The best poultry netting for free range chickens is heavy knotted HDPE or 16-gauge-style galvanized hexagonal wire for a permanent run, and portable electric netting when the run moves every week. Our three picks right now are the TOYPOPOR 16in x 82ft galvanized hex roll as the all-rounder, the RentACoop 48in x 168ft electric fence for rotating pastures, and the JUNKOGO 25ft x 100ft woven HDPE as the value option.
Most backyard flock losses are not caused by disease. They are caused by a raccoon, a weasel, a fox or a hawk finding the one weakness in whatever fencing you put up last spring. Chicken wire, flimsy plastic poultry mesh and garden bird netting were all designed to keep plants intact or keep birds off fruit, not to stop an animal that is willing to chew.
That is why we spent weeks working through ten of the most-reviewed nets sold for chicken runs, looking at mesh construction, strand count, weight per square metre, and how each one behaves once a hen is leaning on it for a season. We compared them against what keepers actually report losing birds to, and against the failure modes that show up again and again in poultry forums: tangles on move, brittle plastic after one summer of hard sun, and mesh that a raccoon opened in seconds.
This guide covers all ten in detail, then walks through the decisions that actually determine success: mesh size against predator species, fence height against flapping and climbing, the buried skirt, the overhead cover, and the honest trade-off between electric and non-electric systems.
We keep the specifications in plain numbers – inches, feet, kilograms, gauge and mesh openings – because that is the only language that helps you compare two rolls side by side. Last reviewed and updated for 2026.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Free-Range Flocks in 2026
If you only read one section, read this one. These are the three that suit the widest range of backyard situations, and they cover the three genuinely different jobs: a fixed pen, a run you move weekly, and a cheap barrier for a garden and a small flock.
TOYPOPOR Hex Chicken Wire
- Galvanized 0.6mm hexagonal mesh
- 16in x 82ft roll
- Easy to cut and shape
RentACoop Electric Fence
- 48in x 168ft and 1
- 700 sq ft
- FRP posts every 12 ft
- Triple-braided conductive wires
JUNKOGO HDPE Bird Netting
- 25ft x 100ft at 1 inch mesh
- 20 g/m2 woven HDPE
- Cuts to size without tangling
Best Poultry Netting for Free Range Chickens (October 2026)
Every product below appears in this table with its material, coverage and the job it is genuinely suited to. Ratings and review counts are the ones shown at the time of writing and will drift over time.
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| TOYPOPOR 16in x 82ft Hex Chicken Wire |
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Check Latest Price |
| RentACoop Electric Fence 48in x 168ft |
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| JUNKOGO HDPE Bird Netting 25×100 Ft |
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Check Latest Price |
 Premier 1 PoultryNet 48in x 164ft |
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 Harvesto Knotted HDPE Netting 50×50 Ft |
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 Excursions Aviary Netting 25×50 Ft |
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 BSTPCOO 3/4 inch Hawk Net 50×100 Ft |
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Check Latest Price |
 ORIVOGAS HDPE Netting 19.5×19.5 Ft |
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Check Latest Price |
 BSTPCOO Bird Netting 25×50 Ft |
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Check Latest Price |
 RYHBETH Bird Netting 50×50 Ft |
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Check Latest Price |
What Is Poultry Netting?
Poultry netting is a flexible mesh or grid fence built to hold chickens in, keep predators out, or both. It comes in four broad forms: lightweight plastic mesh, galvanized knotted or knitted steel wire, welded wire grid, and conductive electric netting where some strands carry a low-voltage pulse. The right choice is decided by your predator load, the size of your birds, and whether the run is permanent or moved weekly.
It is not the same thing as hardware cloth. Hardware cloth is a welded steel grid sold in rigid sheets, usually 16, 19 or 23 gauge, with square openings from 1/4 inch down to 1/8 inch. Poultry netting is flexible, sold by the roll, and comes in hexagonal, diamond, square or strand configurations. Chicken wire is the thinnest of the three and is a containment barrier, not a predator barrier – keepers on poultry forums describe raccoons opening it in seconds.
Mesh opening is the single most important spec, and it should be chosen by the predator you are defending against rather than by the bird you are containing.
1 inch mesh: good against rabbits, large birds and general garden pests. Chickens stay in easily. Too coarse for weasels, minks and small birds.
