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Old 08-04-2012, 10:45 AM   #1
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Default Fishing line strung over a large run to deter hawks

I can't find the thread on where this was mentioned so I'm just tossing this out for anyone having problems with hawks who has a large run that can't be capped off. The sun was shining just right and it showed a section of my large run that I'd run monofilament string from hog panel to hog panel to deter hawks from swooping in and grabbing a meal.
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Old 09-17-2012, 12:26 AM   #2
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Looks awesome, I read about this being done and how well it works, but I'm surprised you used chicken wire instead of hard wire with all the wild animals you have where you are. Raccoons can reach through and grab a chicken. I love the dark earth you have, it looks so rich. Did the chickens build that hole? Looks like prime dusting spot lol.
We spent a few hours adding sand to the pen, and got about 8 feet by 4 feet covered before I realized I needed to put lime down. This morning the chickens were going just nuts over the sand. They were rolling in it, and really enjoying digging in it. I'm glad I am getting it in now before winter comes. We got so much done this year to insure the chickens have a bigger coop, a way bigger run, electricity and now 4 inches deep of sand to play with. And easier to clean, I will be taking a horse stall rake, putting screen on it and using it to scoop the poop like a cat litter box. In 2 weeks we will be surrounding the pen with clear heavy plastic so there is no wind and snow or rain blowing into it. And this cuts down the cold they have to endure during our cold temps. We use a sheet of cut to fit plywood to fit over the door held in place with stretchy tie downs so snow does not blow in there either. My chickens can spend all winter out side like last year with put getting there feet wet or feeling the wind blow fiercely .
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Old 09-17-2012, 09:37 AM   #3
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It actually does work well... really well.... as long as you get a fishing line that's a heavier weight. Some of the fishing line I started with is very light weight and I've had some break away already.
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I had to leave 1 area that's about 15 x 15 unprotected so I could get in through the gate and get to the lever to open and close the chicken door. I had chicken wire strung over the area but when you're going out in bad light.... you don't see it and it ends up getting you in the neck and knocking you on your rear. I've lost 2 chickens in the area that's not blanketed in fishing line so I'm considering running with something else in that area.... I don't know what though.
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Our raccoons aren't out during the day... neither are our skunks or opossums so chicken wire is fine for the chicken run because they're all locked up inside by the time the night crew's shift starts. During the summer I've used a chicken tractor for some of the younger birds we've gotten as day olds and did learn the hard way that a raccoon can grab 1 right through the chicken wire so just last month I did buy some hardware cloth and I'm gonna add about 18" of it around the bottom over the top of the chicken wire because of just what you said. It won't stop the mink from tunneling under and having a field day though so until we come up with something to deal with the mink.... I can't ever leave older chicks out in the tractor anymore over night.
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I dug out that hole for the goils.... it is a prime dust bath spot. I had a kiddie pool in there that had sand and ashes in it and they were in heaven. The snow came and it ended up splitting from the water that collected then froze in it. I took it out and bought a new 1 and drilled holes in the bottom. I've been putting mulch and sand in that 1. Some of our goils prefer the sand and ashes and some prefer the mulch and sand. It's pretty funny when there's like 4 or 5 in the pit at once all doing their "thang".
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chicken run, chickens, deter, fishing, fishing line, fishing string, hawks, large, line, monofilament, pedator, poulty, prey, protect, protection, run, strung

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