HAWK NETTING

[realsis]

Hi friends. I was hoping for some advice. I have Manny different kinds of hawks that fly by daily. I'm getting 10 standard size chicks that I'd like to free range. my run I have now isn't quite big enough for them. I've purchased a 50 feet by 50 feet bird net super strong nylon. but I have no clue how to set it up.the space they are in is 10,000 sq feet so obviously the 50 feet won't cover the entire area .how can I keep them within the 50 feet the netting will cover. Any ideas or suggestions welcome.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

You cannot, unless you fence them in. I would put your netting in the area you are going to put their food and water, near their coop. You do not say what breed of birds you have but most breeds will spend the most time near their coop. Hawks need open area to attack, so trees and bushes help as well. My birds current favorite spot is under my lilac bush. They have dug out a nice dust bath and they feel safe. If you have good brush areas and mature trees your risk of attack goes down. Your birds will also get Smart and keep a look out for predators. Nothing you do will keep them completely safe, but these things help.

 

[realsis]

You cannot, unless you fence them in. I would put your netting in the area you are going to put their food and water, near their coop. You do not say what breed of birds you have but most breeds will spend the most time near their coop. Hawks need open area to attack, so trees and bushes help as well. My birds current favorite spot is under my lilac bush. They have dug out a nice dust bath and they feel safe. If you have good brush areas and mature trees your risk of attack goes down. Your birds will also get Smart and keep a look out for predators. Nothing you do will keep them completely safe, but these things help.

I have two older Silkies that won't be free range they are too vulnerable. The free Rangers will be 7 female Barred Rock, 1 Female Silver Penciled Rock, 1 Female Golden Cuckoo Maran, and 1 Female " suprise" breed. it will be a production layer. suprise breed.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I have no experience with the others, but your Barr rock will not stay near your coop, mine range all 7 acres of my yard (great little hunters). But they are also smart. They stay in the brush and keep a good lookout for predators. I have lost 2 to predators (one was a hawk near the coop, the other from a dog attack. But they are hardy aggressive things.