Fishing line as hawk deterent - Need how to help

[chickensioux]

OK, I have hung CDs everywhere, the chickens have plenty of places to run and hide (large tree, bushes, under the coop, under a deck). I've tried reflecting balls, scarecrows, etc. Even have 2 tom turkeys and a large roo that run and hide too. I thought they would help alittle but ...no. My chicken area is too large to totally cover resulting in 2 losses so far this year. That's the most ever in a short time span.
So I am going to try the fishing line grid. Exactly how is this done? How big or little of spaces between the line is ok? Any suggestions welcome.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I did it about 8 feet between. I realize that hawks can still get through the spaces, but (knock on wood) haven't had any losses from hawks. We do have them, but not the biggest predator problem around here. I'd suggest no bigger than a couple of feet if you've already had 2 attacks. Good luck.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Sorry to be a naysayer, but I think you should save your energy and build a largish enclosure. I got a Poultry Net due to the local hawk population.

Here is why I think the fishing line will not work:

specifically the forest scene at the 15 second mark.

 

[chickensioux]

Chicken.Lytle :

Sorry to be a naysayer, but I think you should save your energy and build a largish enclosure. I got a Poultry Net due to the local hawk population.

Here is why I think the fishing line will not work:

specifically the forest scene at the 15 second mark.

My home is up for sale and I really don't want to spend the money on this place. Our new chicken space will be totally enclosed.​

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

My home is up for sale and I really don't want to spend the money on this place. Our new chicken space will be totally enclosed.

I put up a 50x50 poultry net with zip ties attaching it to the fence and pvc propping up the top. Not a permanent structure by any means. I would definitely take it with me if I moved.​

 

[al6517]

Chicken.Lytle :

Sorry to be a naysayer, but I think you should save your energy and build a largish enclosure. I got a Poultry Net due to the local hawk population.

Here is why I think the fishing line will not work:

specifically the forest scene at the 15 second mark.

I agree that fishing line is nothing but a waste of time, what do you think these Hawks are going to do when the spring hatching season arrives and they have to feed themself and their young. they will find a way in always. Please get smart and do it right, anything other than a fully enclosed run is irresponsible, by the time you finish goofing around with all these silly ideas you could have done the right thing and built the run.

AL​

 

[al6517]

Quote:
My home is up for sale and I really don't want to spend the money on this place. Our new chicken space will be totally enclosed.

Ohh Ok well maybe some other sort temp enclosure would be good. I am glad you are going to build a better set up at your next home.

AL

 

[BitsyB]

After losing my first chicken to a hawk a year ago, I made a long area along the edge of the fenced in yard about 10' wide, where there's good shrub cover, and did the fishing line above about 4 feet apart. It's not perfect but it's better than nothing. (At least no more chicken losses)

It's easier to do than putting bird netting over everything- that stuff is a pain to work with! Plus wild birds don't get caught in the fishing line (I used yellow so it could be seen easier).

Of course a year later a lot of the lines are broken; I gotta get out there and tie them back up- it's that time of year the hawks are extra hungry...

Go to Mother Earth News website- they have a good article about this- it's where I learned how to do it.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/1980-05-01/Foil-The-Chicken-Hawk.aspx

 

[ARose4Heaven]

I had a 20 x 20 open run that I covered with the fishline web. Because of the thinness of the fishline, raptors don't land on the web to sneak in, and their wingspan is too great to just sail right in.

The fishline method is cheap, but very time consuming to set up. And over time, the fishline gets brittle from sun exposure and breaks, leaving strands of fishline dangling in your pen for you and chickens to get tangled in. If you don't mind the cost, I would recommend using poultry netting instead. The poultry netting is available here... http://shilala.com/Netting.html

If you are still interested in fishline, here is how to do it.

You need fences that are very sturdy at the top because the fishline needs to be taut.
You need fences must be taller than you.
You need cross members about every 5 feet to keep the thing from drooping into your hair.


1. Start at one corner, and run a line diagonal about 6 inches from the corner.
2. Continue running a line diagonal every 6 to 8 inches.
3. When you run your crossing lines, go over/under/over/under the first set of lines. This creates a kind of net.

The raptors that want your chicks will either
a) not see the web, and get tangled in it. or
b) get in and not be able to get out or
c) be smart and just not try it.

 

[chickensioux]

That is the chicken coop area in the background. It is a very large fenced in area with trees. Poultry netting would be very difficult to do even for a temp. fix. Like I said, the new area is on an acre and has no trees to inhibit it being totally enclosed. This spot has too many obstacles in the way to use netting. I will not be breeding or hatching chickens in the spring and don't need to worry about babies. These are pets. But I want to deter the hawk. The area is surrounded by an electric wire and, as you can see, they are locked up tight at night in the coop. It has only been in the last few months that a hawk has come around and wreaked havoc.