Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

I would welcome feedback on my current thinking about anti-hawk netting. I will put it all in a spoiler because it will be a bit of a long post.

Spoiler: Long post with diagrams about netting to deter hawks

First off, I am not trying to cover the whole of the chicken yard (defined by the electric fence). That is too big a project. But there is one area which is very popular with the Princesses - it is where they hang out to gossip and preen.

They like to sit on top of what I call the 'Open Runs'. They are not really open - but they have a hardware cloth roof rather than a solid roof. When I let the Princesses out they like to sit on top of the hardware cloth roof to chat.

In the summer this area is pretty well protected against both types of hawk because there is a tree (evergreen) and very thick lower level bushes and shrubs. Both sets of leaves hide the chickens well from hawks circling overhead, and from hawks sitting in the tree. I think the heavy foliage cover is probably why they like that area so much.

In winter the lower level protection is much thinner because the leaves fall. I think they are still quite protected from the hawk in the air, but a hawk in the tree has a clear line of site to where they hang out. It was a hawk in the tree that plummeted to earth to try and get Pooh.

I have tried to show the rough set-up in the sketch below. Pooh (in green) is sitting in their favorite preening spot.
View attachment 3725925


My idea is to use the kind of brackets that hold flag poles onto the side of houses. I have one - they are cast aluminum and are designed (obviously!) to hold a long pole in place. Some are adjustable, and some are fixed with the pole either horizontal or at 45 degrees.
Instead of a flag, I would attach netting which would drape between two flagpoles to cover the area where they hang out - and drop down over the end of the flag poles but not all the way down to the ground so the Princesses can still jump up to their favorite spot.
In the picture below the purple/blue is to show the flag poles and the netting.

One benefit of the flag pole solution is that it will be easy for me to remove the flag poles to take down the netting in heavy snow or if leaves build up.
View attachment 3725926

Let me know what you all think. All ideas welcome!

Hawk netting tax: Everyone has gone inside because it is snowing and very windy. Here is Pooh enjoying the snacks provided indoors.
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I like your idea of the flag pole holders, that’s a great idea. I like it and it gives me ideas on how to stop Butterscotch from flying up and over the fence. And yes easy to put up or take down.

 

[featherhead007]

I can also see whoever was unfortunate enough to own all 3 being taken to jail. Assault with a deadly weapon as the charge.

Voluntary maliciousness mayhem with extenuating circumstances. Possibly a felony conviction. Depends on the judicator.

 

[featherhead007]

Sherlock's new favorite.View attachment 3725721He fully deflated it, so now it's the "perfect" chew toy

That’s also Dennis Rodman’s favorite toy too. Deflated basket ball (like his career)

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Pony Sunday

A BFTP as it’s too cold for me to be out there taking horse photos

Lulu
View attachment 3725788

Truly scratching her ankle
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Truly and Reenie looking for apples on the apple tree
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I ordered and received my new StarLink receiver, and I might go and see if I can set it up, but it’s really windy and cold, and I don’t want to climb up a tower to mount it. Maybe just put it on the ground for now

Such pretty babies We have StarLink. It works pretty well.

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Oh they were watching everyone learning where they put things, they can unzip things also I am sure he watched you put it there, then when you weren’t looking - bam! He flew in, grabbed it and took off!

When we went on our Alaska trip (we ended our trip in Vancouver, that’s where this takes place) we were at a restaurant and we walked around with our croissants and we saw a raven. My dad decided to give him a piece of my croissant. Lucky bird that day. I’m sure they get all that good stuff a lot.

 

[featherhead007]

@featherhead007

How are you today my friend?

I’m over the sickness and only have a few cold sores to deal with. They hurt too!

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

Okay… I need some help convincing my mom to let me do something that I will probably regret later on. My Agriculture teacher knows someone who is selling two Silkie’s, and I need them. They are about five months old, but one is supposed to be a pullet, and the other a cockerel. They cost $50 together, but I want them so badly. Could those of you (@Ponypoor, @RebeccaBoyd and anyone else) who own silkie’s, could y’all make me a list of why I SHOULD get silkies. They are my mom’s favorite type of chook (and I love them as well) so I feel like they would be a wonderful addition to my flock. Also, the reason I would regret it later on is because of how muddy they would get. Let’s not talk about that though… I know darn well that I am gonna need to take them inside and bathe them.

