The Old Folks Home

[superchemicalgirl]

Why doesn't it look like you have more snow than me?!!!

 

[Alaskan]

Why doesn't it look like you have more snow than me?!!!

I think we only have three feet of snow pack.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

We've gotten about 2 inches so far. The blizzard is cancelled. Now it is "near-blizzard conditions." I feel so much better, now.

 

[microchick]

I spent the day reconfiguring the runs, adding about 16 feet of chain link fencing that was left over from the original build and shuffling around kennel panels. It was almost 50 here today but the wind was gusting to 28 making moving the panels interesting. The new configuration doubles the size of the run and the birds will love going from 12 X36 to 24 X 52 feet. Now I have to figure out how to rearrange my safety netting to cover the new addition. Even with the new netting I bought I am afraid I'll be woefully short. I can order more but in the meantime I hope the birds don't mind having snow fencing overhead to keep the hawks and eagles at bay.

What do yall use for overhead safety netting and where do you find it cheap?

I have to get something at least temporary up so I can let them out. My 5 extra roosters were trying to tear the walls down in their coop while I was working.

All you out there battling winter. You make me feel guilty. Our winter here has been mild in comparison to the blizzard like weather a lot of you are experiencing. Stay safe, above all. And warm.

Day 5 on my OEGB eggs in the incubator. I do my first candling on Valentine's day. DH is going to help by taking pictures for me.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I used to string heavy duty fishing line haphazardly over the run. It slows them down, allowing the birds to scatter and take cover.

It doesn't hold up well about halfway through winter, though, and you have to be careful to get it down before it breaks and snags a leg. Also if you have anyone adventurous they risk getting snagged in it, too.

 

[ronott1]

I spent the day reconfiguring the runs, adding about 16 feet of chain link fencing that was left over from the original build and shuffling around kennel panels. It was almost 50 here today but the wind was gusting to 28 making moving the panels interesting. The new configuration doubles the size of the run and the birds will love going from 12 X36 to 24 X 52 feet. Now I have to figure out how to rearrange my safety netting to cover the new addition. Even with the new netting I bought I am afraid I'll be woefully short. I can order more but in the meantime I hope the birds don't mind having snow fencing overhead to keep the hawks and eagles at bay.

What do yall use for overhead safety netting and where do you find it cheap?

I have to get something at least temporary up so I can let them out. My 5 extra roosters were trying to tear the walls down in their coop while I was working.

All you out there battling winter. You make me feel guilty. Our winter here has been mild in comparison to the blizzard like weather a lot of you are experiencing. Stay safe, above all. And warm.

Day 5 on my OEGB eggs in the incubator. I do my first candling on Valentine's day. DH is going to help by taking pictures for me.

I think I have seen posts about people getting netting from Premier1.

 

[Alaskan]

I first tried cotten fishnet (free from the dump). That worked great in the SUMMER. It was thick and beefy enough that it was highly visible so birds didn't even try to get past it. However, all snow stuck to it, ripped it down, busted a fence post..

I tried thin plastic fishnet (free from dump), but it will hold moist snow...and bust. Also, it isn't as strong or as visible . I had a bald eagle bust right through it and snag a chicken.

I have now moved to concrete reenforcing wire covered with chicken wire (both scrounged for free). It will not keep out weasels... but other than that is a clear winner and holds up well under a heavy snow load.


I did try fishing line with surveying tape, and I tried strips of white row cover stretched over the run...and a great big HA to both. I am in raptor central and the raptors here just dodge around and still dive fir a kill. Though actually last year the one bit of run where it is still just line and tape and a few strips of bunched net and grow cloth....I allowed the ducks to have acess to that area...an eagle dove down to get one and the eagle got tangled in the net. The eagle did NOT come back (we did rescue it and release it), and the ducks have been fine. When I let the chickens in the same area they were quickly picked off.

 

[pennyJo1960]

We ran in to Del's in Morton 10 miles one way not bad bought two rolls 5ft 150ft long 1 inch wire
enough to complete also fitting to hang the last chain link panel as a gate to access said chicken door from outside

 

[microchick]

We use the fishing line here to protect our orchard during the late riping period for the fruit trees from hungry deer. Conservation officer gave us the idea. We sink a t-post at each corner then run heavy gauge fishing line around the parameter like barbed wire. The deer can't see it, walk into it, startle and don't come back. We have several upper strands broken telling us they did encounter it. Our deer damaged fruit problem went to zero really fast so I can see it working with other varmints. It might work well for me in some small areas I have to secure. I won't be able to use anything less than netting with those silly OEGBs of mine. I'm too use to my fat lead bottomed Buff O's. The Game Bantams fly like the birds of prey I'm trying to protect them from.

In the mean time I'll check out Premier 1. Thanks for the leads and ideas, everyone.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I haven't actually tried these particular fixes...but what about the bird netting for fruit trees? I've been meaning to look into it...I haven't yet.
I've also thought of the round bale wrap, it comes in the same widths as round bales but it's a poly type mesh that most birds wouldn't go through. I think it'd be light but I don't know how it would stand up to ice. It's much better to peel off the bales than regular twine when the bale's covered in ice.

I don't have a run. We bought electric netting for this year for the days we may be away but still want to let the chickens out...but there'll be no roof. What I've been using is mirror balls that I purchased at Dollarama. I hang them on low plant hangers and place them around the yard where the chickens are running. The independent and erratic movement of the reflections seems to help keep the wild birds away. It's been successful with keeping the barn swallows away from the eaves of the house (instead of unsightly black plastic bags). I haven't had an air hit yet on the chickens...I don't know if the mirror balls have helped in that regard or if I've just been lucky.