Electric poultry netting

[lazy gardener]

Hawks will not be at all deterred by electronet, unless you put a cover OVER it. You could build a standard run, and cover that with any number of materials to keep hawks out. Then, based on how secure the run is, you can run some electric wire around the perimeter of the run to keep out ground predators. It all depends on what your budget is, what your flock goals are (# of birds, available space, budget). Narrow down some of those details to help you decide which way to go. It doesn't have to be a single choice. I have a covered run, and an open run. Have used electronet in the past but had to build a run b/c of heavy hawk predation.

 

[True Patriot]

All the suggestions here are valid. Really what it comes down to is budget. For a permanent location. Starting out 4 foot welded wire fence will provide decent day time protection. Adding electric fence to the welded wire will improve that protection. This combination is probably the most cost effective way to go. For something movable, electric netting with fiberglass step in posts is the most convenient. Depending on how much area you intend to enclose it can vet expensive fast. Personally I stay away from the netting for permanent location since it generally lacks the rigidity of fencing. It can also be challenging to keep it insulated and prevent from shorting out. I'm sure others have had success, I just don't have the inclination to deal with it. Same with using the poly tape or rope for regular electric fence. They work fine and I've never heard of one failing to shock due to the material. I use steel wire all around. I don't have to worry as much about maintenance and if it occasionally gets hit by the weed whacker.

In the end nothing says you have to build everything at once. Starting with a basic fence and adding as time and budget allows is really how many of us build. We do the best we can and improve as necessary.

 

[AshleySGM]

I've looked into electronet many times myself but have never taken the plunge because the area I want to use it in is too big to enclose with one roll and I don't want to spend $300 or more on it. So what I thought about doing is since I'm already going to have a physical goat fence in place and I already have a fence charger and I'm well versed in electric fencing, I would just run an electric wire across the bottom (maybe top too) to keep anything from wanting to try to push on the fence or dig around at the bottom. Now as for hawks. All my current chicken runs are fully covered. The new one we're planning is going to be a bigger coop to combine laying flocks together. I wanted a larger permanent run for daily use when I can't turn them out or if hawks start hanging around. I have lost hens in the past to hawks when I free range so I know the danger all too well. The turn-out pen would be for times when hawks aren't around (like now, I haven't seen any in a long while, but as soon as they start spotting prey they'll hang around again). I would love to free range but I want to do it as safely as possible. I'm hoping with the large enclosed run and then mini pasture that's provided with many hiding spots, we'll be able to make it as safe as possible for free ranging.

 

[SabritHadid]

Chicken wire, chain link fence,or "cattle fencing" (large holes) allow for raccoons to reach through and pull chicks out....We went with the metal fabric, very small holes to keep our birds safe

 

[Trish1974]

I live in predator ally. Fox, mink, eagles, you name it - I got it. I have both a hardware cloth fenced run (top covered in true deer fence - not bird netting) with electric fence around the entire perimeter. It was expensive but the peace of mind it gives me when I'm at work is worth it:

By the way the little red coop is an integration/segregation coop. I do not keep a flock of 7 in there! The flock likes to use it as a hangout for shade when its not in use.

 

[Kat2141]

I live in predator ally. Fox, mink, eagles, you name it - I got it. I have both a hardware cloth fenced run (top covered in true deer fence - not bird netting) with electric fence around the entire perimeter. It was expensive but the peace of mind it gives me when I'm at work is worth it:
View attachment 1505709
By the way the little red coop is an integration/segregation coop. I do not keep a flock of 7 in there! The flock likes to use it as a hangout for shade when its not in use.

Very nice! It would be handy to have a little separation coop too. I have to think about doing that. I want to enlarge our run, maybe I could do it then... hmmm. I love seeing pics of other setups and getting ideas.

 

[Molpet]

I live in predator ally. Fox, mink, eagles, you name it - I got it. I have both a hardware cloth fenced run (top covered in true deer fence - not bird netting) with electric fence around the entire perimeter. It was expensive but the peace of mind it gives me when I'm at work is worth it:
View attachment 1505709
By the way the little red coop is an integration/segregation coop. I do not keep a flock of 7 in there! The flock likes to use it as a hangout for shade when its not in use.

how does the deer netting hold up to snow?

 

[Trish1974]

how does the deer netting hold up to snow?

Really well. The squares openings are one inch which allows snow to fall through. The fence has a 650 lb. break strength. There used to be a tree next to the barn (you can see the stump in the lower left corner) and before I had it cut down an old limb fell on top of the run during a wind storm, I'd say it weighed around 20 lbs., and the deer fence did not break. It sagged the guide wires I have running under it longitudinally and corner to corner, but tightening them was an easy fix. It's going into it's third winter with no rips or tears.

 

[CaptainCanada]

chickens can get seriously hurt or even killed by electric netting, i would just go with the safer option and not use electric netting

 

[rjohns39]

I use electric netting in my pasture. It's good for fur bearing creature that don't climb trees and it's easy to put in and move. My houses have 1/2" hardware cloth covering them. I also have a poly electric fence around my houses as the coons have been sneaking in via the super highway in the sky. My chicken tractors have all been retro fitted with 1/2" hardware cloth and the wire doors with 2x4 welded wire under and 1/2" hardware cloth over. Use screws with washers to secure the hardware cloth... coons have enough force to pull staples out. I also have 3 hot wires around the base of my tractors to discourage digging. This may sound a bit radical, but my first build was chicken wire and I had my back-up breeder cockerels in it. The coons jumped up and down on the lid until the staples gave way, had dinner then tore through the wire to leave.