6 Best Backyard Flock Nettings For Predators That Old Farmers Swear By

There’s no worse feeling than walking out to the coop at dawn to find a tell-tale pile of feathers and a missing bird. A single night of predator pressure can undo a year of work, and it’s a hard lesson many of us learn too late. Choosing the right fencing isn’t just about keeping chickens in; it’s about keeping death out.

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Choosing Netting to Keep Your Flock Safe

The first decision you have to make is electric or non-electric. This choice sets the foundation for your entire predator strategy. An electric fence is a psychological barrier, teaching predators with a sharp, memorable shock that your flock is not an easy meal. A non-electric fence is purely a physical one, and a determined raccoon or fox can climb or chew through it if given enough time.

Think about your specific threats. If you’re dealing with clever, persistent predators like foxes, coyotes, or raccoons, electric netting is non-negotiable. The shock is the single most effective deterrent. For containing a docile flock in an area with low predator pressure, or for keeping chickens out of your garden, a non-electric physical barrier might be enough.

Remember, no fence is a fortress. A hawk can fly over it, and a weasel can squeeze through the smallest gap if the weave isn’t tight at the bottom. Your netting is your first and best line of defense, but it works best as part of a system that includes a secure coop for nighttime lockdown and regular checks of the fence line.

Premier 1 Supplies PoultryNet Plus 12/48/3

When you ask seasoned farmers what they use, the name Premier 1 comes up again and again. It’s the old standby for a reason: it just works. The PoultryNet Plus is a workhorse, designed with the realities of a pasture in mind. Its 48-inch height is tall enough to discourage most jumpers, and the double-spiked posts provide excellent stability, even in soft or uneven ground.

What really sets it apart for many is the construction. The vertical lines are more rigid than many competitors, which helps reduce sagging between posts—a common weak point predators can exploit. The weave is also tighter at the bottom, creating a much smaller grid that’s crucial for stopping smaller threats like mink, weasels, or even ambitious snakes from slipping through.

This isn’t the cheapest option on the market, but it’s an investment in reliability. You’re paying for durable posts, quality conductors, and a design that has been refined over years of real-world farm use. If you want a dependable, set-it-and-forget-it solution from a company that specializes in electric fencing, this is a top contender.

Starkline Electric Poultry Netting: Top Choice

Starkline has become a major player in the electric netting game, and for good reason. They offer a product that rivals the performance of the established brands, often at a more competitive price point. Their netting provides a formidable barrier that has proven itself against a wide range of common predators.

The design features are well thought out. Starkline uses double-spiked posts for stability and a bright, highly visible color. This visual aspect shouldn’t be underestimated; it acts as a first-level deterrent, helping animals see and avoid the fence before they even touch it. The conductivity is reliable, delivering the necessary jolt to send a predator running.

For many hobby farmers, Starkline hits the sweet spot between cost, durability, and effectiveness. It’s a robust fence that’s easy to set up and move, making it ideal for rotational grazing systems. If you’re looking for a high-performance net without the premium price tag of some other brands, Starkline is an excellent choice.

Kencove P-K-NET-G Poultry Netting Fence

Kencove is another one of those trusted names in the agricultural supply world. They sell tools and equipment that are meant to be used hard, and their poultry netting is no exception. It’s built to withstand the daily rigors of farm life, from being moved across pastures to standing up against wind and weather.

The Kencove netting is known for its sturdy construction and reliable energizing. The posts are rigid, the connections are solid, and the overall quality is apparent as soon as you unroll it. This is the kind of fence you buy when you’re tired of replacing cheaper options that fail after a season or two. It’s a professional-grade tool for the serious hobby farmer.

Consider this option if durability is your absolute top priority. While similar in function to other top-tier brands, Kencove’s reputation is built on toughness. It’s an excellent choice for anyone who needs a fence that will last for years, even with frequent moving and challenging conditions.

Tenax Poultry Netting: A Non-Electric Option

Sometimes, an electric fence is overkill or simply not practical. If you’re in a suburban area with minimal predator risk or just need a simple barrier to manage your flock’s daytime foraging, a non-electric option like Tenax Poultry Netting is a solid choice. This is a physical barrier, plain and simple.

Made of durable plastic mesh, this type of fencing is lightweight, easy to install with simple step-in posts, and requires no energizer. It’s perfect for creating temporary pens, protecting garden beds from curious chickens, or containing a flock during the day when you’re nearby. It will effectively stop chickens from wandering off and deter a casual, opportunistic predator like a neighbor’s dog.

However, you must understand its limitations. This will not stop a determined raccoon, fox, or coyote. A predator that can climb or chew will defeat this fence easily. It is a containment tool first and a predator deterrent second. Use it when the primary goal is managing your birds, not defending them from serious threats.

Gallagher SmartFence 2: Portable & Versatile

The Gallagher SmartFence isn’t a traditional netting, but it solves the same problem with a different approach. It’s an all-in-one system with four wires, posts, and a reel integrated into a single, incredibly portable unit. For someone practicing daily pasture moves or needing to set up a temporary enclosure in minutes, there is nothing faster.

This system is a powerful psychological deterrent. The four electrified strands deliver a memorable shock to any predator that tries to go through them. It’s highly effective against larger animals like coyotes and foxes. Setup and takedown are a breeze—you can fence off a new area in under five minutes, making it the ultimate tool for intensive rotational grazing.

The tradeoff is in the design. The wide spacing between the wires means it will not stop very small predators like weasels, nor will it reliably contain very small birds like young chicks. It’s a specialized tool designed for maximum portability and ease of use, making it perfect for the farmer on the move who is managing adult birds.

Pet-Tek Poultry Fence: A Lighter-Duty Choice

For the backyard chicken keeper in a low-risk environment, a heavy-duty electric net can be more than what’s needed. The Pet-Tek Poultry Fence and similar lighter-duty options fill this niche. They are typically non-electric, more affordable, and designed primarily for containment in a suburban or garden setting.

This type of fence is great for creating a "chicken tractor" effect without the tractor, allowing you to move your flock’s foraging area around the yard easily. It keeps the birds contained and out of your prized tomatoes. It’s a visual boundary that works well for docile breeds and provides a basic level of protection from casual threats.

Like other non-electric options, this is not a solution for significant predator pressure. It’s a management tool, not a security system. If your biggest concern is a curious dog or keeping your hens off the porch, this is an affordable and practical choice. If you have raccoons or foxes casing your property, you need to look at an electric option.

Key Factors: Energizers, Height, and Weaving

The best netting in the world is useless without the right setup. Three things matter more than anything else: your energizer, the fence height, and the tightness of the weave. Get these wrong, and your fence is just a decoration.

Your energizer is the heart of an electric fence. It must be powerful enough for the length of your net. A common mistake is using an underpowered energizer, which results in a weak, ineffective shock. Always check the joule rating and match it to your fence’s total length, and consider a low-impedance model that performs better with weed contact. Solar chargers offer incredible flexibility, while plug-in models provide consistent power if you’re near an outlet.

Height and weaving are your physical defense. A 48-inch height is a good standard, as it’s too tall for most predators to jump casually. The weave is just as critical. A tight, small-grid pattern at the bottom of the fence is essential for preventing smaller predators like weasels and mink from squeezing through. Always inspect the bottom of the net to ensure it’s flush with the ground, as any gap is an open invitation.

Ultimately, the right netting is the one that best matches your specific predators, property, and management style. Don’t just buy the most popular option; think critically about whether you need the psychological barrier of an electric fence or the simple containment of a physical one. Your fence is your most important tool for flock safety, so choose it wisely and you’ll sleep better at night.