Winterizing metal fence post run

[Brynnoelleee]

Hi everyone! Looking for some creative ideas to keep our run covered in the winter (mostly from hawks). Currently we have thin plastic netting over the top which I know will collapse with snow on it. Any ideas? Pictures attached of our current set up

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hi everyone! Looking for some creative ideas to keep our run covered in the winter (mostly from hawks). Currently we have thin plastic netting over the top which I know will collapse with snow on it. Any ideas? Pictures attached of our current set up
View attachment 3303212

I have a similar set up (kind of). I have heavy duty aviary netting over my chicken yard. I handle snow 2 ways. If I know there's going to be heavy snow, I actually remove it. If it's a light to moderate snow, I go out and shake off the snow periodically.

 

[AOrchard]

I'm in Wisconsin with 2" nylon meeting over the top. It's been through 3 winters with only one issue. Most snows fall right through without any issue. The 3 times I've had it stick, the snow started wet, so ice and crusty stuff built up on the net, and then continued with wet snow, which built up on top of the ice.

Two of those times I went out once during the storm and shoke it off with a stick. No issues. The third time I didn't and it was a bad storm, the snow built up to the point the net came down (which was actually not a big issue, as it just ripped a tiny hole over the central support post, and then laid on the ground. the perimeter remained attached. I patched the 4 inch hole at the support pole and had the fence back up in 20 mins after the storm passed).

I use 50lb fishing line to provide structure between the support posts, rather than the board you currently have. The line will break in heavy snow load and allow the net to fall down with minimal net damage, and the line will stretch in lighter loads and support the net. If you leave the board up, all the net and snow weight will be on that board, and likely cause bigger damage if it does go down.

2"x2" nylon aviary netting from Amazon. No smaller holes. Get the thicker stuff if you can. I have a 25'x50' section up.

 

[AOrchard]

2"x2" nylon aviary netting from Amazon. No smaller holes. Get the thicker stuff if you can. I have a 25'x50' section up.

This is the one I ordered in 2019. It's not available anymore, but gives you idea of the specs and quality. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001W2AG2M?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I ordered this recently, and it feels and looks comparable, I don't have it up yet though for the real test.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07NLV43RT?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[Brynnoelleee]

I'm in Wisconsin with 2" nylon meeting over the top. It's been through 3 winters with only one issue. Most snows fall right through without any issue. The 3 times I've had it stick, the snow started wet, so ice and crusty stuff built up on the net, and then continued with wet snow, which built up on top of the ice.

Two of those times I went out once during the storm and shoke it off with a stick. No issues. The third time I didn't and it was a bad storm, the snow built up to the point the net came down (which was actually not a big issue, as it just ripped a tiny hole over the central support post, and then laid on the ground. the perimeter remained attached. I patched the 4 inch hole at the support pole and had the fence back up in 20 mins after the storm passed).

I use 50lb fishing line to provide structure between the support posts, rather than the board you currently have. The line will break in heavy snow load and allow the net to fall down with minimal net damage, and the line will stretch in lighter loads and support the net. If you leave the board up, all the net and snow weight will be on that board, and likely cause bigger damage if it does go down.

2"x2" nylon aviary netting from Amazon. No smaller holes. Get the thicker stuff if you can. I have a 25'x50' section up.

Can you post a picture of your set up so I can see it? I’m a visual person

 

[AOrchard]

Here it in winter after a snowstorm - highlights the structure. I have 2x4 welded wire with t-posts around the perimeter, some 30' x 35' ish? One corner is a 12' high chicken coop. There are three ~8' tall 4x4 wood posts in the middle, plus a couple trees. One of the shorter posts has an extender (a hunk of 2x4 nailed to it) to make it a little taller. Fishing line runs between all center posts, between center posts to perimeter, and from coop roof to center posts. Also in the run is a small greenhouse and some trellises. The netting sags a little with snow on it (normally a 6' tall person can walk freely in the whole thing), but the sag is actually useful for the picture so it's easier to see the netting.

 

[WIchickMama]

@AOrchard do your chickens go out in the snow?

That would be a question @Brynnoelleee is do you have enough space in your coop for the chickens to hang out for a couple days if there is a lot of snow. Some chickens don't mind but most, at least at first, will not want to venture out. Not sure where you are located and how much snow you get. Could you possibly cover part of the netting with a more solid tarp or plastic? Not sure how this would work but it would give a bit of a snow free area.

 

[Krugerrand]

What are the dimensions of the run area?

 

[AOrchard]

@AOrchard do your chickens go out in the snow?

Absolutely. I have a small (3'x3') covered area where the feeder is, and then the heated waterer is outside as well. I have several 10' boards on the ground (you can see one in the picture inside the run), that criss cross each other. I shovel the boards regularly. The chickens spend 50% of their time on the boards, 25% of the time inside sunning themselves by the big coop window, and 25% of the time wandering around the run.

 

[AOrchard]

Here's some pictures showing A frames that I made to cover feeders, showing the crisscrossed boards on the ground, and another one of the net area that shows more how the fishing line connects between the different parts.