What's a good Canopy or top for Chicken Run???

[Flycropper]

I have a chicken run that is about 14' x 22'. The height is 6'. The top of the run is trimmed out with 2x4s.

What is a good stiff wire covering for the top. I don't want to put a lot of interior support posts in the middle. Is there a wire mesh that I can stretch over the top that is rigid enough that it won't sag in the middle? One inch chicken wire/mesh is too flimsy. I need something stiff so that with some tension it will hold across the run.

Any advice would be appreciated. I am posting this under the "Predator..." topic b/c I had a hawk assault this week and lost one RIR.

I guess I should have posted this under Coop/Run Design....

 

[rebbetzin]

How about what is called "Hardware cloth"? It come in different size mesh and is pretty stiff

Here are a couple of sites

http://www.hardwareandtools.com/invt/6100317?ref=gbase

http://www.hardwareandtools.com/invt/6100317?ref=gbase

 

[panner123]

If your only worried about hawk attacks, I would go with bird netting.
You can get this at most paces that sell plants and flowers. You stated the top is trimmed with 2x4's, so you can go with chicken wire, it just has to be pulled tight, to take the sag out.

 

[Miltonchix]

I put the cheap green plastic fencing over mine. 50' roll was $7 to $10. Staples down easily and so far (18months) has held up just fine. Its cheap enough that if it starts breaking I can just throw up some more.

I also put up some 1X2 cross members for support to keep it from drooping.

 

[LoneCowboy]

I put that redwood lattis on mine so they would have shade too. I don't worry too much about something getting them, because I lock them in their fort knox strength coop every night. It's been good because they aren't in a shaded area and it helps keep them out of the coop durring the day

 

[Flycropper]

What do you all think if I used strands of barbed wire set 3 to 5 inches apart run across the top? I think I can get a tight pull on it to take out the sag. I used smooth wire before (light gauge) and it was spaced about 10 inches apart in a grid. Hawk fought through it coming and going.

Barbed wire would look more menacing to a hawk and might deter any animals who get passed the electric perimeter and try to climb on top. We have foxes, raccoons, Oppossums, hawks, coyotes, all around us.

Just thinking out loud.

(My sons tell me it looks like I am building a small prison!). I had no idea how much protection I was going to have to use when I started this new hobby.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I'm getting my run redone and it will have a tin roof with a couple of the clear panels, I hope. This will provide shade, sun and protection from prediators and rain! I live on clay ground and it doesn't take much rain for their run to become a mess!

 

[sundance]

we used the same chicken wire on top as we used on the sides of the run,then put a tarp over half of it keeps out the hawks, gives shade and snow and rain run off the downside.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Just add some old CD's to the wire, and they will stay away. The flashing from the sun on them scares them.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

you could add some pvc pipe under the wire at an arch to prevent sag.
you said your run was 14' so you can get some 1/2 inch by 20 foot pvc pipe, drill some holes halfway through your 2x4's put the pipe in then wire over the top. securing the wire to the pipe in a couple of places will prevent the pipes from slipping over.