Run covering

[Misha707]

Hi there. My run is large and currently covered with chicken wire. It is right beneath a large oak tree and is always covered with leaves and branches. The acorns fall through. The edges were once attached (I inherited this when I moved in last year) to the existing wood fence and chain link fence and us now separating and falling apart. The hens get locked into their coop every night so they are safe from predators, but I know raccoons, opossums and cats get in there. What can any of you experts recommend me to do to make this area more predator proof and brighter/cleaner inside? My backyard butts up against the chain link, which is an RV storage and repair business and I don't have any other preds besides the ones I mentioned (hawks, owls too, obviously, but no foxes, dogs, etc). I'm thinking of the clear panels, but I would have a very difficult time cleaning them off due to the size of the run. I appreciate any thoughts and advice!

 

[Abriana]

Chicken wire is not a good idea—predators like weasels can squeeze in through those holes with ease and raccoons can rip in. Use 1/2 inch hardware cloth to be safe!

 

[Misha707]

There are already large gaps in the roof, so I know they can get in there we don't have weasels. What can I put on the roof that won't obliterate the sun? I hate the chicken wire and I believe it was used as basic protection during the day as the coop itself is a fortress.

 

[Ghosty]

1/2 inch hardware cloth. Chicken wire and netting are no good against raccoons and possum, or much of anything else for that matter, except for other birds. You probably need a hardware cloth apron on the ground around the run as well.

 

[Ghosty]

Pictures of my run. I had to hardware cloth the bottom of the run as well because of snakes.

 

[Misha707]

I'm mainly concerned about what to use as a run roof that I can easily clean of falling debris. The coop is 100% secure from predators.

 

[Misha707]

How do you clean off the branches and leaves? There's no way that I can get up there and my leaf blower can only move so much.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

How do you clean off the branches and leaves? There's no way that I can get up there and my leaf blower can only move so much.

Branches will have to be cut into manageable pieces and pulled through the holes. Cut them small enough and they will fall through on their own. Pruning shears would do the trick.

I think the roof is fine for daytime protection from hawks and stuff. As long as they are locked up at night in the coop.

 

[Ghosty]

I'm mainly concerned about what to use as a run roof that I can easily clean of falling debris. The coop is 100% secure from predators.

Anything easily cleanable isn't going to let in the sun. I doubt your run is square and looks big. It would be quite a task and expensive to put up clear poly panels. If you aren't worried about security except for birds, you could look into netting. Still not easy to clean though.

 

[rosemarythyme]

From the weight of the branches and leaves piling on top, a solid roof of some sort (like the panels you mentioned) would be the best way to deal with that. If you install one with a good slope, the leaves should slide off for the most part, so you wouldn't have to actively clean it. Branches would probably still need to be trimmed.

I have netting on top of my run and a weeping willow that grows over it, but the leaves are small enough to fall through and the branches are light and flexible enough to sit on top or trim back as needed, but that set up wouldn't work for most types of trees.