5 Best Chicken Run Netting to Keep Predators Out

There’s nothing quite like the quiet satisfaction of closing up the coop at dusk, knowing your flock is safe and sound for the night. But that peace is fragile, shattered by the first sign of a predator’s visit—a scattering of feathers, a missing bird, or worse. Securing your chicken run isn’t just another chore; it’s the fundamental promise you make to your animals to protect them from harm.

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Identifying Your Flock’s Primary Predators

Before you buy a single roll of wire, you need to know who you’re trying to keep out. The best defense is tailored to a specific threat, and the predator pressure in your area dictates the level of security you need. A solution that stops a neighborhood dog might be useless against a determined raccoon, and a fence that foils a fox is no match for a hawk swooping from above. Your primary adversaries will likely fall into a few categories: diggers, climbers, and flyers.

Diggers, like foxes, coyotes, and even a persistent dog, will exploit any weakness at the base of your run. They test the fence line, looking for a spot to burrow underneath. Climbers and reachers, most notoriously raccoons, are incredibly dexterous. They can climb most fences, test latches, and will reach through any opening large enough for their paws to grab a bird. Then you have the smaller opportunists like weasels and snakes, which can squeeze through shockingly small gaps. Finally, aerial predators like hawks and owls are a constant threat to any uncovered run, especially for young birds. Knowing whether you’re fighting a digging fox or a climbing raccoon will change your entire approach.

Key Features: Mesh Size and Material Strength

Two factors determine a fence’s effectiveness more than any other: the size of the holes (mesh size) and the strength of the material itself. A common mistake is using standard "chicken wire," a thin, hexagonal netting that is only suitable for keeping chickens in, not for keeping predators out. A raccoon can tear through it with its paws, and a fox can easily chew it.

For real security, you need to look at mesh size and wire gauge. Mesh size is critical; a 2×4-inch opening is big enough for a raccoon to reach through and grab a chicken. For true protection against these clever predators, you need a mesh that is 1/2-inch or smaller. This prevents them from getting a grip. Material strength is often measured in gauge—the lower the number, the thicker and stronger the wire. While 19-gauge is common, upgrading to a 16-gauge wire provides a significant increase in strength that can withstand the force of larger predators. The best materials are galvanized steel, which resists rust and chewing, not plastic or thin wire.

Amagabeli Hardware Cloth for Maximum Security

When you can’t afford any compromises, hardware cloth is the answer. This isn’t a cloth at all, but a rigid, welded wire mesh, typically hot-dip galvanized for extreme durability. With its tight 1/2-inch or 1/4-inch mesh, it creates an impenetrable barrier that stops raccoons, weasels, snakes, and even rats from getting through. It’s the material you use to cover windows, vents, and the lower portion of your run where predators are most likely to attack.

This is the right choice for anyone in an area with high predator pressure, especially from raccoons. If you’ve ever lost birds to a predator that reached through a wider fence, you understand the value of this small mesh. The tradeoff is cost and effort; hardware cloth is more expensive and its rigidity makes it harder to cut and install than flexible netting. But for the most vulnerable parts of your coop and run—the bottom three feet and any openings—it is the only truly reliable option. If you have raccoons, you need hardware cloth.

Tenax Poultry Netting: A Flexible Solution

Not every situation calls for a fortress. Tenax Poultry Netting is a durable, UV-resistant plastic mesh that offers a lightweight and flexible alternative to metal wire. It’s incredibly easy to handle, cut, and install, making it an excellent choice for temporary enclosures, internal flock divisions, or for covering the top of a run to deter aerial predators without blocking sunlight. Its flexibility is its greatest asset, allowing you to quickly set up a daytime pasture or protect a garden bed from curious hens.

This netting is for the hobby farmer whose primary threats are hawks or less-determined ground animals, or for those who need a portable fencing solution for rotational grazing. It’s a fantastic deterrent and a great visual barrier. However, be perfectly clear: this will not stop a determined raccoon, fox, or coyote. They can and will chew or tear through it. If your predator risk is low or you only need a daytime barrier that’s easy to move, Tenax is a practical and affordable choice.

Premier 1 PoultryNet Plus Electric Fencing

Sometimes, a physical barrier isn’t enough; you need a psychological one. Premier 1’s PoultryNet Plus is an integrated system of netting with electrified strands that delivers a sharp, memorable shock to any predator that touches it. This is the solution for dealing with bold, persistent predators like foxes, coyotes, and even bears, teaching them that your coop is not a place to visit. The netting itself acts as a physical barrier for the chickens, while the electric pulse provides the real protection.

