Run cover advice

[HeyHey]

I have a large chicken run and have it covered with bird netting..which is great until the leaves fall.
Every year when the leaves fall it collapses.
I need some ideas as to what I can use permanently to keep the predators out and the leaves can fall through. I don't want to have to redo it every year as I am not getting any younger.Lol
Thank for the help

 

[Hungry Chicken]

Hardware cloth works pretty well for me. It would probably stay up when the leaves fall however the leaves wouldn't fall through. How big is the run? Would it be possible to add a support somewhere in the middle to keep the bird netting up? With chicken wire the leaves might fall through as the holes are bigger but not as predator-safe

 

[GlicksChicks]

It would not be easy to find something that is predator proof but also has holes large enough to allow the leaves to fall through. Hardware cloth would be good, and maybe use a leaf blower to get any leaves off of it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Either need more and/or better supports for the netting (if the netting is taking down the supports) or better quality netting (if netting is being damaged) or more frequent clearing off of leaves as they fall. How often do you clear fallen leaves off right now, or are you not doing that?

Photos would help evaluate since every set up is different, as we have no idea of your run size, netting type, amount of leaves, etc.

Ultimately a roofed run would be the best solution, since no matter the size of the openings on netting or wire not all leaves will fall through so you will always have some to contend with.

 

[HeyHey]

Either need more and/or better supports for the netting (if the netting is taking down the supports) or better quality netting (if netting is being damaged) or more frequent clearing off of leaves as they fall. How often do you clear fallen leaves off right now, or are you not doing that?

Photos would help evaluate since every set up is different, as we have no idea of your run size, netting type, amount of leaves, etc.

Ultimately a roofed run would be the best solution, since no matter the size of the openings on netting or wire not all leaves will fall through so you will always have some to contend with.

My chicken run is 43x100 with 3 60 foot old huge trees around it.
One on each end. And one in the middle

 

[rosemarythyme]

My chicken run is 43x100 with 3 60 foot old huge trees around it.
One on each end. And one in the middle

That sounds like a very large span to cover with only 3 supports, especially if the trees drop a lot of leaves (like oaks or maples would).

 

[HeyHey]

That sounds like a very large span to cover with only 3 supports, especially if the trees drop a lot of leaves (like oaks or maples would).

The run it made out of dog kennels and I currently have the bird netting but was looking for something more permanent

 

[HeyHey]

Hardware cloth works pretty well for me. It would probably stay up when the leaves fall however the leaves wouldn't fall through. How big is the run? Would it be possible to add a support somewhere in the middle to keep the bird netting up? With chicken wire the leaves might fall through as the holes are bigger but not as predator-safe

43x100

 

[rosemarythyme]

The run it made out of dog kennels and I currently have the bird netting but was looking for something more permanent

So it's the netting that's tearing or is it the supports can't hold it up and are buckling?

The danger with having let's say a stronger netting or wire mesh is if the weight of the leaves is that great, you're looking at potentially taking down a portion of the supports. It's probably not too likely with just leaves, but that's how snow damage and collapses happen every year.

Can we get photos?

 

[Huntmaster]

43x100

This is a pic of one of my pens with 2" knotted netting over top. This pen is 50' x 100' it has been up for almost 10 years now. I also have many other pens covered with the same 2" knotted netting and has worked great for my needs. As you can see, I put it over small building and small trees and shrubs inside pen. My height in middle is 14'.