Bird netting worked against a hawk

[RIBill]

Gettin ready for work this morning, I heard a very loud thud against one of my windows. I looked out a different window just in time to see a large shadow fly past. The only thing it could have been was a hawk. I shot outside to check on my chickens. They were all in defensive positions in a corner. Actually, two were hiding under an overhanging hay bale. All I can guess is that the hawk tried for a chicken breakfast, hit the netting, and then struggled back up and hit my window which nicely reflects blue sky. Apparently, it really works. In case anyone wants to know, I use the so-called "deer net" sold at Home Depot in 7'x100' rolls. I used it folded in half, zip tying the sections together.

 

[LaurelRidgeDreams]

Good to hear the netting works. I'm using the same thing only I didn't leave it folded.

 

[first time farmer]

I had netting on my run but then a tree fell on the run and the netting got ruined. It took me about a week to get to fixing the netting. In that week a hawk decided that my chickens were an easy meal. The hawk got one of my hens. The netting really does work I love it.

 

[VA Lady]

Thanksgiving morning while making my dressing I heard my rooster start making a racket. I ran out and spooked an enormous red tail hawk that was on top of the coop. I had a tarp over the run area around their coop and then deer neeting around the outside and flipped up onto the tarp. If not for the tarp and netting I'm sure the hawk would have got someone. Up until this point it had almost seemed overly cautious on my part to keep the area covered since we'd never seen any large birds near it but now I'm so glad that I played it safe. This was also another time that I've realized how happy I am that one of our four pullets turned out to be a rooster. He has been a real benefit and has definitely carried his weight. He's always on watch (I've been watching the sky and missed birds he's seen) and he will alert the hens and start them bolting for cover in an instant (when they would have been clueless otherwise).

Even though the netting and tarp worked it has not been a great solution for us. It is a pain to work around (catches on everything and I've almost tripped from it a thousand times) and either moving it out of the way or stepping over it has become old real quick. Plus it gets blown around and won't always stay where it's needed. Because of this the next day we went out and bought a 10 x 10 x 6 kennel (and a top) and plunked it down over their coop. For now I'm using some of the netting on the areas of the top that aren't covered but we plan on making multiple improvements to the kennel (hardware cloth buried and around 3 ft up the bottom, securing the top, anchoring it down, etc). It's fantastic to have a nice gate to walk in and out of and not have to stoop over to get under the tarp and deer netting. Plus the chickens are loving their new perches!

 

[SandyK]

It's worked for me too. I was close by and saw it swoop down, but then changed directions when it realized the netting was there. Girls were scared to death, along with me. Then through out the summer, the hawk had the nerve to come and sit in the huge tree next to them and try and figure how to get to them. No way buddy!!!

 

[VA Lady]

I have not had the experience myself but should mention I've read where others said they've had predator birds actually get caught in the net. I'm out in the middle of nowhere and know how I would have handled that situation but it's something some might want to consider. If you think you might have a problem with injuring or killing a protected bird tangled in your net then you probably should try another method.

 

[abhaya]

works for mr tooo and is inexpensive. The deer neting is also a bit stronger than the bird netting. Here at lowes it is like $13 for a 7x100 foot roll