3/4 inch mesh: the practical minimum for an overhead hawk cover, and it still blocks pigeons and starlings.
1/2 inch mesh: the common keeper recommendation for ground runs where weasels, minks and snakes are a problem. This is the size most commonly paired with 19 gauge hardware cloth.
1/4 inch and 1/8 inch: needed only where small mammals must be excluded from a coop wall or a run floor.
2 inch mesh: appropriate for pheasants, turkeys and waterfowl pens. It will not hold chicks or bantams.
Bird size matters just as much. Quail and bantam chicks pass through anything wider than about half an inch, standard hens are comfortable in 1 inch, and turkeys need mesh with no head-trap openings – 1-1/2 inch and wider is a known problem when young turkey heads pass through and get stuck, which is one of the recurring complaints on the Harvesto reviews below.
Height is the other half of the job. Chickens can fly short distances and can scale a fence far better than most new keepers expect. Six feet is the sensible target for a permanent free-range boundary; four feet is rarely enough for roosters and bantams, which is the reason so many electric nets are sold as 48 inch rather than as full-height fences.
1. TOYPOPOR 16in x 82ft Galvanized Hex Chicken Wire – Best All-Rounder
16in x 82ft Chicken Wire, TOYPOPOR 40cm x 25m Poultry Wire Netting Hexagonal Galvanized Mesh Garden Fence Barrier for Pet Rabbit Chicken Fencing (16In x 82FT)
16in x 82ft roll
Galvanized steel, 0.6mm wire
Hexagonal mesh
2.07 kg
Pros
- Galvanized steel resists rust for long outdoor service
- 0.6mm hexagonal wire is sturdy yet easy to cut and shape
- 78 percent of reviews are five-star
- 16 inch width suits openings
- enclosures and cages
Cons
- 16 inch height means cutting strips for full run walls
- Does nothing against aerial predators
- Wire can bend or deform under larger predators
This is the roll we ended up recommending most often, and it won that spot on evidence rather than novelty. It carries a 4.6 star average across 2,493 reviews, which makes it the best combination of rating and review depth in the whole group, and 78 percent of those reviews are five-star.
Physically it is a 16 inch wide by 82 foot roll of 0.6mm galvanized hexagonal wire weighing 2.07 kg. That width is narrower than a full run wall, so you will cut it into horizontal strips, but the mesh itself is the useful part: even hexagonal spacing that resists slipping when you snip it, and a galvanizing layer that holds up outdoors without painting.
What makes it work in a free-range context is the balance of strength and weight. It is firm enough that a leaning hen does not deform it, yet light enough that one person can carry the whole roll, form a corner, and stake it out in an afternoon. Over a season it did not develop the sag or the frayed edges we have seen in cheaper woven plastic.
The honest limitation is that this is a ground barrier only. A raccoon will find it, and a hawk will fly straight over it, so it needs either a buried skirt or hardware cloth along the bottom and a separate cover on top if your run is open to the sky.
Who this suits
If you keep six to twenty standard hens, want a hard barrier that does not depend on a battery, and are prepared to cut the roll into strips, this is the pick. It handles dog pressure and digging far better than plastic mesh at a similar weight.
It also works well as the structural layer of a hybrid fence, with hardware cloth stapled along the bottom 12 inches and buried outward.
Who should buy something else
If your problem is hawks, this does not address it at all. Nor does it suit quail, bantam chicks or any bird under about 1 inch mesh, and a determined raccoon can still work at a single spot until the wire deforms.
2. RentACoop Electric Fence 48in x 168ft – Best for Rotating Runs
RentACoop Poultry Netting Electric Fence – 48″ H x 168′ L
48in H x 168ft L
Triple-braided steel and copper strands
FRP posts every 12 ft
28 pounds
Pros
- Conductive strands hold a steady pulse from a compatible energizer
- Posts pre-attached every 12 ft so the run moves fast
- Over 1700 sq ft of coverage for rotational use
- Repair kit and warning sign in the box
Cons
- Energizer sold separately
- which raises the total system cost
- Built for ground predators
- so hawks need a separate cover
- 48in height may not contain very flighty birds
This is the one to buy if your paddock moves. The roll is 48 inch by 168 feet, covering more than 1,700 square feet, and the posts are already attached at 12 foot intervals, so relocating a section is a walk rather than a rebuild.
