Buying bird netting or something for the top of the run

[Southern28Chick]

I got my game bird netting from ebay store: Cutlers Pheasant and Poultry Supply GO to ebay and do a search for that store name.

It's kinda pricey but still cheaper than any other place online that I've looked at. I did get a 50'x50' roll though, if your run is smaller then of course your price will be better.

You secure it to your fence with hog rings.

Here's what their listing says about the netting:
Brand new Heavy Weight Toprite Netting manufactured in the USA by J.A.Cissel. This netting is ideal for pens in many ways. It is extremely light weight to work with, easy to cut and will not rust. It is easily fastened with hog rings, staples or nails. Ideal for large flight pens and especially handy for tops of smaller pens due to the ease of cutting to fit. Perhaps the most important advantage is the greater flexibility when birds fly into it. UV treated olefin. Approximate breaking strength per mesh is 75 lbs. and the burst strength per mesh is 225 lbs.

It is designed to keep your birds in and is strong enough to keep birds of prey out.

Here's a picture of mine:

 

[doodledo]

Thanks will check out all the places. I still would be alittle concerned using fishing line.

 

[goldntoller]

I used the bird netting from the hardware store on my duck pen last year. Then one day in the winter I went out and found a great horned owl sitting in the pen. He dove down, broke through the netting, got the hen but then couldn't get out. So I'd have to say that no, the bird netting doesn't keep birds of prey out. Here's a photo:
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2918497060044473283TknWkL

Donna

 

[Southern28Chick]

So I'd have to say that no, the bird netting doesn't keep birds of prey out.

It depends on the bird netting, if you get some cheap piece of crap then no it won't work. I am from the south, lots of hawks out my way. I've watched (more than once) a hawk try to get into my net. And it didn't get in. I wouldn't say it works if it hasn't worked for me.​

 

[Chirpy]

Well, this post brought up a question I've been thinking about. We are finally about ready to put netting over the top of our run also.

I have decided to use chicken wire stapled to the sides of the runs and posts in the middle, etc. My reasoning is that bird netting, etc. wouldn't keep out cats, raccoons and any other critter from climbing up the wood posts and then walking on the top and thus fall through.

Has anyone had any animal other than a bird of prey go through the top of their run to get to the chickens?

Am I wasting my time putting actual chicken wire across the top?

 

[Southern28Chick]

Quote:
I think you should put something over your run. From what I hear about chicken wire though is that raccoons and possums and so on can get through chicken wire. Raccoons and possums usually only hunt at night so as long as you have a tightly locked chicken house at night then you shouldn't worry about them. I would suggest a good STRONG netting for the top of your run and a predator safe chicken house.

Also I think raccoons and possums would dig under your run instead of climbing over. And as far as cats go, I have 4 males that stay outside during the day. They like to look at the chickens but they won't climb my 6' fence to get to them. They used to get into my chicken yard while we were building the chicken house (before we got the chickens) by climbing a tree beside the fence and jumping into the yard. Needless to say those trees are no longer there. We cleared the trees about 6'-10' from the side of the fence.

 

[ChicksinBoise]

Quote:
I think you should put something over your run. From what I hear about chicken wire though is that raccoons and possums and so on can get through chicken wire. Raccoons and possums usually only hunt at night so as long as you have a tightly locked chicken house at night then you shouldn't worry about them. I would suggest a good STRONG netting for the top of your run and a predator safe chicken house.

Also I think raccoons and possums would dig under your run instead of climbing over. And as far as cats go, I have 4 males that stay outside during the day. They like to look at the chickens but they won't climb my 6' fence to get to them. They used to get into my chicken yard while we were building the chicken house (before we got the chickens) by climbing a tree beside the fence and jumping into the yard. Needless to say those trees are no longer there. We cleared the trees about 6'-10' from the side of the fence.

I hope you're not trying to say that cats will not kill chickens. I am sure you are only referring to yours. They CAN and they WILL. We have had a neighborhood cat kill 5 chicks.

 

[Southern28Chick]

I hope you're not trying to say that cats will not kill chickens. I am sure you are only referring to yours. They CAN and they WILL. We have had a neighborhood cat kill 5 chicks.

WTH!!! Seriously, READ a post before you comment. My cats kill and eat squirrels! I'm not an idiot.

So please read a post before you comment. What I was saying is that I've made it so hard for a cat to get to my chickens that they'd rather go look for easily prey.​

 

[aran]

southern...we have the same run type as you..the 6 foot high chainlink fencing...I love your idea of the tented look to the netting. I have a large area to cover...what does that stuff cost? The double fence idea is a great one also!

Our run has these two foot "boom arms" which jut out diagonally upwards from each line and corner post of the run and have 3 strands of barbed wire attached around the entire run...bring on any possum/raccoon who wants to try and climb through that!

 

[Southern28Chick]

aran,
The netting that I got was 50'x50' and it cost $130. My DH put up the post throughout the yard so that the net wouldn't sag or bad. It does look like I have a double fence. I have a fenced in backyard for my dog (about an acre) and then outside of that fence is my chicken yard. The fences were here when I bought the property. The chicken yard was a dog pen for a mean dog (that's why the fence is 6').

Barbed wire sounds like a great idea! I thought about that. Maybe one day.