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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2007 12:51:42 GMT -5
Who has a top or netting over their chicken run (outside run)? I am building the chicken run now, and am debating if a "top" is really needed. I never had one when I had the farm, but now I'm about 5 hours further north, and there are more predators here than downstate. I keep thinking that when it came to chickens, we still had our share of predators, but still... Who uses netting or a top on their outside chicken run? Kaza[/size]  |
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Post by bbird on May 18, 2007 14:22:37 GMT -5
We do, or I should say our main chicken coop does. We got some used sheets of tin from my cousin who was redoing his barn. They work great because they have holes where the screws went through and can't be used for regular roofing or siding but for the tops of the pens they keep the predators out, and keeps them dry. We do get little drips through the screw holes but we try and put a dab of silicone on each hole.
Before that we used old netting we picked up from a driving range at the golf course. It was huge and worked perfect.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2007 13:34:33 GMT -5
We have a top on ours, too. Rich put more chicken wire up there, and weaved the pieces together down the middle with some really thin wire. We did it initially for protection against the odd hawk or two that might try to nab a chicken, but we found out it kept the cats out, too, when the chickens were still small enough to be cat food, so it definitely served its purpose. The guineas still can't seem to remember it's there, though, and they fly up into it constantly. Maybe that's why they have brain damage! LOL! I mean, they KNOW where the freaking door is, but do they go there first? Noooooo....
Anyway, other than protecting any new little ones from cats, we really didn't need to cover the run, since I let the chickens out at sunrise every day and they freerange until dark. So if a hawk's going to get one, he can just pick one off wherever they are on the property. I guess it's good insurance, though, in case we ever need to lock everyone up and be certain they can't get out.
~Lannie
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2007 7:02:52 GMT -5
We do. I made the lot frame from conduit so when raccoons started climbing over the top I just ran more conduit across the top and put chicken wire on it.
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Post by dirty on Feb 21, 2008 22:41:22 GMT -5
my last chicken coop didn't have a sealed top.
my next one will. i let the chickens out of the sealed in area most days. but it would be nice to have a completely sealed in run. that way i could leave over night and the chickens could still get outside in the morning.
it would be nice to be able to leave for 24 hours without needing someone to come over and open and close the inside coop.
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