6 Best Weighted Chicken Nettings For Predator Protection Old Farmers Swear By

There’s a sinking feeling that comes with seeing a pile of feathers where a chicken used to be. You can build a fortress of a coop, but predators are patient, and they often strike when the flock is out ranging during the day. This is where electric poultry netting becomes less of a luxury and more of an essential tool for keeping your birds safe and your heart in one piece.

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Key Features of Predator-Proof Poultry Netting

The term "predator-proof" gets thrown around a lot, but for netting, it comes down to a few critical details. First is the electric charge. A physical barrier might deter a lazy fox, but a sharp, memorable shock teaches a lesson that keeps them from ever trying again.

Look for netting with small apertures, especially near the bottom. These tighter holes prevent small, determined predators like weasels or raccoons from squeezing through. They also stop your own chickens from poking their heads through and getting a nasty surprise. The height is also crucial; a 48-inch net is a strong visual and physical deterrent for jumpers like coyotes and most dogs.

Finally, consider the posts. Integrated step-in posts make setup and takedown manageable for one person. Look for double-spiked posts if you have loose or sandy soil, as they provide significantly more stability and keep the fence from sagging, which is a common point of failure. A sagging fence is an open invitation for a predator to push under.

Premier 1 Supplies PoultryNet Plus 12/48/3

Premier 1 is often the first name that comes up in poultry netting, and for good reason. Their PoultryNet Plus is a workhorse that has proven itself on thousands of small farms. It’s a reliable, well-constructed system that balances durability with user-friendliness.

The "12/48/3" tells you what you need to know: it has 12 horizontal strands, is 48 inches tall, and has posts spaced roughly every 12.5 feet (that’s the "3" for 3 meters, a holdover from its European design). The lower horizontal lines are more closely spaced to deter smaller threats. This is the go-to choice for farmers who want a dependable, all-around performer for rotational grazing systems.

What sets it apart is the quality of the materials and the thoughtful design, like the double-spiked posts that provide excellent stability. While it might be priced slightly higher than some competitors, you’re paying for reliability. When the alternative is losing birds, dependability is worth a few extra dollars.

Starkline Electric Netting for Heavy-Duty Use

If your primary concern is durability against tough predators or challenging terrain, Starkline is the brand to look at. Their netting is built with thicker posts and a more rigid structure, designed to stand up to more abuse than standard-duty options. This is the fence you want when you know you have persistent coyotes or a neighbor’s unruly dog.

Starkline often uses more conductive metal filaments within its poly-wires, which can deliver a more consistent and potent shock along the entire length of the fence. This is particularly important for longer runs of netting where voltage drop can become an issue. The trade-off for this heavy-duty construction is a bit more weight, making it slightly more cumbersome to move than lighter-weight options.

Think of Starkline as an investment in brute force. It’s for the farmer in rocky soil where flimsy posts won’t hold, or for the homesteader facing significant predator pressure. It provides peace of mind by being just a little bit tougher in every category.

Kencove Electric Netting for Easy Installation

Kencove has built a reputation for providing solid, no-nonsense fencing supplies, and their electric netting is no exception. They often focus on creating kits that are straightforward and quick to deploy. This makes them a fantastic choice for people who are new to electric fencing or who need to move their paddocks very frequently.

Their systems prioritize ease of use. The posts are typically lightweight but rigid enough for most soil conditions, and the connections are designed for quick setup and breakdown. If your rotational grazing plan involves moving the flock every day or two, the minutes you save with a Kencove system add up quickly.

This focus on simplicity doesn’t mean it’s a weak fence. It still delivers a respectable shock and acts as a strong physical barrier. The tradeoff is that it may lack some of the heavy-duty features of a brand like Starkline, but for most typical applications, it’s more than sufficient and a joy to work with.

Gallagher SmartFence 2 for Maximum Portability

The Gallagher SmartFence isn’t a traditional net, but it solves the same problem with a different approach. It’s a self-contained system of ten posts, four polywires, and a reel, all in one unit. For portability, nothing else on the market comes close.

You can erect a 330-foot fence in under five minutes. This makes it the ultimate tool for temporary enclosures, strip grazing, or protecting a flock in a new area for just a day. It’s incredibly lightweight and easy to carry, store, and deploy.

However, there’s a significant tradeoff: the four horizontal wires have large gaps between them. While this is an effective barrier for larger animals like cows, sheep, or coyotes, it will not stop a determined raccoon or a small weasel. It’s best used for daytime protection against larger predators or for containing the flock, not for overnight, set-it-and-forget-it security against a wide range of threats.

Pet & Livestock HQ: A Versatile Netting Choice

Pet & Livestock HQ offers netting that often appeals to backyard chicken keepers and smaller-scale homesteaders. Their kits are frequently bundled with an appropriately sized energizer, taking the guesswork out of matching components. This makes them a great entry point for someone just getting started with electric fencing.

Their products strike a good balance between affordability and functionality. The netting is effective against common predators like foxes, raccoons, and neighborhood dogs. While it might not have the overbuilt ruggedness of a premium brand, it’s perfectly adequate for many situations and provides a significant upgrade over non-electric options.

Consider this brand if you have a smaller flock, moderate predator pressure, and are looking for a complete, cost-effective solution. It’s a practical choice that gets the job done without requiring a deep dive into the technical specifications of fence energizers and grounding systems.

Powerfields P-100-Y/B Complete Netting Kit

The biggest hurdle for many new electric fence users is figuring out what to buy. Powerfields addresses this directly with its all-in-one kits. Their P-100-Y/B kit, for example, typically includes the netting, pre-installed posts, a solar fence energizer, and a ground rod. You buy one box, and you have everything you need to get started.

This convenience is its primary selling point. You don’t have to worry about whether your energizer is powerful enough for your net or if you have the right connectors. It’s designed to work as a cohesive system right out of the box, which is a massive relief for anyone with limited time and energy.

The components are solid and reliable for general use. The energizer might not be the most powerful on the market, but it’s matched to the length of the included net. This is the perfect solution for someone who values simplicity and wants a proven, pre-packaged system to protect their flock immediately.

Proper Grounding: The Key to an Effective Shock

You can buy the most expensive, heavy-duty netting in the world, but it will be completely useless without a proper ground. The fence itself is only half of the circuit. The animal completes the circuit by touching the wire and the earth simultaneously, and the electricity travels back to the energizer through the ground rod.

If your ground is poor, the shock will be weak. This is the most common point of failure in electric fence setups. For most small systems, a single 3-foot galvanized ground rod is sufficient, but in dry, sandy, or rocky soil, you may need more. Driving in a second or even a third rod, spaced about 10 feet apart and connected by wire, can make a world of difference.

Always test your fence with a fence tester, not your hand. A good reading near the energizer and a poor reading at the far end of the fence could indicate a grounding issue or a short somewhere in the line. Pouring a bucket of water on your ground rod during a dry spell is a classic old-timer trick to temporarily improve conductivity and ensure your predators get the message loud and clear.

Ultimately, the best poultry netting is the one that fits your land, your predators, and your daily routine. Each system presents a different set of tradeoffs between portability, durability, and predator exclusion. The key is to choose the right tool for your specific challenge and, above all, to ensure it’s properly grounded—because a well-grounded fence is a silent, sleepless guardian for your flock.