need a big, cheap cover

[carolinasculpture]

Hi! We are in the process of getting the girls into a much bigger run and have a 50x50 fence to put up. We are planning to put the coop ( a "renovated pop-up camper) in the center. Due to a large number of hawks in the area, we do need to cover the run. Does anyone have any suggestions for a big, cheap, cover? Thanks in advance!

 

[AlienChick]

Deer netting?

Not four-legged-predator-proof, but I would suspect it's hawk proof.

 

[dianaross77]

Cris crossed or zig zagged wire works as long as the holes are smaller than the wingspan of the hawks works too.

 

[Mattemma]

I have bird netting up,but deer netting would hold better for arial attacks.Our bird netting was loose,so the hawk just pushed it to the ground instead of breaking through it.Enough time for me to get there. Only metal wire(not chicken wire) is good against all animals.Try craigs of freecycle for used fencing.

Really cheap would be zigzaging some fishing line over the run.

 

[patandchickens]

Sorry, I do not see how you can possibly cover a 50x50' (!) area without either spending a gazillion dollars (like $600 on aviary netting plus almost as much on tall posts and heavy wires) or spending just "a whole lot" and then having it come down in the first wet snow or hurricane winds.

Your best bet is probably to create small areas within the run that chickens can duck under for cover if they spy a hawk -- bushes, hollow pyramids of cut brush/saplings, a picnic table, huts made of pallets, whatever.

If you want more than that, you can try the ol' "crisscross string back and forth over the run", with or without CDs hung from the string -- but at 50' it's likely to sag a whole lot.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Raven1]

I have a 50 X 50 area for my birds this is what I used: http://cgi.ebay.com/50x50-Net-Netting-Aviary-Game-Bird-Poultry-Pens-/350448113346?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519855d6c2
It does have to be suported in a few places around the en but works well.

 

[carolinasculpture]

Wow! Thanks! I was looking for something like that netting Raven1 sent! That seems to be a good price. One of my "chicken friends" has a giant commercial fishing net that the previous owner had left behind. They just pretty much stuck up a pole in the middle and it covers their whole run! It turned out to be pretty hard to find huge abandoned netting!

Thanks All for the help!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

I have a 40x90' space and use the same netting Raven posted with no issues so far. Good luck

 

[carolinasculpture]

Thanks Everybody! I am getting 2 of the 50 x50 nets so I can actually stand up inside the coop. Plan to raise the net up in the middle, kinda tent style. Do I need to fill in the gaps on the sides? Will hawks come in that way or do they just dive bomb? Thanks again, it was just what I was looking for!

 

[Kudzu]

Check with your billboard advertising company. The billboards are like giant tarps, when they change them out most throw them away.