Homestead mailing list

["Lynda" <lurine AT softcom.net>]

We have the same hawk and eagle problem.  We are going to try the method 
used at the hatchery to keep the osprey out of the fingerling runs.  They 
run wire back and forth a foot or two apart.  the birds don't try to swoop 
down on the fingerlings because they know that they can't fly back out.  If 
you are going from 3' to 8', then you would still have a tall enough space 
for you to walk around in there if need be.  We are going to use a white 
twine instead of wire.  I figure they will be able to see the twine better 
than the wire, the twine is cheap, it wouldn't have to be stretched and it 
might discourage the more, hmmmm, pain in the patooty chickens from trying 
to fly out <g>

Lynda
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bevanron" <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>
> I have two considerations for making the moat only 3 or 4 feet wide.
> First, there is an issue of garden space.  My closet permanent raised
> bed is 8 feet inside the 8 ft perimeter fence.  I want to leave enough
> room between the interior fence and the bed to be able to push a large
> wheelbarrow through and mow if need be.  That dictates that the widest
> moat I could entertain would be about 4 feet across.
> My second consideration is not what the grasshoppers can do, but what
> the hawks, eagles, and owls will do.  I have lost quite a few birds to
> hawks and golden eagles.  The hawks are ever present; the eagles come
> and go depending on the year.  This year looks to be an 'eagle' year as
> I have seen 3 already.  Since the moat is uncovered, I was hoping that
> the smaller width would discourage swooping predators.