Best way to attach chicken wire on top of pen.

[Lover duck duck]

I am trying to attach chicken wire on top of my duck pen. The pen is 30’ x 30’. The chicken wire is 48” x 150’ so I bought two rolls to cover the entire top of it, my problem is I don’t know what’s the best way to attach it since the perimeter fence is 4 x 4 every 8 feet with hardware cloth all around. Should I use any type of boards? If so, what size? Or can I just attach the chicken wire over lapping it? If I just overlap what do I use, fence staples or poultry staples? Anyway I am looking for the best way to install it and looking for best suggestions. I know it won’t keep raccoons or any of those predators out but I’m not doing it for those predators I’m doing it for the flying predators such as hawks, kites and black vultures. They will be locked every night. Thank you.

 

[cavemanrich]

You can just use fence staples. You can overlap the fence and attach to fence. I don't know how strong the fence wood is??? or if it even wood. . If questionable, then install a perimeter board on top of fence.
You may need to provide supports inside run since your span is 30 feet.
IF YOU POSTED A PIX, IT WOULD BE EASIER TO GIVE MORE SPECIFIC IDEAS.
WISHING YOU BEST.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[adrikeen]

My own coop/run is made up of 1" x 3" wooden frames for 8' x 5' panels. The hard wire cloth is stapled to the panels with the chicken wire then placed on top and also stapled. You can easily cut and make a frame for the top of yours (or other areas) and staple the the chicken wire to it. You can make it a permanent or removable panel. I agree with cavemanrich...you will need supports - especially if you get any kind of ice or snow. Hope that helps a little!

 

[Lover duck duck]

All of the post are concreted in. Then I installed two center post in middle of pen and put tension wire across corner posts, side to side post and back to front post. Here is a picture I just took. No worries about ice or snow since I’m in Orlando Florida. My bottom board and middle boards are 2 x 8 since I had those already but do you think using a 1x2 strip would be okay to tack it down? Thank you both for replying so quickly.

 

[adrikeen]

EEK!!! But you get hurricanes! (before they come up and get us!)

 

[adrikeen]

Good looking pen! I would agree with cavemanrich again and just weave the top panel to the hardwire. A removable panel will be blown off/slide off. If you think the additional wire might weigh the hardwire cloth down too much, then you'll need to do a top frame...easy peasy by attaching it to your existing posts. I would do permanent if you decide to do the frame/panel.

 

[Lover duck duck]

yes we do. But most of the time by the time it comes inland the winds have died down some. The most I have seen since 1996 is 80 miles per hour winds. What do you think about the 1 x 2 strips of wood on top of the 4 x 4 post or should it be on the side?

 

[adrikeen]

OOh I can actually answer that. Do the sides. If you do the top, even with middle supports, the boards seem to warp and bend and you're right back to sagging top. Side attachment doesn't seem to bend (at least not as badly).

 

[Lover duck duck]

@cavemanrich, @adrikeen Im confused lol. I found these 1 x 2 pressure treated slats at Home Depot, should I use those on top of my 4 x 4 post to pinch down the chicken wire or should I use it on the sides like my 2 x 8 boards. I don’t want it to look ugly though so which way is best.

 

[Lover duck duck]

@adrikeen by the way thank you. I am going to paint all the boards but right now just want to finish top to get my duckies out there ASAP.