire. Plastic netting would be no problem for a racoon, so definitely use wire.

Electric wire around the top and bottom would be great, but I don't have electricity to my coop.

You definitely need a covering over the dog run. If you don't, chickens can fly up to the top and out of the pen. Nevermind the animals that could get in to eat them.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

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I have a heavy duty netting on top my run, only for the hawks. They are put up at night.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Quote:
This is our situation, also, at least when the trees have no leaves. The rest of the time we are able to free range.

 

[patandchickens]

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Uh, people aren't putting those things over the run to keep four-legged predators out.

They're putting 'em up there to keep hawks (etc) out, and to keep chickens from flying "over the wall" to less-protected areas.


Pat