What would be a good solution to keep predators from climbing on top of this enclosure?

[chickensahoy96]

Here is my 12x12 chicken run. It has 1 inch welded wire on the sides and base (as a predator apron under the gravel). And then a 1 inch poly net on the top. This net concerns me because it a large animal can easily chew through it if it can climb over. I tried an energized polywire strand with hook insulators but it was too fussy and was somehow energizing the welded wire. I dont like the idea of accidentally shocking myself or otherwise causing harm (like barbed wire would). I was thinking of 3 strands of piano wire 6 inches tall which wouldn't hurt a chicken if they were let out and tried jumping on it, but I imagine would be incredibly painful to grab and climb over.

In the background is also a 55 gallon water drum with watering cups (I fill it up with softened water), and a 5 gallon feeder with the chicken feeder ports installed. Works great and the best part about this setup is I only have to check on them once a day when I get the eggs. The water lasts for atleast a month and the food about two weeks (I even put a water gauge to easily check the water without opening the lid and inviting algae). I actually keep the door always open too since I don't think it would matter in this case. If a raccoon breaks in it would most likely hang out here until I come by with the double barrel.

 

[Altairsky]

I personally would try to upgrade it to a walk in run with a proper solid roof. I don't know your climate, but even without large predators climbing it, if I had this setup in my climate, hail in summer and snow in winter would collapse the top netting. Not to mention rain turning the run into a mud pool for 6 months a year.

 

[chickensahoy96]

I personally would try to upgrade it to a walk in run with a proper solid roof. I don't know your climate, but even without large predators climbing it, if I had this setup in my climate, hail in summer and snow in winter would collapse the top netting. Not to mention rain turning the run into a mud pool for 6 months a year.

This is where I bought the net. It says its designed for heavy weather. I don't see how snow would build up on that either since it is a net with holes in it. Hail could be a problem but I have bigger problems if that happens (my truck).

One of the reasons I decided on the net top is so that rain can flush out and clean the run and let sunlight sterilize it, since the run is on a slight incline. I think the bedding material for the run makes all the difference. I'm using a mix of peat moss and mulch and it doesn't take very long before the run is dry again. But I think if I would have done it over again I would have made the run much bigger so that grass could have a chance to grow and alleviate the risk of slog all together.

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

I agree with Altairsky- or cover at least half to give your birds an option to get out of the elements. If you get wind and snow, also give them a windbreak on the windy side of your run.

 

[Altairsky]

It all depends on how cold it gets in your climate. If it's cold enough, frost can act as a glue and the snow might stick to the net and accumulate. It happens where I live, and I live in Italy at sea level so in a relatively warm place.
We had entire greenhouses covered in netting collapse on a - 10°C storm a few winters ago, and they didn't even have a flat top.

 

[Altairsky]

It says its designed for heavy weather.

That just means that the net won't break, but it will still collapse because it's a net, not a wall. The weight of the ice and snow will easily collapse the run structure.
This is how weather resistant nets collapse, they are designed to do so:


I use a polyethylene net like yours to keep chickens out of my vegetable garden. On night 1, rats already made holes in it. Hawks is the only predator this net can keep out. Anything that can climb will easily get in.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't see how snow would build up on that either since it is a net with holes in it

I also use the same netting but with 2" openings. Even with 2" squares wet snow, or a heavy snow fall, will build up and stick (loose powdery snow should fall through) - I don't tend to get a lot of snow at once so banging a broom on it is usually enough to loosen it up and let it fall through.

Realistically netting only protects from birds of prey.

 

[chickensahoy96]

That just means that the net won't break, but it will still collapse because it's a net, not a wall. The weight of the ice and snow will easily collapse the run structure.
This is how weather resistant nets collapse, they are designed to do so:
View attachment 4221487

I use a polyethylene net like yours to keep chickens out of my vegetable garden. On night 1, rats already made holes in it. Hawks is the only predator this net can keep out. Anything that can climb will easily get in.

Thank you so much for being brutally honest. This was just the wrong type of roof. It rained for two days here in Ohio its a muck mess with mud splatter everywhere.

I'm going to look into translucent panels like this to allow sunlight to get in and most of the rain out. I think a little bit of rain is actually good for the run, to help moisten and flush out the bedding, but sunlight is needed to disinfect the bedding. I heard the PVC panels can create a greenhouse effect and make the run get hotter though.

 

[Altairsky]

I don't want to be rude, but before investing money into something that might cause problems, I wanted to warn you about an issue. Make sure the sun won't cook your chickens too.
If the sun is strong enough to disinfect a surface, it means it's also strong enough to overheat, and ultimately kill, a small animal.
Shade is essential for chickens.