Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

Of course Zeus tried to attack me lol but I was watching and put my foot out and stopped him.. Then I went after him and he went and hid and wouldnt come near me. Silly rooster your dealing with a crazy chicken lady!

Catch him and give him a great big kiss!
That normally stops roosters in their tracks!

 

[ValarieF]

Catch him and give him a great big kiss!
That normally stops roosters in their tracks!

Im trying but that sucker is fast.

 

[RoyalChick]

They do have 25x25 now, US$49. https://pinnonhatch.com/poultry-sup...iPEdIk3oK1pjCKchPZIBIMGbFaiv-vJEaAlfCEALw_wcB

They have two selling points - UV protection and it's not nylon, it's polyethylene and polypropylene and will last a long time. You'll find nylon is cheaper though. I've had one net for almost three years so far and it's held up. I have two more nets but they're more recent.

I tried to cut a big one and found it difficult to do. They have instructions for dealing with it - and I forget if I tried to cut the length down or the width. My advice would be to first splurge on the 25x25 size and see what it's like to work with. Length would be easier than width to cut.
I did not lay it out properly, pinning it before I tried. I think it may need to really be evenly stretched and strongly pinned to get the absolute square full width. The width stretches out most of course but the length does some too. It has an elastic quality and is strong: the squares in these start out bunched together width-wise, so the shape is a long snake, the squares want to be a diamond shape. My "lawn" is not a golf course and all kinds of sticks and weeds and things caught it as I tried to manipulate it, and to be really square, the mesh has to have an even pull on it as it goes, attached every two feet or so? I tried to cut along a set of squares and I got 2 weird-shaped but still useable pieces. So the 2 subsequent nets I bought I've left alone. If it's more than I need I just leave it bunched, or extend their area with step-in posts under it.
On the other hand, there ARE true square-mesh nets that behave loosely, like a blanket. Mostly sporting nets I think - but they are way, way more expensive.

Here are some internet images - really tall posts under it so they can be widely spaced but still okay to walk under. The edges likely have insanely strong attachments for this size net.

I use these greenhouse frames to hold them up, since I have moved things around a lot within the larger electric fence perimeter, the 12x7x7 ones. https://www.amazon.com/Strong-Camel...lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A3GE0Z66T0KKNN&th=1

I just lay the netting over them and stretch it out some and attach with carabiners to the frames. Not attached with a lot of pulling force, but some. Then I stretch the edges out, or I've stretched an end across and out over & into part of a lilac bush and maple saplings which hold it up, and I had some step-in posts getting there, and ultimately hold all the edges down with stones and firewood. The lilac bush is on the far right of the pic below, near the white waterer.

The idea is to keep the hens in and give them a chance against hawks. They have learned the difference between the white electric fence and the black netting when they're outside the netting but inside the fence with me. I hook up edges during those times so they can run back in when they want. If a hawk attacked unseen near a low edge - or attacked straight into the wall of the net - theoretically the hen could be caught, but if there's any squirming away to be had, the netting will help I hope. It's only pretty low near the edge of the net.

They love it under the lilac maple saplings

How do you deal with fallen leaves, branches and snow getting all tangled up in it?
I have been avoiding netting because of those issues. Maybe I need to rethink.

 

[Lexicon]

How do you deal with fallen leaves, branches and snow getting all tangled up in it?
I have been avoiding netting because of those issues. Maybe I need to rethink.

In my setup, leaves and snow mostly fall through. Sometimes I get a build-up of snow in which case, I just give the netting a shake and it falls off. Best not to do this when the hens are outside though. They don't appreciate a sudden avalanche of snow on their backs!

 

[Ponypoor]

Aw, mom, that's what you get for spying on us! Don't look and it will be fine! We may not fly, but we can do 'controlled landings' te he he!

Oh is that what they are called!! hahaha! Well she did it at least 4x - hop up the steps, go across the roost, over top of the nest boxes, check out that one box, flap down... oi boy...

And now I am told those Brahmas also will flap around? oi! I am gonna need nerves of steel haha!