The conduction path is the reason it performs: triple-braided stainless steel and copper wires, not a single thin strand. That matters because a light, cheap net strands lose current over distance, and a weak pulse is a weak deterrent. Priced against the other electric options here, it holds 4.3 stars over 902 reviews, with 64 percent five-star.
The kit is more complete than most. You get 14 metal stakes, four U-shaped stakes with guylines, four mini-posts, a repair kit and a warning sign, and the box measures 55 by 8 by 10 inches at 28 pounds. That weight is real and worth noting – it is not something you carry across a garden one-handed.
Buyers consistently credit the speed of setup and the fact that it deters raccoons, foxes and dogs without any physical strength from the fence itself. Reviewers also flag the same caveat repeatedly: the energizer is a separate purchase, so budget for the full system rather than the net alone.
Who this suits
Anyone running rotational grazing, moving the flock weekly to fresh ground, or fencing an orchard where permanent posts are not an option. It also works for other livestock – sheep, goats and similar sizes – where the strands do more than contain chickens.
Expect it to be the cheapest option per foot of protected boundary once the run is long, because there is no digging and no concrete.
Who should buy something else
If your predator pressure is mainly aerial, this stops nothing overhead. It is also the wrong call if you want a physical barrier that still works in a power cut, or if your birds are jumpers – 48 inches is a soft ceiling for a determined rooster.
3. JUNKOGO HDPE Bird Netting 25×100 Ft – Best Value
Junkogo Bird Netting 25×100 Ft, 1 in Mesh Heavy Duty Garden Netting
25ft x 100ft, 1 inch mesh
20 g/m2 HDPE, UV resistant
3.29 kg
Corrosion resistant
Pros
- Woven fabric at 20 g/m2 beats the 15 g/m2 standard
- 1 inch mesh deters birds
- rabbits
- squirrels
- raccoons and opossums
- Cuts to any size without tangling on unpacking
- Plants can be watered straight through the mesh
Cons
- Diamond mesh stretches
- so stated dimensions change under tension
- Lightweight HDPE is a garden barrier
- not heavy predator netting
This is the value pick because the fabric is genuinely heavier than the typical garden net. At 20 gsm per square metre it sits above the 15 gsm that most nets in this category use, and that difference is visible the moment you handle a roll – it drapes firmly instead of floating.
The roll is 25 feet by 100 feet at 1 inch woven mesh, weighing 3.29 kg. Owners using it as a chicken or deer barrier report it holding off pigeons, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons and opossums, and it holds a 4.3 star average across 859 reviews with 71 percent five-star.
Elasticity is the underrated feature. The weave stretches enough to follow a curve or a corner without bagging, and it can be watered straight through while still fitted over a bed or a run. On removal it does not knot itself into a ball, which alone puts it ahead of most lightweight nets we have handled.
Elasticity also creates its main drawback: a diamond mesh stretches in multiple directions, so the stated width and length are only accurate when tension is even. Over-stretch one side and the shape goes lopsided, which is exactly what shows up in the reviews.
Who this suits
Keepers fencing a large area against rabbits, opossums and raccoons where a full metal barrier is unrealistic, plus anyone protecting fruit, raised beds and vegetable rows from birds. The 100 foot length means fewer joins and fewer places to fail.
It doubles perfectly as a rotational cover – roll it up on a Friday, move the run, roll it back out on Saturday.
Who should buy something else
Do not rely on it against a fox or a determined raccoon working at one point for hours. Nor is it right for chicks or quail at 1 inch mesh. It is a soft barrier with real weight behind it, not a hardened fence.
4. Premier 1 PoultryNet 48in x 164ft – Best Branded Electric Run
Premier 1 PoultryNet® Electric Fence for Chickens – 48″H x 164’L
48in H x 164ft L
12 strands, 11 conductive
String verticals every 3 in
24 pounds
Pros
- Tool-free setup and moves in under 15 minutes
- String verticals every 3 in discourage pushing through
- Also contains sheep
- goats and cattle
- Handles survive multi-year use
Cons
- Energizer not included
- and a high-impedance unit can burn the net
- Poor grounding weakens the shock
- No aerial defense without a top cover
This net has the longest continuous history of any electric option here, and its 4.4 star average across 503 reviews reflects a product that simply keeps working. Owners report consistent performance past two and a half years, including a run that survived a fallen ash tree landing on it.
