Chicken Run Roof

[rsvp]

Recently lost our four chickens to Mr Foxy Loxy - it was during a day of bitterly cold weather, sleaty snow and high winds so none of the six dogs were in the garden during the day much. We have a very sturdy and professionally built chicken run with 6ft 6 high fencing, well buried base with boarding all around. and very secure doors. It's about 25yards by 12 yards.Have checked the run and the only way in was over the top. So, we are going to either cover the entire run or put electric fencing in. Anyone used electric fencing as a deterrent or is the consensus of opinion that we should cover the run. If so, what's the best type of wire to be effective but look reasonable? Many thanks in advance from all the chicken keepers on AB!

[Chipchopper]

Sounds like you did all the right things to keep your chickens secure!
Obviously the more desperate they are the bigger risks they are likely to take.

I've never used electric fencing before, personally but I know it's been used to good effect by bowling green clubs, where they had been getting damage from foxes, digging up the turf over night, from what I was told the investment soon paid off.

[rsvp]

thanks for that chipchopper - obviously we need to up our game for the next lot of chooks so will research electric fencing a bit more.

[SlackAlice]

I think you should cover the run. I've got an urban fox that visits our garden and he clears our 6'6" fencing with ease.

[rsvp]

Scarey thought SlackAlice and thank you for the input - have a lot of googling to do!

[rsvp]

sorry, am not with you seekerseo?

[wildwood]

Chainlink is the best, but not cheap. Those square 2" square welded mesh sheets are also sturdy enough, but also expensive.
The cheaper the wire netting, the weaker it is.

You can get those reasonably priced small electric fence units that are designed for small holdings. They run on batteries so no power problem. You can run a live wire line 3' high, 6" away from the sides, that will tickle reynard. Be careful yourself, eventhough it runs on batteries, it will give you a surprisingly powerful 'handshake'.

[rsvp]

thank you Wildwood for the info - am well versed with electric fences and if an occasional 'handshake' is good for the heart (so I'm led to believe) then mindemust be in fine fettle.

[rsvp]

typo - 'then mine must'