Overhead Protection for Run

Cover the entire outdoor run with poultry netting or welded wire mesh stretched tightly across the top and secured to support poles or cables. This is essential in areas where hawks, owls, and eagles are active, as raptors are among the most persistent predators of both poults and adult turkeys.

Why It Works

Raptors like red-tailed hawks and great horned owls hunt from above, making ground-level fencing irrelevant against them. A physical overhead barrier is the only reliable defense. Welded wire mesh provides stronger protection than lightweight netting, which larger raptors can sometimes tear. Covering the run also prevents turkeys from flying out.

Tips

• Use 2-inch mesh or smaller to block smaller raptors like Cooper's hawks
• Run a center support cable or ridge pole to prevent sagging, which creates entry points and collects snow or debris
• Inspect netting after storms for tears or sag that could allow predators through