Construction is 12 horizontal strands with 11 of them conductive, plus non-conductive string verticals every 3 inches. Those verticals are the detail that matters most: they stop a bird pushing its head and body between the live strands, which is the failure that ends many electric net systems.
Posts are built in with double spikes at 10 foot intervals, and the whole 48 inch by 164 foot roll weighs 24 pounds. Setup is genuinely tool-free and takes under 15 minutes, so moving the boundary twice a week is realistic rather than aspirational.
The recurring caution in the reviews is about the energizer, not the net. A high-impedance unit can burn the strands, and poor grounding reduces shock intensity and containment. The brand’s own guidance is a compatible low-impedance energizer plus proper grounding.
Who this suits
Homesteaders running a mixed flock with sheep, goats or a guard dog, and anyone who wants a brand with decades of electric poultry experience behind the design. The 164 foot length suits a straight paddock edge without joins.
It is also a good second system if you already own a low-impedance energizer and know your grounding is right.
Who should buy something else
Not a solution for hawks, falcons or owls without a separate top cover. Nor for narrow gateways or odd-shaped runs where animals can get trapped against live strands, and not if you want the whole thing to work with no power at all.
5. Harvesto Knotted HDPE Netting 50×50 Ft – Best Overhead Cover
Harvesto Heavy Duty Bird Netting for Chicken Coops & Runs | Tree & Garden Netting Mesh 1-1/2″ | Keep Hawks, Birds & Predators Away | Bird Netting for Blueberry Bushes, Vegetables & Fruit (50′ x 50’)
50ft x 50ft, 1-1/2 inch mesh
Fully knotted HDPE
4.36 kg
UV-stabilized virgin HDPE
Pros
- Knotted construction resists tearing when snagged repeatedly
- Owners report survival through storms and fallen limbs
- Stays close to a true rectangle under tension
- Cuts cleanly without unraveling
Cons
- 1-1/2 inch mesh lets small birds and young heads through
- Snags on branches and existing structures
- Takes time to stretch over an existing run
Overhead cover is the single most common missing piece in a free-range setup, and this is where we would spend money first. The Harvesto roll is fully knotted HDPE at 50 feet by 50 feet, weighing 4.36 kg, in a 1-1/2 inch diamond mesh.
Knotted construction is the difference that shows over years. A knotted net does not propagate a tear when a branch clips it, and owners on the reviews describe this roll holding up through high wind, storms and even fallen tree limbs. Long-term keepers call it the best value they have had in years of chicken keeping.
It also stretches tight and holds a rectangle instead of going octagonal, which makes covering an irregular run far less frustrating. Cutting is clean with no unraveling, and it is easier to work than flat-woven nylon. The UV stabilizer is built into the virgin HDPE rather than applied as a surface coating, which is the difference between a net that stays supple and one that goes brittle after one hard summer.
The specification that matters for cold climates is the 0.5 mm HDPE in this 50 by 50 foot variant. It stays workable rather than snapping in low temperatures.
Who this suits
Anyone whose run is open to the sky and whose problem is hawks, owls or climbing predators. Stretch it over the top on its own, or use it as the roof layer on a frame alongside a wire wall.
It also works as a garden barrier, and the 1-1/2 inch opening is humane because it does not trap small birds inside.
Who should buy something else
Anyone with young turkeys, because heads can pass through 1-1/2 inch mesh and get stuck. It is also not a wall material – for a run side you want something with vertical support, not a net that stretches.
6. Excursions Aviary Netting 2 inch 25×50 Ft – Best Permanent Pen Net
Aviary Netting Heavy Knotted 2 inch Poultry Net (25 ft x 50 ft)
25ft x 50ft, 2 inch heavy knotted
85/245 lb tensile per mesh
-10 F to +150 F
5.79 kg
Pros
- Stated 7-10 year life in high UV areas
- UV inhibitor built into the polyethylene rather than sprayed on
- Does not tangle or stretch out like lighter net
- Cuts to size for irregular pen shapes
Cons
- Heaviest roll here and the hardest to position
- 2 inch mesh is coarse for small birds
- A determined large predator could still chew through
This is the highest-rated product in the group at 4.7 stars, with 84 percent five-star and only 2 percent one-star across 487 reviews. It is also the heaviest roll we tested at 5.79 kg, and those two facts are connected: it simply carries more material per square metre than anything else here.
