bird netting over run

[Anny]

Hello, I was wondering who on here has bird netting over their run?

Currently I have a chain link panel over the run and it works out nicely, but I want to make the run larger, and to do so I have to use the panel that is currently being used on the top.

The new run will be 18X12 feet, I want to cover this with netting to keep out the hawk that I know lives near by. I've never had any issues with this hawk but I don't want to take any risks.

Anyone have any photos of their netting set up? Will I need to support the netting in the middle? or can I just stretch it across and pull it tight.

Thanks!

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

bumping this

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Ive got chicken wire/poultry netting over mine. It works good. You shouldnt have to put any supports for the wire. Just pull it tight.

 

[espressola]

I'm curious to learn more about this too.. I HAVE done a search, but haven't had all of my questions answered. We (the royal we, I guess I mean DH) are building a run that will be slightly smaller than 25' x 50' since we want to make sure we have enough netting and it seems to be readily available in this size.

We are putting the coop up on 2' legs, it is 7' x 16' and will be at the back of the run. We plan to use the run for new chicks (4-6 weeks after hatch) and also when we aren't right there watching the chickens free-range. We have four grown hens and sixteen new chicks and think this arrangement would work for up to thirty or so birds (full-size, we live in the foothills area near Sacramento, CA so lots of free-ranging time and little time "cooped" up... The netting should be up 8 feet or so, and I am not worried about my chickens getting tangled up...

My questions about netting are these:

1) knotted or knitted? Concerns are strength, longevity and snow/rain load (it does snow here 3x a year or so, just a few inches at a time).

2) material? again, strength and longevity, visibility to hawks since this is my primary concern here.... we have not had any losses, but I'm planning ahead.

3) size of opening matters?

4) preferred vendors? expected price?

Thank you very much in advance.

Patty N.

 

[gabby3535]

You can see how "I" did my run with nylon 'flight-netting' over the top............though you'll have to scroll thru a few
pictures on Photobucket to see a some different views of it, as I don't know how to separate out the individual pics there yet!
Here's the link.........http://s627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/krisathome-pics/
We put "rafters" in the run.........maybe every 10 feet or so.......to support the netting, and I had no problems at all with any
"snow load" last winter. Snow just falls thru the weave.
I ordered the flight netting on-line from North Brook Farm (www.NorthBrookFarm.com) ........ it comes in lots of large sizes as well.'
I believe mine was 25 x 50 feet for my 18 x 25 foot run.
Hope this is some help.................

 

[gabby3535]

Oooooooops............sorry! Didn't get the flight netting from North Brook as I stated in my prior post!!! (Duh!)
But if you google "TopFlight Netting" you will find a number of dealers who will ship it right to your door..........
I "would" use nylon or poly, and not that cheap 'deer netting', which breaks reeeeeallllly easily! JMHO....

 

[espressola]

Thanks, Gabby, that's the kind of help I need! Your set up is great and very aesthetically pleasing! I especially appreciate the input on the deer netting vs flight netting- I am more inclined to spend the money to do it right the first time- just want to know what RIGHT is!
Thanks again-
Patty N. ;-)

 

[hungryhensfarm]

Gabby,
Cool pics! Thanks for sharing them. Gave me some ideas.

 

[Bec]

I use deer netting from Lowes. It was about 12$ for 100x7 1/2 ft. You can hook it together with small zip ties to make it fit to what ever size you need and then use bigger zip ties to attach it to the pen. Snip off the extra on the zip ties and Viola, you have a covered pen!

 

[Anny]

ooooh zip ties wha tI a good idea!