Chicken wire vs deer fence for top of run

[TLWR]

We have finished the new run for the girls and now we need to cover it from the hawks.
Husband doesn't want to use bird netting as he figures that will break down pretty quick in our weather.
That leaves us with chicken wire or maybe deer fencing.
Our goal with the top is keeping flying predators out.

I'd prefer to work with the plastic type deer fencing over chicken wire, but will it hold up for years in the southern summers?

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Hawks will tear through plastic a friend tried it before I would use wire

 

[TLWR]

Hawks will tear through plastic a friend tried it before I would use wire

Thank you. That was my concern with the plastic fencing.
Chicken wire it is then.

 

[mowin]

We have finished the new run for the girls and now we need to cover it from the hawks.
Husband doesn't want to use bird netting as he figures that will break down pretty quick in our weather.
That leaves us with chicken wire or maybe deer fencing.
Our goal with the top is keeping flying predators out.

I'd prefer to work with the plastic type deer fencing over chicken wire, but will it hold up for years in the southern summers?

Lot of different deer fencing out there. The thin stuff is junk. Heavy gage deer fencing will not be breached by a hawk.

 

[perkolator]

I have 8ft black plastic deer fencing on my property and it’s been exposed to CA weather for like 6yrs. Yes while it can break, its fairly strong - enough I cannot break the fencing with my bare hands. IMO it would be acceptable for overhead protection. I’d go with what’s affordable and looks good.

I’m going through the same thing with my extended run and plan to cover the top sometime before summer due to predators getting over the fence. I looked into bird netting but pretty sure I’ll be using chicken wire instead, held up with bamboo. I’ve had a roll of chicken wire for a decade and need to use it on something.

 

[Stephanie8806]

We have finished the new run for the girls and now we need to cover it from the hawks.
Husband doesn't want to use bird netting as he figures that will break down pretty quick in our weather.
That leaves us with chicken wire or maybe deer fencing.
Our goal with the top is keeping flying predators out.

I'd prefer to work with the plastic type deer fencing over chicken wire, but will it hold up for years in the southern summers?

If you can find commercial Orchard netting, that’s a cheap, strong, and UV resistant coverage option. I live in central WA, where our summers are triple digits and our winters are snowy and freezing. I got a 50x100 foot net with 3/4” openings for $50 from an orchard supply warehouse. It’s shown absolutely zero wear in two years. I literally cannot even tear it pulling with all my might! That’s how strong it is. I’m extremely happy with it. Plus, at that size, we were able to cut it into 3 sections to replace it down the line when necessary. So far, it looks like that $50 is going to last us around 10 years or more.

 

[Roosterinthecity]

Southern as in?
I’m in Tucson AZ. I’ve used the plastic stuff before to protect my grass from the chickens. The sun/heat will basically turn it into an…well you ever pull on a very old rubber and and you see how it deteriorated and then snaps? Yup. That’s what will happen.