run cover

[NHN]

What is the best way to cover an daytime run that won't sag? It's a small fenced enclosure and I want to cover it to deter hawks.

 

[chickcritty]

I use a tarp on the top of my run. I pull it taut and secure it to the sides of the run with those mini bungee cords.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

It probably doesn't look wonderful but what I did is functional. I used tposts for the external fence and then wired a board to the top of the t-post to the height that I wanted and then ran electric fence wire (it's small and strong) across the run between the top of the posts. Over this I put a heavy gauge pvc wire fence that has 1" squares (I got it at Lowes). It comes in 2' wide rolls so I twist tie the strips together. It's been that way for a few years now and the sun and wind haven't destroyed it yet.

 

[Galaxiedriver]

I am going to try deer netting for my run cover. It doesn't take much to deter hawks. Unlike coons, they will not try to get through a barrier, not even a flimsy one.

We never leave our chickens out at night either. Too many predators.

I am also going to have an electric fence around the run 6 inches off the ground, and strong wire fence 6 feet high. Not chicken wire. I finished setting my posts today and hope to finish the fence this weekend.

 

[patandchickens]

A tarp can be problematic because it will flap something FIERCE (giving it at best a short lifespan, and not infrequently causing it to fly away and take part of your run structure with it) and also catch rain and collapse and make a general mess. If you do it, make sure it is well supported and pitched so that a minimum of water collects.

For hawks, cheap trellis/deer/garden type netting works reasonably well. A few people have had hawks get tangled or get through, but by and large it seems to work well, requires relatively little support, and is cheap. It will come down in wet snow unless you make suitable arrangements, but it will probably not take your run fence WITH it when it comes down, unlike some other kinds of 'lids'.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[M To The Maxx]

I use the lattice wood for the roof of my coops.