A chicken run loses more birds to predators than to disease — foxes dig under, hawks strike from above, and rats squeeze through gaps. Predator-proof netting is the defence, but it only works if the mesh, the overhead cover and the ground line are all right.
Different predators attack differently. Foxes dig under the edge and force gaps. Hawks and owls strike from above, so the run needs overhead cover. Rats and weasels squeeze through small holes. Match the mesh and the installation to the predator in your area — our mesh size guide covers how mesh matches the animal.
For the sides, a monofilament HDPE net in the 15–25 mm mesh range keeps birds in and most ground predators out, while staying light enough to span a run. For the top, the same net held above the run stops hawks and owls — a hawk will not strike through netting held a hand’s-width clear of the birds. Overhead netting also stops the flock flying out.
The weak point of every poultry run is the bottom edge. Foxes dig, so the net must be buried or pegged with an apron — run 20–30 cm of net outward along the ground and pin it, or bury the edge, so a fox hits net when it digs, not open soil. This is the single most common failure, and the cheapest to fix at build time.
| Threat | Defence | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| Fox | Side net + ground apron | 20–30 cm buried or pegged |
| Hawk / owl | Overhead net | Held clear of the birds |
| Rat / weasel | Fine mesh, sealed corners | No gaps at joins |
For the shade side of poultry keeping — heat stress, shade percentage and GSM — see our livestock and poultry shade guide. Predator netting and shade netting are different jobs; a well-built run needs both. Tell us your run size and local predators and we will spec the mesh, height and ground detail.
The mesh matters less than the ground line — foxes dig under. Use 15–25 mm net with a 20–30 cm apron buried or pegged at the base, so the fox hits net when it digs.
Yes, if you have hawks or owls. Overhead netting held clear of the birds stops aerial predators, and it also stops the flock flying out.
Fine mesh and sealed corners — rats squeeze through small gaps. Seal every join, corner and the bottom edge so there is no opening larger than the smallest predator you are stopping.
They are different jobs. Predator netting keeps animals out; shade netting manages heat. A well-built run uses both — predator mesh on the sides and top, shade cloth over part of it in hot climates.
Bury or peg the ground line — foxes dig, and the bottom edge is where poultry runs fail first. Tell us your requirements and we will quote factory-direct.