Suggestions on runs that incorporate large trees

[Talitsa]

I have three medium size poplar trees in my back yard. The are very expensive to have removed & I don't know that I'll get to it in the next 10 years.

The trees sit on the best spot to build a run. I haven't seen any pictures in the coop designs that have incorporated trees into the run. Is there any reason not to?

I would have to figure out a way to tack wire to the trees in order to cover the top of the run due to eagles, hawks & owls, but that's the only drawback I have thought of.

Any ideas?

 

[seabeck3]

We live in Washington and have large evergreen trees in our chicken yard. Haven't had any trouble with birds of prey, but we did cover the yard when the chickens were young.

 

[Imp]

There's another Western Wa member that uses fishing net to cover his run. He posted pix in the Washington thread a while back. I seem to recall it going around trees. It was pretty cool looking. I think it was eagle2026. You might want to check him out. The pix was long enough ago that it would be difficult to find, but I'd guess between Dec and Feb. I believe he gets his netting at Fishermans Terminal in Seattle.

Imp

Wanted to add that I free range unsupervised all day with no problems. But others here in Washington have had problems.

 

[underground chickenman]

You can drape aviary netting between the trees for a "top" to your run. It won't be secure against raccoons and such, so make sure your chickens are locked up tight in the coop at night, but the aviary netting should prevent dive bombing by hawks and eagles.

UGCM

 

[crosbygroup]

Pictures of the yard and run area might be helpful.

 

[newchicksnducks]

We have one large tree, and a smaller, but tall tree that were in our way when putting in the run. The larger tree is actuall outside the run, but we used it to attach one of the 4x4 posts that we attached the welded wire to instead of using concrete in a hole. The other is an oak tree inside the run. Last year we did not have a roof on the run, but we have since put netting up (trying to keep the hawk from returning!) which we will replace with wire sometime this summer. We just put the netting around the tree in the run, seaming it together on both sides of the tree.

 

[CityChook]

Are you worried about raccoons coming down the trees and into your run? For me here in MN, that's a bigger concern than hawks.

 

[Mrs. Green Thumbs]

Careful with your hen's and that oak tree. There is a poison in the acorn called tannin (spelling?) any who, it's only tolerable in white oak's but every other kind of oak has high levels of tannin in the acorn.

 

[Talitsa]

No racoons here as we aren't near the woods, but tons of eagles! Eagles even take off with little dogs around here from time to time.


After that, preditors would also be hawks, owls & possibly some river rats. My dogs usually keep the coyotes away.
I found the pictures of the fishing net cover....great idea! Thank you!

 

[Ozark Chicken]

Mrs. Green Thumbs :

Careful with your hen's and that oak tree. There is a poison in the acorn called tannin (spelling?) any who, it's only tolerable in white oak's but every other kind of oak has high levels of tannin in the acorn.

My chickens eat all kinds of acorns (Post, white, red, live , whatever) I've even ground up and made a flour from some live oak acorns. They were HUGE. You can boil hickory bark down till all it leaves is the salt residue. Mix with ground acorn and an egg. Then throw in a skillet. It makes a very flat slightly bitter pancake. It's really pretty bad tasting but it won't hurt you at all. Maybe add some wild berries. I may have to try that. Tannins are bitter but they aren't toxic to people, deer, goats, turkeys, doves and what is that other fuzzy critter... O ya Squirrels. I hope they won't hurt chickens. cause I have a gozillion of them around here​