Lost another Buff....back to the drawing board.... :(

[Miltonchix]

I wonder if the orange string (which looks pretty cool to me) may be nearly invisible from above. With the fallen leaves and earthtones a bird of prey may not even see it. I'm not sure how good their color vision is. Hanging CD's from what you already have up may be all you need.

 

[Agilityscots]

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Birds of prey have excellent vision, far better than humans; for example, hawks can see a post-it from a mile away. Which is why they can also see any "holes" in the mason line; unfortunately for us, they're fantastic predators who have great problem-solving skills.

Amy

 

[tiffanyh]

Joe, Im in CT, I got the deer netting for under $20 too- for the large roll. It has worked well for birds of prey...although a raccoon would get right through it so they have to be locked up at night still. You already do that though, right?

 

[JoeOxfordCT]

Yes, I do already lock them up at night ?

Where are you getting the deer netting ???
Where are you in CT anyway ?

I can work with "under $20"....

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[tiffanyh]

I got mine at the Middletown home depot, Im in Durham. I think it was 17bucks or something. Deer netting. I keep the large roll, covered both my 6x10 runs with enough left over. Occasionally it rips and I replace the whole thing.

I lock mine up at night too.

Edit to add: once added, you dont even see it so it blend right in with the run.

 

[brooster]

I just get the bird netting at wal-mart. It is folded in a package, and is 20' by 20'. It cost like 5 dollars. I have A LOT of hawks they sit every where. I once had one try to dive into my run and get tangled up in the netting. Had to call wildlife services to get him out HA HA sucker. I am sure you can beat the hawks. I would not want you to have to get rid they are soo cool. Are you sure you have a roo? That picture looks like all girls. But its not the best picture so i am not sure. When he gets big enough he will protect the hens. When he sees a predator he will alarm, and the girls will run for cover. Good luck, and i hope you keep your chickens.

 

[EggCentric]

Joe,

If your coop is right in the midle of the pen, I'd mount a pole on the roof with a plastic bowl upside down on it, run the netting from that pole down to the posts, like a teepee. I'd also tie string or fishing line from the pole down to the posts and drape the netting over that to give it support. I'd use that Spiderwire fishing line, you just can't break it!

My deer netting cost me 1.50 a roll. 7 foot wide by 100 feet long.

 

[JoeOxfordCT]

God, the price folks are quoting for deer netting is very cheap. I never thought to check Walmart. I'll have to stop by this weekend. 20'x20', or several of them, would serve me better than 7'x100'.


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[gila_dog]

I think the deer netting is a good idea. Old CD's dangling seem like a good idea too. Maybe some flagging tape tied to the strings.

But are you sure it isn't some other kind of predator? Your fence doesn't look high enough to keep out dogs, coyotes, and bobcats. A racoon could climb right over it.

 

[JoeOxfordCT]

Quote:
All of my losses have taken place during the day. The birds are locked in their coop at night. I actually witnessed the tail end of one of my birds being carried off by a hawk. I chased the hawk into the woods where he did drop my bird but she was already dieing.

I have chicken wire lapped onto the ground which is then covered by 60" of 2"x3" green metal fencing.

It's definitely hawks....