top for "safe" run

Lone Star Lady

In the Brooder
5 Years
Apr 18, 2014
12
1
24
We are trying to get a safe run finished for our chickens, and we need to enclose the top. The run is attached to our coop. My husband's idea is to cover the run with shade cloth, which he says should be strong enough to stop raccoons from climbing over the top of the fence. He says if he can't tear it with his hands, it's strong enough. I would like to know if this has worked for other chicken keepers.
 
We have 2x4" welded wire on top of ours. I've never used shade cloth, so I can't give an opinion on that specifically. One thing to consider is that a raccoon has a mouthful of sharp teeth that can bite through fabric, not to mention those manipulative little "hands" that can get into just about anything.
 
I used 2x4 welded wire for my run, walls and roof.

I also have used the coolaroo shade cloth, for shade over the 2x4 wire.

The coolaroo is tough stuff but would not stand up to a raccoons teeth.
 
They can get through chicken wire, I like the 2x4 welded wire for the top and bottom an 1x2 welded wire for the sides. If you don't have cats 1/4 hardware cloth may be better for the sides even if it is not as sturdy. We have fox coyote possum and coon that are too numerous to get rid of. If you find something inexpensive that will work we ALL want to know.
 
We did this for our former bantam coop (the elderly hens live there now) There are some small gaps near the building at the top, but all birds are inside before dusk every day so predators are not a huge issue. This cover keeps aerial ones from being able to swoop in. The fencing was crushed down some on top a few times, so I know something was looking for a way inside. Even found cougar tracks right next to it, like it had raised up on the hind legs and put its forepaws against the side. Have never seen anything in the pen, though it's not weasel or rat-proof, certainly, being 2x4 welded wire with only the bottom foot or so covered with smaller wire.







 
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Wow speckled hen that looks alot like mine.
Yes, it sure does! Yours looks like aluminum pipe whereas mine is all PVC for the framework. Nice job you did there!

When we moved the bantams to their new, smaller coop, there was already a pen in place so we had to cover it to keep those little fliers in like they were in their previous home. It ain't pretty, but we used the materials we had on hand and it does the job to keep them from flying out or hawks from flying in.




 
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