I've tried the tree netting. It works well in warm weather but succumbs very quickly to ice and snow in the winter. What I have left of it is currently a crazy quilt of patchwork pieces held together with S hooks and covering my rooster run.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.
I'm wondering if the bale wrap wouldn't meet the same demise if it was covered in snow and ice and suspended.
I would have to be standing outside, nearby clutching a shot gun in my hands if I was to let my flock out. The hawks around us are horrible. I went out one morning to let the birds out and there was a big red tailed hawk sitting in a tree not 25 feet away from the run......just waiting and watching. Several days ago there were three flying and screaming at one another in the timber behind our house. That usually means that they are starting their territorial fighting that they do early every spring. We also have eagles to contend with and barred and great horned owls. Free ranging is not in the books for my birds and netting definitely is.
