Netting to protect chickens from hawks

[BeezFun]

We've had the hawks take out chickens and a young turkey, I'm looking for some kind of netting to cover an area approximately 100'x75'. Anyone have ideas on what material to use that's affordable and won't trap wild birds in the mesh? I've looked at shade cloth that landscapers use, that's pretty expensive. Also looked at Deer netting, that's really heavy and would be kind of hard to suspend. Some of it has 3/4" mesh which is exactly the worst size to trap little birds.

I had twine draped across this area to keep the hawks out and that worked for 7 years. Now the hawks have figured out that they can land on the fence at the edge of the enclosure, hop to the ground, chase down dinner of their choice, then hop out. So they don't do their traditional aerial attack.

 

[Marveltone]

FarmTek has a couple products that might work. I haven't used any yet, as I'm still fixing up my own chicken coop for future use, so I can't comment on it other than a mention. Anti-Bird Netting, Bird Netting, Game Bird Flight Pens, Polyethylene Netting, Bird Net Accessories, Permanent Bird Deterrent, Bird Barrier Netting, Bird Control - FarmTek

Hope this helps.

Joe

 

[Mousefield]

We live near the ocean and you can get new or used fish netting. Comes in different size openings. Maybe look on the Internet and see if you can find some that would make sense and not cost to much to ship to you.

 

[nybirdman]

I have about a half acre of pheasant pens.I use 2 in. single strand knotted netting for the top.Very strong,a lot better than the poly weave.My pens are 40 ft.wide,it must be supported in the middle.I use cut poles(12ft.) with buckets on the top to hold up.Biggest problem is snow load in the winter,the single strand does not collect snow like the poly weave.Mine has come down a couple times due to ice storms.
Check Cutler Supply for netting. Cutler Pheasant and Poultry Supplies - Incubators for Reptiles, Poultry, and Gamebirds

 

[BeezFun]

Check Cutler Supply for netting. Cutler Pheasant and Poultry Supplies - Incubators for Reptiles, Poultry, and Gamebirds

Thanks, that looks pretty good. We also have problems with winter snow and ice, so the large weave is better.

 

[BeezFun]

FarmTek has a couple products that might work.

Interesting. Can't count how many farmtek catalogs I've thrown in the garbage, I guess I should start looking at them. tnx

 

[GLyford]

Now the hawks have figured out that they can land on the fence at the edge of the enclosure, hop to the ground, chase down dinner of their choice, then hop out.

Would a strand of electric along the top of the fence help?

 

[Marveltone]

Would a strand of electric along the top of the fence help?

Don't you have to be grounded for the electric fence to deliver a shock to you? Look at all the birds perching on power lines. They can do it because they're not connected to ground.

Joe

 

[BeezFun]

Would a strand of electric along the top of the fence help?

In theory if they were sitting on a metal part of the fence that was well grounded, and they touched the hot wire with their wing or chest, yes they'd get a shock. But that's where the turkeys roost at night, so we'd have to teach them about electricity and they're not very smart. The hawks also land in tree branches that extend into the enclosure area and hop on the ground from there. I think they're like coyotes, they're learning from their parents how to take advantage of the presence of humans. Only solution seems to be containment.

 

[sea2summit]

$10 you can get a 25x50 roll of orchard netting from a feed store or home depot. Used it for a year and it worked great. Broke down and built a big chicken tractor this year.