Advice needed for predator proofing this

[CDee]

Sorry I'm not an artist lol but this is the area I'm planning to put our coop/run. We own 9.5 mostly wooded acres so there are predators galore out there. The coop (green) will be completely locked up at night with chickens inside. I'm going to make sure there are no gaps or holes for any weasels to get in. My concern is mainly the run area (red). I don't know how to net the top with all the brush and trees around. Will that be enough cover to keep them safe during the day? Should I use electric net fence around the perimeter? Other than aerial attacks what else do I have to worry about during the day when we're home?
I'm in WNY. Our main predators are hawks, coyotes, fox, weasels + fishers, raccoons (have seen them out around our creek during the day), possums. That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[BURNIE450]

I would put up a 2x4 frame then put chicken and chain link fence up to keep predators out. For digging I would burry rocks underground to keep animals from getting up under there.

 

[perkolator]

Since you know that you have small predators such as weasels and fishers, you're basically going to want 1/2" hardware cloth for all your fencing, including any overhead protection. Because of your wooded acreage and coop location away from residence, I would reinforce walls with a heavier gauge fencing, such as chain link or welded-wire fencing, in case larger predators come. Electrified fencing can definitely help. Absolutely you'll want an anti-dig skirting around the perimeter, I'd probably go 24" horizontal, just under the surface.

Overhead protection will be necessary given your predators, but where you're wanting to place the coop in the trees, it's likely going to collect lots of sticks and leaves, and also snow in the winter. I think this is the trickiest part of what you want to do. If you can move it out of the trees into the cleared area you may have an easier time designing it. If that's not an option, you can adapt around trees with fencing such as chicken wire, since it's quite flexible. I did this for a few trees in my run, but you have way more trees to deal with in this situation. I'd probably not use any netting or fencing that's not metal for this.

 

[CDee]

Since you know that you have small predators such as weasels and fishers, you're basically going to want 1/2" hardware cloth for all your fencing, including any overhead protection. Because of your wooded acreage and coop location away from residence, I would reinforce walls with a heavier gauge fencing, such as chain link or welded-wire fencing, in case larger predators come. Electrified fencing can definitely help. Absolutely you'll want an anti-dig skirting around the perimeter, I'd probably go 24" horizontal, just under the surface.

Overhead protection will be necessary given your predators, but where you're wanting to place the coop in the trees, it's likely going to collect lots of sticks and leaves, and also snow in the winter. I think this is the trickiest part of what you want to do. If you can move it out of the trees into the cleared area you may have an easier time designing it. If that's not an option, you can adapt around trees with fencing such as chicken wire, since it's quite flexible. I did this for a few trees in my run, but you have way more trees to deal with in this situation. I'd probably not use any netting or fencing that's not metal for this.

I was definitely planning hardware cloth for the perimeter! It's not as far from the house as it looks this picture was actually taken from my back door. I have a few more shots of the run area. I was hoping having them in the wooded brushy area would give them some shade and protection also because we don't have grass yet and I didn't want to just put them on mud. I'll post a few more shots of the proposed run area.

 

[CDee]

The first is standing at the coop looking into the run. The second is standing at the coop and looking at my house.

ETA: we will be removing all daffodils!

 

[ChaosMom]

Just a comment: my pullets recently tasted a daffodil, said the chicken equivalent of “bleh,” and haven’t tasted them since. No guarantees, of course, but they are often good about not eating what they shouldn’t. Styrofoam peanuts excepted, of course.

 

[CDee]

Just a comment: my pullets recently tasted a daffodil, said the chicken equivalent of “bleh,” and haven’t tasted them since. No guarantees, of course, but they are often good about not eating what they shouldn’t. Styrofoam peanuts excepted, of course

They are actually my neighbors daffodils that the squirrels kindly replanted lol so I may just put them in a more... intentional spot. I feel like there's something more to this styrofoam peanut story