re: Deer Netting for Overhead in Run - how to avoid accidents

[jjthink]

Hi. Thanks to irresponsible neighbors letting their dogs run loose I just had to quickly expand my bird run so my feathered friends would have more room to roam when I can't give them supervised free range time.

Since an uncovered run is essentially a canned hunt for the benefit of hawks, I also covered it - - with deer netting (the main run is covered with chicken wire and wood braces so it's very sturdy). My birds are tucked in safely at night so there are no pred issues then. "Just" dogs and hawks in daytime.

I am concerned about all manner of birds getting stuck in the netting and breaking a leg or wing or dying from the stress of being stuck, or squirrels or others falling down into it (run is under trees). When the door is open all manner of little birds fly in and get stuck in there and I have to gently try to guide them back to the entrance.

I am curious what you might have used to prevent problems, including hawks attempting to crash through the rather feeble netting.(I have read a number of accounts of hawks getting stuck in the netting). I have neighbors all around and can't do anything too hideous looking, like hanging bunches of CD's - it's bad enough they now have to look at this run addition that I will have to try to pretty up with plantings or pots of plants all around it...Been trying to keep my birds under the radar in this residential setting. It all started with a 'rescue roo" that showed up out of nowhere...

Right now the 7' sections of overhead netting are just twist tied to each other with wire connected to a wire underlay that is networked across the top of the run. I have to pick up fishing line or something to weave the edges together more closely. The whole business is not attractive so I have to try not to make it worse!
JJ

 

[horsejody]

I don't think there is much you can do to prevent the occasional bird from getting tangled in the netting besides hanging things like cd's to deter them. I know you don't want anything hideous so the neighbors aren't offended, but if I had your bad neighbors I wouldn't care if they liked it or not!

 

[jjthink]

Quote:
I hear you on that! It's the nice neighbors I'm thinking of. For the bad ones, I'd like to put hideous stuff on every square inch of the property!
JJ

 

[horsejody]

I think a flock of plastic pink flamingos would make awesome hawk deterrents. Also, instead of netting, put orange snowfence on top of your run. The hawks can see it easily and not get caught in it.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

I have had my run covered with deer netting going on 5 years now. Same piece of netting. I used small gage wire to sow the netting together so it has a nice straight seam.

In 5 years, nothing has every gotten stuck in my netting. At least I have never found anything dead. I have witnessed a hawk sitting on the fence post looking down through the netting as if to say "Darn It, foiled again!"

 

[ams3651]

I have small birds flying thu my run all the time and I have deer netting over it. My son watched one of my hens throw a fit the other day because some little sparrow had the NERVE to enter HER run. But it just so happens that the netting is open over one corner of the run in the back next to the coop and they find their way out. I havent seen one stuck in the run yet.

 

[Judy]

Maybe a few pinwheels??? Or would that also be considered tacky looking?

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
If you can't be tacky in your own yard, where is the joy in life?

 

[ams3651]

Quote:
If you can't be tacky in your own yard, where is the joy in life?

right next to the pink flamingoes and white painted tire planters

 

[HennysMom]

How about a plastic owl perched ABOVE the netting in a tree or something - not near the chickens so it scares them but visible enough to scare the hawks?

Works for me....