I need recommendations for a type of netting to use over the area I want to let my flock free range. They've never been out of their coop/run combo and I'd like to get them used to the great outdoors before our weather turns bad (I'm in eastern north carolina) and get them trained to an automatic door. They're about 6 months old, barely starting to lay, and there are 13 of them. We have hawks and owls and I don't want to take any chances. Pretty confident I've got all other predator issues covered, as far as daytime is concerned as I have fencing and a great Dane/mastiff mix and I'm outside a lot during daylight hrs. I've already put up poles at least 7feet high and planned to use a netting that I can connect and overlap down to the top of the 5ft fence to keep them from flying over. But, that thin black poultry netting is a pain in the butt to use so I'm ready to try something else! Suggestions on something easier to work with that won't break the bank too badly????
Overhead Netting
- Thread starter Icie
- Start date
Huntmaster
Free Ranging
I use the 2" heavy knotted netting for my turkey pens and love it. My pens have been up for 6 years now . I have 1 50' x 100' pen - 1 50' x 50' pen - 1 40' x 20' pen and 4 20' x 20' breeding pens all netted. I net right over small trees and brush/shrubs for cover and shade in my pens. Even place right over small building /coop and roof covering a roosting area.
Here are a few pics to give an idea of how I use it.
The only issue I've ever had with mine was an ice storm. The ice was as thick as a man's finger over every last strand, and mine did sag badly, mostly because the weight at the stress points over my posts broke through, lowering EVERYTHING. It was so heavy I couldn't even stand up underneath it, trying to use my back and legs to push it up while wearing ice cleats on my shoes. So- I don't hold that against the product. If I can't lift it with the ice attached and it survives mostly intact- I have nothing to complain about.
The picture doesn't do the ice justice, but it gives some idea anyways.
However- except where big branches fell (from the prolonged ice storm) and at the top of my posts where the material did break - but keep in mind it was SO HEAVY - ridiculously heavy.
Snow is easy, just knock it off. Days long ice storms are a different story because unlike snow- if you've ever melted it, it's what- only produces about 1/10 the water or so?? -- ice is much heavier. Even with the ice storm - with some paracord after the ice storm, I was able to stitch everything back together without having to replace anything.
The picture doesn't do the ice justice, but it gives some idea anyways.
However- except where big branches fell (from the prolonged ice storm) and at the top of my posts where the material did break - but keep in mind it was SO HEAVY - ridiculously heavy.
Snow is easy, just knock it off. Days long ice storms are a different story because unlike snow- if you've ever melted it, it's what- only produces about 1/10 the water or so?? -- ice is much heavier. Even with the ice storm - with some paracord after the ice storm, I was able to stitch everything back together without having to replace anything.
This is the netting many of us use: https://pinnonhatch.com/poultry-supplies/p/heavy-knotted-poultry-netting-2mesh - they have different weights and hole sizes but 2" heavy is probably the most popular option, with 85/245 break/burst strength.
Dry powdery snow should fall through, as long as it's coming down fairly moderately. Wet snow will stick, no matter size of the openings. If we get wetter snow we go and beat it off the netting with a broom, and it'll fall through.
This is another reason having a higher break weight on netting is ideal. In fact the netting will hold out longer in many cases than lighter weight fencing/support posts will.
David61
Crowing
https://pinnonhatch.com/poultry-supplies/p/heavy-knotted-poultry-netting-2mesh
it's what i am using and its great. debris and song birds do not get trapped. coons hate to climb it. My net is two years old now and like new. Can't say enough, no brainer.
it's what i am using and its great. debris and song birds do not get trapped. coons hate to climb it. My net is two years old now and like new. Can't say enough, no brainer.
Weeg
Enabler
When I get netting, I go down to the marina at the end of fishing season and pick up all the fishing net they have piled by the garbage. It usually have some holes and needs patching, but it works great!
David61
Crowing
The heavy netting is snow and ice rated by pinnon hatch farm. read the usage .
Huntmaster
Free Ranging
Yes should have brought up heavy ice storms along with heavy wet snow. That is y I have my posts removable or at least able to put them on a angle to let the net be able to drop to the ground taking pressure off netting as to not damage anything or break through the netting. It only touches ground in a few places just enough to take most of pressure off netting so no trouble for birds in pen plenty of space for them. That has worked for the 6 years and 4 or 5 times it has happened since I had the netting. I also have PVC end caps over top of poles for smooth less abrasive contact with netting with plastic coated cable stretched across top of a few of the poles attached to 4x4s from fence posts for fencing to even out stress on netting so its not just in one spot at top of pole. Hope this makes sense. You can look back at my pics to help understand what I'm trying to explain.
linguini
Songster
We use 1" and 2" bird net and deer net to cover our entire extended chicken yard , about 40x50. No problem with snow. The bird nets hold up better than deer net in snow. You can easily shake off the snow. Even with worst ice storm, they all hold up.
Here are some photos taken earlier this year, after the worst ice storm we've had in two years since we have chickens!
Attachments
Last edited:
Similar threads
New posts New threads Active threads
-
Latest threads
-
-
-
-
8-Week-Old Sussex Hunched Over
- Started by Spicegirls4
- Replies: 0
-
-
-
Threads with more replies in the last 15 days
-
Checking-In On Peeps - Post Here To Say Hello!- Started by Nifty-Chicken
- Replies: 2K
-
-
-
-
Can I get some help from someone with careless neighbours who own dogs.- Started by RiDaGeckoGuy
- Replies: 108
-
