Aerial protection idea

[Rick&Chris]

Happy New Year to you all!!

I need your opinion, we are trying to figure out a way to protect the chickens from Hawks. We are thinking about putting up wire, fishing line or string (per the attached drawing), we’ve seen this on some other pages. Do you think the gaps are too big or do you think any of the other lines would help deter them? On the drawing, you can see the dots and points of connection. The fence posts are approx 10’ apart.

EDIT TO ADD: the rectangle in the corner is the coop/run location.

Nothing like a chicken project to start the new year!!

 

[GodLovesU]

I have netting zip-tied to the top of my run.

 

[Rick&Chris]

Can you share details/photos with me?

 

[GodLovesU]

Here’s a picture of my run. I want to say that the netting is used for making nets, but I could be wrong.

 

[Rick&Chris]

View attachment 4019187
Here’s a picture of my run. I want to say that the netting is used for making nets, but I could be wrong.

Thank you! Looks great! My outside area is too big for netting.

 

[linguini]

our run is about 50x40, and entirely covered with aviary netting. They are cheap. Easy to install.

https://a.co/d/gofIvn0

we use 2x2x8 attached to t-post (easier to pound into the ground) to hold up the net so we can walk under it.

 

[perkolator]

If you're planning to use wire/string for the netting you drew a pic of, consider using a "dream catcher weave" pattern, which should help close some of the bigger holes. I have made many cucumber and bean trellises with the dreamcatcher weave and cheap mason string and it's a fairly strong weave. As to how it would actually hold up to a hungry raptor's talons, or a raccoon, etc. is probably not gonna work out so well though, which is why I used chicken wire as my overhead protection on 2nd run

 

[Rick&Chris]

Here is a google satellite view of the area I'm looking to protect/cover (approx 50' x 35'). The green are three huge bushes that I need to go over (would need to cut them way back as they are mostly vines) - but I want to keep them for shade when they are outside.

I'm not sure how I could do a dreamcatcher weave.

Appreciate your input and suggestions!!

 

[perkolator]

I think the dreamcatcher weave would still work on that even though it’s not symmetrical, but I’d likely divide the area with the bushes going through it so you have ability to remove or open the netting there to maintain the bushes.

It’s pretty simple weave, basically you just start going around the perimeter in a clockwise or anti clockwise direction, attaching it to the edge fencing or whatever anchor points with a basic loop, it’s not even a knot. When you complete the circumference you start attaching to the string at the center between anchor points. You can weave it tight or loose and can even skip areas if they’re getting too tight. Just look at a guide for weaving them, you’ll see it’s pretty easy, children can do it. The hardest part is it’ll be above your head and your shoulders/upper back will thank you the next day

You would likely need a few center supports to keep it from dipping too low

 

[Seaslug]

As a fellow citizen of the Commonwealth, I think your success or failure with what you've diagrammed will depend on the kinds of hawks you are dealing with. Our avian hawk predators here consist of Sharp Shin and Cooper's. They prey on birds in forested habitats, so have little difficulty flying through dense cover. They are also able to habituate to rural and suburban settings, and use human made objects as perches to conduct hunts. Despite normally preying on smaller birds they have gone after my chickens. The ones on our property will regularly go into non-native bamboo and either hunt or eat their prey. We have hawks that regularly nest around us.

Although not our intention when we got them, our chickens do not free range and are only permitted out in the yard when we are outside with them -- not a guarantee that the hawks will not try to strike. We make sure that this supervised free time has no regular schedule. The chicken's run is covered with 1/2" hardware cloth and it is where they spend the majority of their time.

I think that your plan could help, just do not want you to believe that it will stop any chance of hawk kills.