Oh, and I might have found a home for Gumbo the little rooster. If not, then he will be going to freezer camp in a few weeks. I don’t really like him all that much.

 

[featherhead007]

Okay… I need some help convincing my mom to let me do something that I will probably regret later on. My Agriculture teacher knows someone who is selling two Silkie’s, and I need them. They are about five months old, but one is supposed to be a pullet, and the other a cockerel. They cost $50 together, but I want them so badly. Could those of you (@Ponypoor, @RebeccaBoyd and anyone else) who own silkie’s, could y’all make me a list of why I SHOULD get silkies. They are my mom’s favorite type of chook (and I love them as well) so I feel like they would be a wonderful addition to my flock. Also, the reason I would regret it later on is because of how muddy they would get. Let’s not talk about that though… I know darn well that I am gonna need to take them inside and bathe them.

Oh, and I might have found a home for Gumbo the little rooster. If not, then he will be going to freezer camp in a few weeks. I don’t really like him all that much.

You are best to go for these. They are cheap and easy to manage. Not to mention, handy to have around the house:

 

[RoyalChick]

will the flag poles be long enough to fully extend a bit beyond the 'open' runs? Without knowing the brush location/height - can the end of the netting be draped on/over the closest bushes to make it a 'seamless roof' (bushes then netting)?

The standard flag pole anchors that people put on their houses can be bought as a 'kit' that comes with the anchor, the pole and a flag. The poles are typically 5' but often 6'. So I figure that the anchor can handle a 6' pole.
The standard is also 45 degrees. So a 6' pole at 45 degrees will extend up just over 4' and out just over 4' (hope I did the math right!). That means it will easily go past the end of the open run, and depending on the height I set the flag pole anchor could reach at or above the level of the gutter.
If I leave enough netting to flop over past the end of the 6' pole then I can drape it over the bushes. I could even put a strap around the tree trunk and attach it to the trunk.
The flag pole anchors can be fixed (45 degrees) or adjustable. Maybe I should get the adjustable kind in which case I can do less that 45 degrees.

How will you a-fix the netting to the poles?

I thought I would start off using PVC pipe as the flag pole. Mainly because I have a bunch of 8' pieces in the barn. My plan was to drill through it so that I can pass a wire (or zip tie) all the way through the pole and tie the net to it. I would make holes at least at the two ends so the net is anchored right by the wall and at the end. And then at 2-3 spots in the middle. The net will end up being tied to the pole - like lacing up a boot - so it won't be able to work its way up the pole and will always be right up close to the coop wall..

ou might want to either add a third (middle) pole, or an eye bolt in the center between them and fasten the netting to the eyebolt - to help keep it from both sagging too much in the middle (especially close to the coop)

Yes, I worried about the middle - I thought I would try it and see if I need to add support in the middle

You might even want to make that a dual purpose thing and use a windsail or mesh shade cloth like that in the summer if it is on the sunny side - will drop the temperature another 5 degrees or so beyond what the shrubs do!

Yes. Good idea.

Can you putpipes in (like the long, square outline of the old clothes lines - put just one side

Yes - I thought I could use that wire they use in pop-up tents. BUT I think it might be better to leave it floppy. Some movement in it might make it more visible to hawks and not something they want to investigate. Again - I might try it and reserve that as a possible improvement. Similarly that could solve the sag in the middle issue if there is one.

Thanks for reading through it - I will see if anyone has any other suggestions and then I think I will order two flag pole anchors - they aren't that expensive, but I want to see if the fixed or adjustable feels like a better bet for this use.

Chicken Palace design tax: a snack before bed.

 

[RoyalChick]

I’m over the sickness and only have a few cold sores to deal with. They hurt too!

Good to hear you are better.