Cover for hawk protection

[hoosierhens101]

What types of cover can I put in our large netting covered run to give my hens something to hide under in case a hawk get thru the netting?

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

A net cover should work perfectly fine to block predatory birds, as long as it's secured over the top of the run well. Maybe try some with smaller holes to keep them out, or be sure to have lots of nest boxes or rafters for them to take cover in.

 

[6PeckinChickens]

You have a similar set up that I have. We put in a 10 ft post about 2 1/2 ft concreted into the ground in the center and ran steel cables (covered) to posts for the net to sit on, we also secured the net to the fence so nothing could get in/out. We have red tailed hawks around and they haven't tried to get our girls. The net we purchased has a 33 lb break threshold and we don't have anything besides the net on top. We also put barbed wire where the fence ends up just a little over 6 ft up for the foxes since they can jump up to 6 ft and buried wire around the outside if they decide to dig.

 

[RWise]

I use old camper shells, they dont have to be usable on a vehicle, and can be had free on CL from time to time. Just stand it on cinder blocks so the birds can run under it.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

What types of cover can I put in our large netting covered run to give my hens something to hide under in case a hawk get thru the netting?

How do you have the netting secured to the building?

Maybe prop a pallet up next to the building for shelter?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

My husband set up lattice as a run extension (that is closed off at night) that I put hw cloth around. I am going to use that as a shelter area when I reconfigure the set up.

 

[centrarchid]

What types of cover can I put in our large netting covered run to give my hens something to hide under in case a hawk get thru the netting?

My preference is to use plantings of a thick brush the chickens can walk through and break line of site with hawk. Brambles work very well for that but may not agree with a tight run. Heavy patches of tall grass can also work where retreating chicken effectively tunnels into the base of plants where hawk cannot follow. Plantings may not handle heavy chicken foraging in a run so constructing some my me worth considering. My chickens will retreat to a frame covered with hardware cloth and bamboo stems that is suspended to give about 12" clearance above ground. Such an apparatus can be moved about allowing ground to rest.

 

[hoosierhens101]

How do you have the netting secured to the building?

Maybe prop a pallet up next to the building for shelter?

Yes The netting is stapled to the building. Thanks for the idea

 

[Joyschickens]

I found this information on the forum:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-hawks-question-answered-thanks.692025/page-2
(sorry I captured page two of the post but ... it will get you to the post)

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I had good luck with the roofs off of old cars. Large solid pallets also work just don't raise them so high that the hawk can easily follow your hens underneath. If a hawk can't stand up straight it will have a devil of a time running down, catching, and killing a hen or a chick. A side benefit of using 4 door sedan automobile roofs is that they create a more or less dry area underneath for your birds to dust bathe in and the windshield, door. and back glass posts hold it up off the ground without the need for cement blocks.

A bamboo thicket is also great as both a loafing or noon-ing area, once established bamboo provides plenty of shade and a killer maze to foil hawks, but study the growth habits of bamboo before you start. Bamboo can quickly get out of hand.