 

[Ponypoor]

They do have 25x25 now, US$49. https://pinnonhatch.com/poultry-sup...iPEdIk3oK1pjCKchPZIBIMGbFaiv-vJEaAlfCEALw_wcB

They have two selling points - UV protection and it's not nylon, it's polyethylene and polypropylene and will last a long time. You'll find nylon is cheaper though. I've had one net for almost three years so far and it's held up. I have two more nets but they're more recent.

I tried to cut a big one and found it difficult to do. They have instructions for dealing with it - and I forget if I tried to cut the length down or the width. My advice would be to first splurge on the 25x25 size and see what it's like to work with. Length would be easier than width to cut.
I did not lay it out properly, pinning it before I tried. I think it may need to really be evenly stretched and strongly pinned to get the absolute square full width. The width stretches out most of course but the length does some too. It has an elastic quality and is strong: the squares in these start out bunched together width-wise, so the shape is a long snake, the squares want to be a diamond shape. My "lawn" is not a golf course and all kinds of sticks and weeds and things caught it as I tried to manipulate it, and to be really square, the mesh has to have an even pull on it as it goes, attached every two feet or so? I tried to cut along a set of squares and I got 2 weird-shaped but still useable pieces. So the 2 subsequent nets I bought I've left alone. If it's more than I need I just leave it bunched, or extend their area with step-in posts under it.
On the other hand, there ARE true square-mesh nets that behave loosely, like a blanket. Mostly sporting nets I think - but they are way, way more expensive.

Here are some internet images - really tall posts under it so they can be widely spaced but still okay to walk under. The edges likely have insanely strong attachments for this size net.

I use these greenhouse frames to hold them up, since I have moved things around a lot within the larger electric fence perimeter, the 12x7x7 ones. https://www.amazon.com/Strong-Camel...lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A3GE0Z66T0KKNN&th=1

I just lay the netting over them and stretch it out some and attach with carabiners to the frames. Not attached with a lot of pulling force, but some. Then I stretch the edges out, or I've stretched an end across and out over & into part of a lilac bush and maple saplings which hold it up, and I had some step-in posts getting there, and ultimately hold all the edges down with stones and firewood. The lilac bush is on the far right of the pic below, near the white waterer.

The idea is to keep the hens in and give them a chance against hawks. They have learned the difference between the white electric fence and the black netting when they're outside the netting but inside the fence with me. I hook up edges during those times so they can run back in when they want. If a hawk attacked unseen near a low edge - or attacked straight into the wall of the net - theoretically the hen could be caught, but if there's any squirming away to be had, the netting will help I hope. It's only pretty low near the edge of the net.

They love it under the lilac maple saplings

It's like a green tunnel I love your idea of the hoop coop with the covering, maybe I can do something like that overtop of my RR to give more height inside it. Wonder if I can get some custom made ribs to make an arch over parts of it. One side it 6' high and the other ~5' so would need to take that into account so it doesn't look lop-sided.

You would have to handle it like fishing net - there is a technical way that it needs to 'handled' - that's where my Uncle would come in hahaha! Oh Uncle Eric - can you fix this net for me???? I love watching them fixing/making nets - it's like crocheting sort of.

I might get a couple of the 25x25 ones, I think if I place it over the RR I can more easily deal with the over hang - OR - I can just leave the overhang as an area they can run under for some raptor protection.

Ideas are running wild now! Can't wait to get home

 

[Ponypoor]

They do have 25x25 now, US$49. https://pinnonhatch.com/poultry-sup...iPEdIk3oK1pjCKchPZIBIMGbFaiv-vJEaAlfCEALw_wcB

They have two selling points - UV protection and it's not nylon, it's polyethylene and polypropylene and will last a long time. You'll find nylon is cheaper though. I've had one net for almost three years so far and it's held up. I have two more nets but they're more recent.

