THE REALITIES ABOUT POULTRY The Modern Farm - The Realities About Poultry_Seco | Page 51

 Protection (from weather and predators). Many factors influence the type and choice of
housing to protect poultry from the effects of weather and predators. These include the local
climate, the available space, the size of the flock, and the management system. In extensive
systems, birds must be protected from disease and predators but also be able to forage.
Traditional large animal fencing using live plants is not enough protection against predators such
as snakes, kites, rats, and other vermin.
A simple and effective system to deter predator birds is to tie parallel lines of string across the
main scavenging area, the intervals between which measure less than the predator’s wingspan;
or, alternatively, a fishing net supported on poles can be spread across the side of the run where
predator birds could swoop on the scavenging chicks.
Leg traps can be set for large predators. It is not necessary to set traps around all the pens, as
predators tend to attack the same pen on the second night. Steel traps can be boiled in walnut
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