How Secure Is Plastic Netting?

[dmclalin]

I have a wealth of materials on my 40 acre farm. I am planning to convert one horse stall in an empty barn into a coop. The stall is 12' X 10' and the walls go up to about 9' which is shy from the rafters by about 12 - 16". I have enough OSB to close in the ceiling rafters. I have 5/8 bars on two sides of the stall that I am planning on enclosing with used plastic panels from some old barn doors so the drafts are minimal. Today I found All kinds of plastic netting in the rafters of the garage. I have 1"X1" X 40" plastic fencing that looks to be pretty heavy gage. I also found some other plastic netting that is shaped like traditional chicken wire, although the openings are smaller than chicken wire. I also have about 20 feet of rabbit fence. Could I use this netting as an enclosure of the rafters and down to the side walls? The barn itself has doors at both ends and I have seen some mice and birds around but that is it. I'm going to use fabric wire mesh around the lower 1 ft of the walls and another foot under the very heavy rubber horse mats to prevent any critters from borrowing in.

So Maybe I can just use all of this mesh netting to enclose the stall since it is already part of the barn. I am trying to use all materials already here and save myself some $$$.

I have made some sketches of the stall walls and ceiling in excel, but I can't find a way to attach. I can email them if you need to take a look.

 

[dirtsaver]

It's not! If your barn is like most barns the plastic will not do any more than keep your chickens contained. As you can imagine,it provides no protection at all. Zip,NADA,none! If you keep the barn shut up and you feel very sure not even a chipmunk could get into the barn you would be ok to use it to keep the chickens in the stall. If you have even a hole the size of a mouse-hole you'd be risking your chicks!

 

[rancher hicks]

Pictures would definitely help. If it's inside the barn and only to secure the chickens in a specific area then I see no reason it wouldn't work. But a predator protection I'm sure you know won't be much good.

As for attaching things. I've used 9/16 T -50 staples, I've use washers with screws to secure the metal panels to the roof of the run. I've used "zip ties" to secure the hardware cloth to the hoop coop and secure the tarp on as well. I put felt on the front of the the hoop coop inside the run over the hardware cloth and sewed it to the hardware cloth with yarn. The plastic is secured to the run with 9/16 T-50 staples through little squares of cardboard.

 

[gryeyes]

Short answer: it's not.

Now, with that said, my first run was created out of chicken wire, hardware cloth, and plastic netting - in layers.

First layer: chicken wire, six feet tall.
Second layer: hardware cloth along the bottom, three feet.
Third layer: plastic poultry netting along the bottom, goes up four feet.

 

[citychickx6]

For pics most people use photobucket. It is really easy to do. There are instructions in the frequently asked questions thread.

As to the plastic netting I think I know what you are looking at since I saw the stuff at Home Depot.
I think it depends on what you are trying to do with it that matters.
If you are trying to keep your birds in and other (wild) birds out it should work well enough for the top of the stall area.
It will not however keep predators out. If your barn is secure from digging or climbing predators you should be in good standing to use it inside. For the outside I recommend you go with heavy gauge wire and hardware cloth combo. There are TONS of great pics as well as step by step photos that people have done on the coops page. I think it is very worth visiting it. I got lots of great information from there myself.

The people on here are very nice and helpful when it comes to sharing information and being supportive.

Happy chickening and looking forward to photos.


Barbara

 

[dmclalin]

I guess that was the answers I expected as some people even say that chicken wire won't keep critters out. So I plan on using OSB for the ceiling and 1/2" wire mesh around the upper openings and lower wall and floors. I have sheets of corrogated white fiberglass that I will enclose the bars with.

 

[dmclalin]

Weather wise, the horse stall, aka chicken coop is very protected from the elements. But I see that I will need to concentrate all my efforts to critter proof the coop first. Thanks for all your knowledge.