I tried to cut a big one and found it difficult to do. They have instructions for dealing with it - and I forget if I tried to cut the length down or the width. My advice would be to first splurge on the 25x25 size and see what it's like to work with. Length would be easier than width to cut.
I did not lay it out properly, pinning it before I tried. I think it may need to really be evenly stretched and strongly pinned to get the absolute square full width. The width stretches out most of course but the length does some too. It has an elastic quality and is strong: the squares in these start out bunched together width-wise, so the shape is a long snake, the squares want to be a diamond shape. My "lawn" is not a golf course and all kinds of sticks and weeds and things caught it as I tried to manipulate it, and to be really square, the mesh has to have an even pull on it as it goes, attached every two feet or so? I tried to cut along a set of squares and I got 2 weird-shaped but still useable pieces. So the 2 subsequent nets I bought I've left alone. If it's more than I need I just leave it bunched, or extend their area with step-in posts under it.
On the other hand, there ARE true square-mesh nets that behave loosely, like a blanket. Mostly sporting nets I think - but they are way, way more expensive.

Here are some internet images - really tall posts under it so they can be widely spaced but still okay to walk under. The edges likely have insanely strong attachments for this size net.

I use these greenhouse frames to hold them up, since I have moved things around a lot within the larger electric fence perimeter, the 12x7x7 ones. https://www.amazon.com/Strong-Camel...lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A3GE0Z66T0KKNN&th=1

I just lay the netting over them and stretch it out some and attach with carabiners to the frames. Not attached with a lot of pulling force, but some. Then I stretch the edges out, or I've stretched an end across and out over & into part of a lilac bush and maple saplings which hold it up, and I had some step-in posts getting there, and ultimately hold all the edges down with stones and firewood. The lilac bush is on the far right of the pic below, near the white waterer.

The idea is to keep the hens in and give them a chance against hawks. They have learned the difference between the white electric fence and the black netting when they're outside the netting but inside the fence with me. I hook up edges during those times so they can run back in when they want. If a hawk attacked unseen near a low edge - or attacked straight into the wall of the net - theoretically the hen could be caught, but if there's any squirming away to be had, the netting will help I hope. It's only pretty low near the edge of the net.

They love it under the lilac maple saplings

Oh I just had a crazy thought! Wonder if I can put arches over that alleyway in the horse paddock! If I put the arches so that it was 7' in the centre it would be plenty for the horses, and this would be an extra place that the chickies could roam in!

The alleyway is also 16' wide and about 90' long - AND - if I could find a way to run it from the barn to the fencing I could have that whole length of the barn to the front paddock - the whole alleyway - covered and the fencing enclosed with more mesh. That would just leave the ends open - easy to enclose that! The horses could still have access to it to chop the grass down....

 

[Ponypoor]

In my setup, leaves and snow mostly fall through. Sometimes I get a build-up of snow in which case, I just give the netting a shake and it falls off. Best not to do this when the hens are outside though. They don't appreciate a sudden avalanche of snow on their backs!

My big worry are the freezing rain and then snow on top of that which could clog the openings making it very heavy and sag. Of course I could just roll it back for the winter, they rarely go outside in the winter.

 

[Ponypoor]

66 grams. My Ancona is laying big eggs

That's a big egg

Of course Zeus tried to attack me lol but I was watching and put my foot out and stopped him.. Then I went after him and he went and hid and wouldnt come near me. Silly rooster your dealing with a crazy chicken lady!

Naughty boy, I would just ignore him. Don't chase him down, but if you're walking by him and he is standing there I would reach out and hold him steady so he doesn't run off. Give him a reward of treats after.

 

[bgmathteach]

Oh is that what they are called!! hahaha! Well she did it at least 4x - hop up the steps, go across the roost, over top of the nest boxes, check out that one box, flap down... oi boy...

And now I am told those Brahmas also will flap around? oi! I am gonna need nerves of steel haha!

The Brahmas fly better than silkies. They have real wing feathers and pretty strong wings. It is just their heavy body is a bit too much for any real lift - strong push off with legs and lots of flapping gets them a little bit of height for a short time.. It is more like a 'glide down' with much flapping. to prolong the descent!

You will love them, though, they are quire sweet And VERY fluffy! Quite soft, full feathering