wondering about predators during the day

[kimmerjo]

wondering about how secure I should make my fence? The only time my chicks will be out is if I'm home and during the day . Should I worry about putting a top on my run? My coop will be completely secure from predators at night.

 

[SobbaChickens]

I first built a "play pen" for my chicks that they used from basically 4-8wks. My girls would spend the entire day in it and I started seeing a lot of hawks. When I got their kennel ready I put a tarp over the top and although it was great, it held rain, so I ended up having to cut holes. After the coop was done I moved the kennel up against the coop to create the run, took off the tarp and added deer netting over the top and all the sides, down to the ground. Best stuff ever! Super easy to deal with and cheap 7' tall and 100' long for less than $20.

The kennel as the run is just temporary, we are working on building the final part of the fence to create a bigger run. I'll still be using deer netting over the top of that as well. Chickens will fly and if you do get them out of their pen at certain times I'm sure they will just start taking it upon themselves to get outside whenever they want. My neighbors fence is around 7-8' high and her girls fly out.

 

[Nambroth]

We have bears here! Especially out near you. A bear will easily pull fences and coops apart if he or she thinks she really needs to get in. They love chicken feed, and when desperate chickens themselves. A bear pulled the door off of my neighbor's shed last year to get at her birds.

I have a fenced run with a roof (just more fencing) and I ponied up about $130 at tractor supply for a solar powered electric fence charger and electric fence supplies. So far it's paid for itself in peace of mind!! I imagine that a bear could damage more than $130 worth of my fence and coop in minutes. Worth every penny to me. Just something to think about!

Don't forget that raccoons are adept climbers and can get through lightweight fencing pretty easily, too.