I'm not sure if this is worth it (sad rant)

[myfester]

Stringing fishing line does take time (which I didn't mind, because that just meant more time to hang with my clan). You can use the tree as your main "pole". If you have someone to help you, it makes it much quicker. You can stand near tree, they can get on the ladder to go over the top rail of the fence. I did all mine myself. It took a few days because I could only dedicate up to an hour or so at a time It'll take you a few time to get a pattern figured out that works for you. The other nice thing about the fishing line (since you have a tree as well) is any falling branches either fall thru or are easy to pick off. Netting gets everything tangled in it. If I didn't have trees, just open space, I may have opted for the netting as well. I was trying to think long term care.

The fishing line, even after a very hot summer and very cold winter (last year) held up with no problems (I worried about it melting or becoming brittle, which it did not). I used old cd's to kind of reflect and add movement to hopefully chase off hawks. I'm told hawks can see the line, so will not attempt a dive-bomb. I tried to keep the spacing approx a foot wide at the wides places. If they somehow get in, they will not be able to get back out and perhaps *ahem* "relocating" the hawk would be possible.

Later on, when I get home from work in a few hours, I will post updated pics of the extended playground. Since it was a more wide open and large area, I had to get creative. My husband says eventually I'm going to have our full free acre covered with fishing line

.

 

[mondotomhead]

Myfester:

Do you tie off each line separate or do you run a long line back and forth?

 

[gg706]

I had an idea from one of the "chicken tractor" plans. I apologize I can't give credit to the person who built the tractor as I dont remember the name. I may look for it after I post this. Now I must also tell you that I am getting my chickens in April, so I do not have any actually real life testing this.....I plan to build a predator "proof" coop with wooden floor on the outdoor area with hardware mesh all around, and an enclosed area to lock shut at night. To save on feed cost and for quality of life I feel I must free range my chickens pretty much everyday weather permitting. So I am also going to assemble a square or rectangle "free ranging" pen. Built out of PVC pipe so it is light weight and netting of some sort or the regular chicken wire. Now the idea behind it is to make it lightweight enough I can pull it to a new location by hand or put some wheels on it to pull with my lawn mower to change the location daily. like I said I havent put it into practice yet but I dont think hawks would be an issue any longer. cats dogs etc. could still probably get in if they really wanted to. I also plan to have a little tarp to bungie cord to the range pen for shade and protection if a hawk does fly over and the hens panic. So I would put them in the range pen during the day and back to the safe coop for night. This obviously wouldn't work for HUGE flocks but for my 10 or so hens I think it is worth the try. What do you think about this idea in a real life application?

 

[java girl 2]

One Thing You Can Do Is When You Are Home, You Can Put Your Little Ones In A Moving Pen Or A Chicken Tracter. You Can Make Your Own Out Of Anything You Want!!!!!!!

 

[gg706]

I didnt find the plan for the original person who gave me the idea. Sorry... Omelays idea is a almost exactly what i had in mind. Kindof the same principal only I was going to used PVC pipe. You can check it out in the chicken tractor area.

 

[BitsyB]

Quote:
Whoa, I'm sorry you lost Bubbles. But your story is too funny! Esp. trying to get the heron to drop the koi, like hostage negotiations or something!

I lost one of my chickens to a hawk, so then everytime I saw the hawk come back to the yard I would run outside screaming at him/her, no matter if I was barefoot and in jammies (and it was January). But I'm guessing my neighbors already think I'm weird, so no harm done.
Then I did the fishing line thing and it seemed to work. Took a while to do though. Just keep telling yourself "This is NOT a waste of time, my chickens are worth it, my chickens are worth it..."

r4eboxer, what kind of dogs are those? They are beautiful, and they seem to be doing well around the chickens (as in not eating them).

 

[StarLover21]

The run may seem small to you, but think of it from their perspective!

 

[Tripp16]

I had the same problem as you except he didnt get any of mine. I have tree in my run and he would sit up on top looking down at them. thats when I put the deer netting up and tarp on the back side of the run for a cover in case they did see him and didnt have time to get in the house.

I havent seen that hawk since. Thank goodness!

Good luck with yours. Im sorry to hear about your losses.

 

[myfester]

Quote:
I run it a few times back and forth, then occasionally tie off on the fence. I do that just in case a line somehow breaks, then I may only need to string back and forth maybe 5 times vs. 25. Also you will find AFTER you've strung it all up that there is slack in some of your strings (esp. the earlier strung ones). What I learned to do as an easy fix...crud...hard to explain, but I'll take a picture of it and show. Works perfectly though. I'll upload in a few minutes then repost. I warn you now...I'll a bunch of pics. Sorry everyone.

 

[mondotomhead]

Yesterday felt to me like the last straw in keeping chickens. It seemed destined that my flock would be picked off one by one no matter what I did unless they stayed in jail. Jail didn't seem like such a great life for them.

Last summer my little band of 7 chickens were left out all day even when I wasn't there. They would come running to me when I got home from work. They could lay in the sun and fluff around in the dust. I can't believe how naive I was. Now as soon as I open the coop for them to free range all I do is look around for foxes or raccoons or look into the sky. I stay with them for a while but eventually I get cold and there's all those chores in the house to do. I'm not comfortable unless they are in jail.

I am going to try putting up the fishing line. They will still be in a yard but not as small as the one they are in now.

Again, I thank everyone for their ideas and comisserations.