6 Best Shade Netting For Poultry Runs That Prevent Heat Stress
Choosing the right shade netting is vital for preventing poultry heat stress. We compare 6 top options based on material, UV protection, and breathability.
Nothing will stop a hen from laying faster than heat stress. Chickens are surprisingly fragile when temperatures climb, and a hot, sun-beaten run can quickly turn into a dangerous place for your flock. Investing in a good quality shade cloth is one of the simplest, most effective things you can do to ensure their health, comfort, and productivity through the summer months.
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Why Shade Cloth is a Must-Have for Your Flock
Protect your plants and outdoor spaces with this durable 55% shade cloth. Made from high-density polyethylene, it provides essential sun protection while allowing airflow and easy installation with included grommets.
Direct, unrelenting sun is a serious threat to chickens. They can’t sweat, and they can quickly become overheated, leading to panting, lethargy, a sudden drop in egg production, and in the worst cases, death. A simple shade cloth can drop the temperature in your run by 10-15 degrees or more, creating a vital refuge during the hottest part of the day.
But it’s not just about temperature. Quality shade netting also provides a barrier against harmful UV rays, protecting your birds’ skin and eyes. It can also offer a bit of protection from driving rain or light hail and can even make the run less visible to opportunistic hawks circling overhead. Think of it as creating a more stable, comfortable microclimate for your flock to thrive in.
Choosing the Right Shade Percentage for Poultry
The percentage on a shade cloth label tells you how much sunlight it blocks. It’s easy to think more is better, but for poultry, there’s a definite sweet spot. Too little shade (like a 30% cloth) won’t provide enough relief in most climates. Too much (90% or higher) can make the run too dark and damp, which can encourage mold growth and discourage natural foraging behaviors.
For the vast majority of chicken keepers, a shade cloth with a 50% to 70% rating is ideal. This range provides significant cooling and UV protection while still allowing ample air circulation and ambient light to pass through. If you live in an intensely hot and sunny climate like the desert Southwest, you might lean toward 75% or 80%, but for most, staying within that 50-70% window strikes the perfect balance for a healthy, comfortable flock.
Coolaroo Shade Fabric: Top UV Protection Pick
Coolaroo is a name you see everywhere for a reason: the material is excellent. Their shade fabric is a "knitted" high-density polyethylene (HDPE), not woven. This matters because the knitted construction allows heat to escape up through the fabric while resisting tearing and fraying, even if you cut it.
The real standout feature is its UV stabilization. Cheap tarps and fabrics degrade and become brittle after a single season in the sun, but Coolaroo is built to last for years. This makes it a smart investment. Most of their products come with reinforced edges and sturdy grommets, making it easy to secure to your run with zip ties or bungee cords without worrying about it ripping in the first strong wind.
Agfabric Shade Cloth: Best for Large Coop Runs
If you have a long, sprawling run or multiple enclosures to cover, buying pre-sized shade cloths can get expensive fast. This is where Agfabric shines. They specialize in providing large, bulk rolls of quality shade material at a very practical price point. You can get a massive piece of fabric to cover your entire setup for what a few small panels might cost from other brands.
The tradeoff for the value is that Agfabric often comes as a raw material. The edges are typically unfinished, and there are no pre-installed grommets. This isn’t a problem if you’re comfortable with a little DIY. You can easily fold over the edges for reinforcement and use specialty shade cloth clips or add your own grommets. It’s the perfect choice for the hobby farmer who needs to cover a lot of ground and doesn’t mind a few extra minutes of work to get it done.
Shatex Heavy Duty Mesh: The Durability Champion
For anyone in a high-wind area or a location prone to severe weather, durability is the number one concern. Shatex has built its reputation on producing exceptionally tough, heavy-duty shade material. Their products often feature high-density weaves, reinforced taped edges, and brass grommets that can stand up to serious tension and abuse.
This is the kind of shade cloth you install when you don’t want to think about it again for a very long time. It’s heavier and a bit more rigid than some other options, but that heft is exactly what keeps it from shredding in a 50-mph gust. If you’ve had cheaper tarps or nettings fail on you before, upgrading to a heavy-duty option like Shatex is a worthwhile investment in peace of mind.
BeGrit Shade Netting for Easy Installation
Sometimes, the best solution is the one you can get done the fastest. BeGrit shade netting is designed for exactly that. Their products are often sold as complete kits, with grommets spaced every couple of feet and a supply of bungee ball cords or zip ties included right in the package. You can take it from the box to fully installed on your run in under 15 minutes.
This convenience makes it a fantastic choice for people with standard-sized runs or those who aren’t interested in a DIY project. While it may not have the extreme-weather durability of a more specialized brand, it’s more than tough enough for typical backyard conditions. It provides immediate relief for your flock without any hassle, which is a huge win when you’re juggling a busy schedule.
e.share Sunblock Fabric: A Versatile Choice
Think of e.share as the reliable all-rounder. It strikes an excellent balance between quality, price, and features, making it one of the most popular choices available online. The fabric is durable, the UV protection is solid, and it comes in a massive variety of pre-cut sizes, so you can likely find one that fits your run almost perfectly without any cutting.
One of the nice things about e.share is the variety of options. They offer different colors—like sand, black, or green—which can help the run blend in better with your backyard aesthetic. With strong grommets and reinforced seams, it’s a dependable product that simply works. For the average chicken keeper who wants a quality shade cloth that ticks all the boxes, e.share is a very safe and effective bet.
FarmTek Shade Material for Custom Sizing Needs
When you have a uniquely shaped run or a large-scale setup, off-the-shelf sizes just don’t cut it. That’s when you turn to a professional agricultural supplier like FarmTek. They sell high-quality shade material by the linear foot off of huge rolls, allowing you to order the exact dimensions you need for your project with minimal waste.
This is professional-grade material designed for greenhouses and commercial operations, so you know the quality is top-notch. You’ll be responsible for finishing the edges and adding your own attachment points, but in return, you get a perfectly tailored solution. For the serious hobby farmer with a custom-built enclosure, ordering precisely what you need from a supplier like FarmTek is the most efficient and professional way to go.
Ultimately, providing shade is a non-negotiable part of responsible chicken keeping in the summer. Any of these options will protect your flock from dangerous heat stress. The best choice for you simply comes down to the size of your run, your local climate, and how much time you want to spend on installation.
