Predator proofing chicken run Australia

[UnLadyLike]

Domestic cats and foxes are the predators in my area in Australia. I have a coup that will be very secure and safe from them but the run is more of an issue. They will be locked in at night but free range in the run during the day.
I would rather not have a roof, Does it need a roof if the fences are high? And what materials would be recommended as a roof, would bird netting be deterrent enough?
Do I really need to worry about domestic cats? My chickens are very small breeds.

I was originally hoping to have them free range the whole yard but I will be unable to fox/cat proof the entire block unfortunately.

Thanks!

 

[GodLovesU]

Some netting would be sufficient. Netting helps deter aeriel predators, such as hawks.

 

[Toothpick]

Cats and foxes will climb fences. Netting is better than nothing. Any chance you can do an electric fence or wire around it?

 

[UnLadyLike]

Cats and foxes will climb fences. Netting is better than nothing. Any chance you can do an electric fence or wire around it?

I can't unfortunately as one side of the fence is a colourbond fence and the other side is the wall of my house. There would be no way to get the electric fence all the way around
I will connect the netting tightly to the top of the fencing and hopefully that will be enough to deter them from trying. I will be putting wire/concrete 40cm down under the perimeter.

 

[Down Under]

Domestic cats will not usually be a problem, the chooks will go berserk and the cat will usually fall off the fence from the shock especially if it is a colorbond fence.
Foxes, ferrel cats and birds of prey will be your biggest problems, a large fully enclosed run with some wind, rain and sun shelter for them to play in while you are not home and only free range them when someone is around to keep an eye or an ear out for them. They will make a hell of a racket if they see a fox or a cat and they will duck under something to disappear if they see a large bird in the sky, that is if you give them something to duck under.

 

[ChaosMom]

This is a colorbond fence? I like that they feature colors seen in the Australian landscape!

 

[Loving my girls]

My cats are terrified of my chickens, it’s the pointy end you see.
A fox can climb anything unfortunately. The best deterrent I’ve ever found is urine and fèces from a large un neutered dog sprinkled/poured around the perimeter
… or a large un neutered dog would certainly deter a fox.

 

[linguini]

My cats are terrified of my chickens, it’s the pointy end you see.
A fox can climb anything unfortunately. The best deterrent I’ve ever found is urine and fèces from a large un neutered dog sprinkled/poured around the perimeter
… or a large un neutered dog would certainly deter a fox.

or male human urine will do, just saying.

 

[Down Under]

This is a colorbond fence? I like that they feature colors seen in the Australian landscape!

View attachment 4058677

Yep that is one style of colorbond fence, there are several different infill panel styles and you can get sleepers put at the bottom as a plinth or a lattice piece across the top, post's and rails in a different colour to the infill panels, etc. Colorbond started as coloured corrugated iron roofing in the 1950's and was neutral colours except ones like Cottage Green and Manor Red (which are heritage house colours), over the past 20 years they have changed their colour names to Australian landscape names where they can.

Some suppliers also have their own accessories for it, a place called Stratco have this kit that goes on top to stop cats climbing over it:

https://www.stratco.com.au/au/fenci...proof-fence-diy-kit-10m-banyan-brown-sc-2316/