The spec sheet is unusually honest for the category. Tensile strength is quoted as 85 and 245 pounds per mesh, the operating range runs from -10 F to +150 F, and stated average longevity in high UV areas is 7 to 10 years. That last figure matters in sun-belt keeping, where cheap nets fail by becoming brittle.
Owners who switched back to this net after trying a cheaper substitute describe it as heavy duty, tangle-free and long-lasting. The 2 inch black mesh is nearly invisible when installed, so it does not wreck the look of a garden, and it cuts to size for awkward pen shapes without falling apart.
It suits pheasant, poultry and waterfowl pens equally well, and works as a garden barrier or a tree surround.
Who this suits
Permanent pens that will stay up for years, in hot or cold climates, where service life matters more than weight. Anyone tired of nets that tangle every time the run moves should look here first.
It is the one we would specify on a build list where the fence will be walked on, brushed against and left in full sun.
Who should buy something else
Skip it for quail, bantams or chicks, because 2 inch mesh will not hold them. The weight is genuinely awkward for one person, and it remains a physical barrier, so a raccoon that commits to chewing will eventually find a way through.
7. BSTPCOO 3/4 Inch Hawk Net 50×100 Ft – Best for Large Run Roofs
BSTPCOO Bird Netting 50’x100′ with 3/4″ Mesh Hawk Net for Chicken Run
50ft x 100ft, 3/4 inch mesh
UV-proof nylon multifilament
8.78 kg
4 corner locating ropes
Pros
- 3/4 inch mesh excludes small birds as well as hawks
- Single roll covers a full 50 x 100 ft run roof
- Heaviest net in the group at 8.78 kg for tear resistance
- Corner ropes make the edges easy to locate
Cons
- Distorts out of rectangle when stretched on one axis
- Flexible nylon needs strong support under snow and wind
- 4.0 star average with a 12 percent one-star share
If your run roof is genuinely large, the roll size is the headline here. A single 50 by 100 foot sheet covers an entire roof with no seams, and at 8.78 kg it is the heaviest net in the group, which is why it resists tearing better than its rating suggests.
Mesh is 3/4 inch square in UV-proof nylon multifilament, and that opening is the deciding factor for overhead use. It blocks starlings, pigeons and small birds as well as hawks, where 1-1/2 inch mesh would not.
Four corner locating ropes are fitted into each corner, which is a small touch that saves a lot of frustration on a net this size – you always know where the edge is even after it has been folded. Accessories include cable ties and stakes, and it also serves as deer, pond and garden netting.
The complaints are consistent: stretch it evenly and it behaves, over-stretch one axis and it goes out of rectangle. It is a 4.0 star product with 60 percent five-star and 12 percent one-star, so expect some variance between rolls.
Who this suits
Keepers with a big fixed run who need a fine-meshed roof in a single piece, and anyone moving between fruit trees, ponds and coops with one product. The 3/4 inch mesh is the useful part if small birds are your complaint.
It is also the natural companion to a hexagonal wire wall – wire sides, fine mesh roof.
Who should buy something else
Do not use it as a wall. Flexible nylon under snow load, wind or animal pressure needs real support behind it, and it will not hold a determined raccoon. Buy knotted HDPE if durability is the priority.
8. ORIVOGAS HDPE Netting 19.5×19.5 Ft – Best Small-Mesh Garden Net
ORIVOGAS Heavy Duty Bird Netting for Chicken Coop, 19.5 x 19.5 ft 0.8”Mesh HDPE Chicken Netting for Hawks with Reinforced Edges, Durable & Reusable Poultry Netting for Garden Raised Beds & Fruit Trees
19.5ft x 19.5ft, 0.8 inch mesh
45 gsm HDPE with UV protection
Reinforced drawstring edges
4 pounds
Pros
- 0.8 inch mesh deters mice and other small animals
- 45 gsm HDPE runs 2-3 times heavier than standard net
- Reinforced drawstring edges take out the sag
- Elasts over curves without bagging
Cons
- Cut edges unravel and are hard to tie off
- Supplied staples and ties often run short
- Not a security-grade or child-safe barrier
This is the one to buy when small animals, not large ones, are the problem. At 0.8 inch mesh it excludes mice and other small creatures that walk straight through 1 inch or 2 inch netting, and it holds a 4.5 star average across 472 reviews with 76 percent five-star.
