Should my run have a roof?

[chickerdoodle]

I nearly got ill listening to that poor chicken--I had to turn it off. It sounds like such a sad and horrible death.

Our run is completely roofed and a true Forte Knox that was built with protection and ease of maintenance in mind. They can go in and out into this run anytime. When they go out of this coop into the yard it is covered with a wire roof or larger areas are netted.

 

[AKsmama]

That's a lovely coop and run, chickerdoodle!

Quote:
We have 31 pullets. DH ordered 3 cockerels and we got 2 free, so that's how we ended up with 5. Most people say the best ratio for roosns is 1:10, so I have 2 too many roos. They're pretty good to the pullets, though, and we're not having any real problems like wounds. I would suggest either getting more hens or getting rid of or at least separating your cockerels if they are wounding the hens. Hen aprons (you can buy them online or find patterns to make your own, if you sew) can help, but your roo ratio is pretty high.

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

Im freaked now. I have hawks nesting in the barnyard. I have 16 seven week old chickens in a run that I made a wires grid of 24 inch squares and put bird netting on top of it. Im not worried about climbers in the daytime but occasional neighbor dogs show up. Im going to put a hot wire around the bottom perimeter. I already had 18 inches of hog wire burried and 18 inch wide row of stacked rock around the bottom. Gee I wonder if my top is secure enough. I seriously cant afford more lumber or wire at this point. My dogs went WILD in the house when they heard that video.

 

[DDRanch]

The answer is yes, your run should have a roof !! And it sounds like you have already taken measures to do so. I would receommend a securely fastened wire top, the netting is just not strong enough. An uncovered run is subject to hawks, owls and depending on the size of your chickens, even crows and ravens. Remember a fox can climb trees and fences and then there are raccoons who are the #1 predator for chickens.