This system is ideal for farmers practicing rotational grazing or who need to secure a large area where a permanent, heavy-duty fence is impractical. It allows you to create secure paddocks in minutes. The main considerations are the need for an energizer (solar or AC) and routine maintenance to keep the bottom line free of grass, which can ground out the fence. It’s more of a system than a simple product, but for serious predator challenges over a large space, it is arguably the most effective deterrent on the market. If you need to protect a large area from serious predators, this is your answer.

YARDGARD Welded Wire for All-Purpose Use

YARDGARD Welded Wire, often found with a 2×4-inch mesh, is the workhorse of many chicken runs. It’s significantly stronger than chicken wire and provides a sturdy, rigid wall that can deter larger, less dexterous predators like dogs and coyotes from simply pushing their way in. Its galvanization ensures a long life, and it’s more affordable than hardware cloth when you need to fence a large perimeter.

This is the right choice for the main walls of a large, permanent run, specifically for the area above the 3-foot mark. Its strength provides the structural integrity for the run. However, its 2×4-inch mesh is a critical vulnerability. A raccoon can easily reach through and harm a chicken roosting near the edge. Therefore, this product should always be used as part of a layered system. Use it for the upper walls, but pair it with a 3-foot-high band of 1/2-inch hardware cloth at the bottom to create a truly secure enclosure.

AviGard Bird Netting for Aerial Predators

The threat from above is silent, swift, and deadly. AviGard Bird Netting is a lightweight, durable polypropylene netting designed specifically to create a "roof" for your chicken run. It effectively stops hawks, owls, and other predatory birds without significantly blocking sunlight or airflow, which is crucial for a healthy environment. It’s easy to drape over large areas and secure to the top of your fence posts, making it a simple and cost-effective solution for aerial threats.

This netting is for anyone with an open-topped run. In many areas, hawks are the number one threat to a flock, and leaving a run uncovered is an open invitation. While this netting offers zero protection from ground predators, it excels at its one job. The main drawback is its vulnerability to heavy snow or falling branches, which can cause it to sag or tear, so it requires some seasonal awareness. If you need to protect your flock from hawks and owls, this is the most practical and affordable way to cover your run.

Proper Installation: Burying an Apron Skirt

The most determined predators don’t just push on a fence; they dig under it. A fox can excavate its way into a run in minutes. The single most effective countermeasure is an "apron skirt." This involves laying an additional 12 to 18-inch-wide strip of hardware cloth flat on the ground, extending outward from the base of your run’s walls, and securing it firmly with landscape staples or burying it a few inches deep.

This technique works because predators instinctively dig right at the fence line. When their claws hit the buried mesh of the apron, they can’t go any further and give up. It short-circuits their natural digging behavior. Using standard chicken wire for an apron is a waste of time, as it will rust away quickly underground. For a truly dig-proof run, a hardware cloth apron is not optional; it is essential.

Reinforcing Your Run’s Top and Corners

A fence is only as strong as its weakest point, and predators are experts at finding them. The top of your run is a massive vulnerability. A run without a secure cover is nothing more than a buffet for hawks and a jungle gym for raccoons. Every run, no matter the size, needs a solid top. For small runs, a rigid panel of hardware cloth or welded wire is best. For larger runs, stretching strong bird netting or welded wire across the top, supported by a center post if needed, is a must.

Pay close attention to seams and corners. This is where pieces of fencing meet and where predators will push, pull, and test for weakness. Don’t skimp here. Use heavy-duty zip ties, but know that UV light can degrade them over time. For a more permanent solution, use J-clips or twist galvanized wire to stitch seams together tightly. Every corner and every gate must be flush and secure, leaving no gaps for a predator to exploit.

Layering Defenses for a Predator-Proof Coop

The ultimate goal is not to rely on a single product but to create a system of layered defenses. No single netting is perfect for every part of the run. A truly predator-proof design combines the strengths of different materials to counter different threats. Think of it as a comprehensive security strategy for your flock.

The gold standard for a permanent run involves this layered approach:

• The Apron: A 12-inch hardware cloth apron buried or staked to the ground to stop diggers.
• The Lower Wall: The bottom 2 to 3 feet of the run walls should be 1/2-inch hardware cloth to stop raccoons from reaching through.
• The Upper Wall: Above the hardware cloth, you can use a more economical, strong welded wire (like 2×4-inch mesh) to provide height and structure.
• The Roof: The entire run must be covered, using either rigid wire for smaller coops or durable bird netting for larger areas to stop aerial predators.

This multi-layered system ensures that even if a predator defeats one defense, another is waiting. It addresses digging, reaching, climbing, and aerial attacks simultaneously. This is how you move from simply having a chicken run to having a chicken fortress.

Protecting your flock is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time task. By understanding your specific predators and layering the right materials for the job, you can build a secure run that provides true peace of mind. A safe flock is a happy and productive flock, and that’s a reward every hobby farmer deserves.