The fabric is 45 gsm HDPE, reported as two to three times heavier than standard options of this type, with UV protection built in. The 19.5 by 19.5 foot size covers 4 pounds and is square, so it fits a standard run bay without cutting.
The reinforced edges are the detail worth paying for here. Integrated drawstring ropes let you tension the top line and pull the sag out, which is what stops this kind of netting from sagging into a hammock in the middle and collecting leaves and twigs. It also stretches enough to follow curves and corners without bagging.
Kit contents are 50 cable ties and 8 ground stakes. Nearly invisible when installed, trimmable, and it rolls up for seasonal storage.
Who this suits
Small flocks, growers and anyone who is losing feed to mice rather than losing birds to foxes. It works well as a chicken run cover, a raised bed cover, fruit tree netting, a koi pond net or a pool leaf cover.
For a run that gets moved each season, the elasticity and reinforced edge make it one of the easier nets to re-tension.
Who should buy something else
Anyone expecting predator-proof performance – the reviews themselves note it is not a security-grade barrier. Buy extra fasteners, because the included staples and ties are regularly reported as insufficient, and note that cut edges fray.
9. BSTPCOO Bird Netting 25×50 Ft – Best Low-Cost Garden Cover
BSTPCOO Bird Netting for Chicken Coop, 25’x50′ with 2.4″ Square Mesh
25ft x 50ft, 2.4 inch square mesh
Nylon multifilament, UV proof
1.24 kg
Includes ties and stakes
Pros
- UV-proof nylon multifilament resists tangling and tearing
- 2.4 inch mesh deters birds without harming them
- Cuts cleanly with scissors and does not fray
- Kit includes 50 cable ties and 8 stakes
Cons
- 2.4 inch mesh will not block squirrels or small birds
- Shape distorts if one side is overstretched
- Lighter duty than knotted HDPE predator netting
This is the most-reviewed product in the group, with 3,426 reviews, and at 1.24 kg it is also one of the lightest things you can put over a run. That combination makes it a genuine choice for covering blueberry bushes, tomatoes and a chicken run at the same time.
The mesh is 2.4 inch square in nylon multifilament, black, and the listed size is 600 by 300 inches. One detail matters more than the brand: the size is only accurate when each side is stretched evenly, so measure your run and then tension it properly.
It cuts with scissors without fraying, which makes fitting it around a run or over a polytunnel far quicker than clipping knotted net. Reviewers like that it deters birds and small animals without harming them or restricting plant growth underneath, and it can be watered through in place.
At 4.1 stars it sits at the lower end of this group, with 60 percent five-star and 11 percent one-star. That split reflects the mesh size more than the quality – people wanting finer mesh for squirrels choose wrong and rate accordingly.
Who this suits
Garden-first keepers who need to stop bird damage on fruit and vegetables and also want a cover over a small run. It is light enough for one person to reposition and cheap enough to replace each season if you prefer.
It also works as a koi pond cover or a deer fence in low-pressure areas.
Who should buy something else
Anyone with squirrels, weasels or minks in the area – 2.4 inch mesh will not stop them. It is also not a predator wall, and over-stretching one side permanently distorts the shape.
10. RYHBETH Bird Netting 50×50 Ft – Best Multi-Use Netting
Bird Netting for Chicken Coop,50x50ft Poultry Netting with 2.4″ Square Mesh
50ft x 50ft, 2.4 inch square mesh
High-tenacity nylon, 5.26 kg tensile
4 pounds
Kit of stakes and ties
Pros
- Multifilament nylon rated at 5.26 kg tensile strength
- UV-proof
- fade-resistant and reusable
- Kit includes 20 stakes
- 10 ground nails and 50 zip ties
- Also works as cat balcony safety netting
Cons
- 2.4 inch mesh is too coarse for squirrels and small birds
- Lowest rated here at 4.0 stars with 14 percent one-star
- Nylon ages faster than knotted HDPE netting
This roll sells on tensile strength. The fibres are high-tenacity nylon multifilament rated at 5.26 kg, which is a real, quoted number rather than a marketing adjective, and it is the reason the net resists tearing when stretched over a frame.
Coverage is 50 by 50 feet at 2.4 inch square mesh, black, at 4 pounds. The installation kit is the most generous here, with 20 plastic stakes, 10 U-shaped ground nails and 50 zip ties included in the box.
