Run design????

[macadam8157]

Does a run need to be fully enclosed if your not going to clip wings??? If not how high should it be so they cannot fly out???

 

[Baymen Moe]

The concern with an uncovered run is hawks being able to swoop in for lunch. Chickens can fly up surprisingly high without clipped wings.

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
I agree with what Baymen Moe said!

 

[Jayers]

My run is also enclosed, I do have a lot of urban predators and I love my chickens too much to lose them. I will mention, though, that my chicken mentor did not have an enclosed run, just a 4' high welded wire fence. He said he never lost a chicken inside the run to a wild predator, just his dog. He did point out the spot where one day one of his cocky cocks decided to fly out of the run. He said it was killed by a coyote as soon as it landed.

 

[Robert Boyd]

my run is enclosed as well, Its actually a dome shape, but no predators, or fly outs so far:^}

 

[jaydweight]

I'm wondering the same thing.

What materials should I use to cover my run? I was working on this last night but don't know what to put over the top. I've already decided to cover it being that I don't want them to fly out, and I don't want unwanted predators getting in. But being that it's too short for me to get in there, I thought I'd have something that covers it but that I could easily lift open so I could clean it out when necessary.

I was thinking maybe some plywood on hinges, but I didn't know if that would be too heavy.

What are your thoughts, suggestions on what may or may not work?

Here's a couple shots of the run:

 

[Robert Boyd]

Quote:
what are the demesions of your run,
Cattle panels are 54 inches by 16' in length they are easily stapled to 2 by 4s using fence staples, and you can tie any type of wire to them easily without the wire sagging:^}

 

[jaydweight]

Quote:
what are the demesions of your run,
Cattle panels are 54 inches by 16' in length they are easily stapled to 2 by 4s using fence staples, and you can tie any type of wire to them easily without the wire sagging:^}

Does my wire look like it's sagging? Because it's not. I'm wondering if you are seeing the lathe I used for the bottom beneath the panels.

I think it's something like 9'x7'...

 

[Robert Boyd]

Quote:
what are the demesions of your run,
Cattle panels are 54 inches by 16' in length they are easily stapled to 2 by 4s using fence staples, and you can tie any type of wire to them easily without the wire sagging:^}

Does my wire look like it's sagging? Because it's not. I'm wondering if you are seeing the lathe I used for the bottom beneath the panels.

I think it's something like 9'x7'...

Im so sorry, I wasnt referring to what you have done.
I thought you were asking a bout a cover for the top.
you could losely staple a cattle panel from one end so it could hinge and latch it if need be on the other.

please forgive me for seeming rude.

 

[Bi0s]

i have a top on mine just for safety i used locust trees for post for support they will last the next 100 yrs