Bird netting sufficient to deter hawks?

[heidinrob]

Hello,
Sadly, a week ago one of our girls disappeared during the middle of the day. No evidence of a struggle in the yard so we suspected a raptor, but we live in a suburban area and we haven't seen many hawks around. Sure enough, a Cooper's hawk landed on my fence this AM and peered down into the girls' dust bathing bin. Luckily it was chased off by a very angry small bird. Anyway, it would be easy to put bird netting over their free-ranging area which is approximately 14 x 50 feet long. Is that enough to keep out raptors? Thanks to anyone with any (unfortunate?)experience in this matter!
Heidi

 

[krissteff]

It sure couldn't hurt!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

No evidence of a struggle in the yard so we suspected a raptor,

Most Raptors are too small to carry off a grown chicken.

They generally start to pluck them as soon as they kill them, and normally leave a lot of feathers.​

 

[Mattemma]

I had the bird netting up when I kept my chickens in a run.Only one time the hawk landed on the netting,and it was so loose the netting went to the ground,but it did not break. I would put it up loose to tangle the hawk.If it is tight the hawk will just break through it right away with the initial impact.

 

[Rustywreck]

I have netting over my turkey pen - it is like soccer goal netting. Since it has been up nothing has attacked from above. I have hawks, ealges and owls over head daily.