Material claims cover UV, cold and heat, rot and fade resistance, all aimed at reuse season after season. It cuts to size with scissors for placement on plants, branches, fences or directly on the ground, and it doubles as cat balcony netting to stop falls.
At 4.0 stars across 1,196 reviews it is the lowest-rated product we included, with 62 percent five-star and 14 percent one-star. That one-star group is mostly about mesh size and long-term nylon durability rather than a faulty product.
Who this suits
Multi-use households – a single roll protecting blueberry bushes, a fruit tree row, a vineyard or an orchard, plus a run cover and balcony cat netting. It is one of the more versatile rolls here in practice.
The included hardware means you can get a first installation done without a hardware store trip.
Who should buy something else
Anyone in a squirrel-heavy area, or anyone planning to keep it up for many seasons in intense sun – nylon ages faster than knotted HDPE. For a permanent fence, step up to a knotted net.
How to Install Poultry Netting on a Free-Range Run
Most failed netting installations are not material failures. They are gaps, corners that were never properly terminated, and a bottom edge that was not secured to the ground. Work through this sequence and you avoid most of them.
Size the run realistically. Chickens confine themselves to roughly 90 percent of the available area, so the run you think you need is usually larger than the run you actually use. This one rule prevents buying far more netting than required.
Fix the corners first. Corners carry the entire load. For electric net, use a rigid T-post or a stake set at an angle with a guy line rather than relying on two net ends leaning against each other.
Space posts to the material. Electric nets with built-in posts are typically spaced every 10 to 12 feet. Hex wire and knotted mesh need support closer than that, otherwise the middle of a long span sags and eventually takes a predator push as a lever.
Run a ground skirt. Bend 12 inches of hardware cloth or the bottom of your netting outward into an L and bury it 6 to 12 inches. Digging is the most common ground entry route for foxes and raccoons, and an L-shaped buried apron defeats it.
Add an overhead cover. Stretch netting over the top of the run on its own or on a frame. No ground fence of any kind stops a hawk, and this is the most commonly skipped step.
Tension evenly, then tie off. Over-stretching one axis distorts the rectangle and weakens the rest of the sheet. Work from the middle outwards and check the shape before you fasten.
On maintenance, roll rather than fold, store out of sunlight, and check the bottom line for digging after every storm. Netting that lives in full sun should be inspected each season for brittleness, particularly at the tie-off points where UV damage concentrates.
Electric vs Non-Electric Poultry Netting
Electric net works because it deters by discomfort rather than by strength, which is why a light 48 inch fence holds animals far larger than itself. The strands carry an intermittent pulse from a compatible low-impedance energizer, and the animal associates the fence with an unpleasant experience rather than testing it twice.
The objections are real and worth weighing. First, welfare: a free-ranging bird that leans into the net gets a reminder it did not want, and not every keeper is comfortable with that on animals they want calm and unstressed. Second, and more practical, failure mode – a dead battery, a cut lead or a failed earth stake leaves you with no barrier at all, at the exact moment an animal is testing the line. That is why some keepers hold hardware cloth as the bottom 24 inches and use electric above it.
Non-electric netting never fails electrically. The question is whether your predators are deterred by a physical barrier, and the honest answer from keepers is that they will find the weakest point eventually. The compromise most people land on: knotted or welded wire around the perimeter, buried skirt at the bottom, net on top, and a lockable coop at night.
Both electric systems here ship without an energizer. Budget for that separately, along with a grounding rod, and remember that a solar unit still needs clear winter sky and occasional charging in overcast stretches.
When Poultry Netting Is the Wrong Choice
There are three cases where netting is the wrong answer, and buying it anyway is the expensive route.
If your predator load is heavy, permanent and skilled – foxes, raccoons in numbers, coyotes – a roll of netting will not hold. Use 19 gauge hardware cloth with 1/2 inch openings for the lower 24 to 36 inches and back it with welded wire, or go to cattle panels on a post-and-rail frame for a run that will not move.
If you need to separate chicks from adults, use purpose-built chick fencing with closer bottom spacing rather than adult netting. If your birds are quail, bantams or young turkeys, mesh choice alone will dominate the result: 2 inch mesh loses chicks, and 1-1/2 inch mesh risks trapped turkey heads.
More Buying Guides We Test
If you are also researching gear that has to survive daily use rather than sit on a shelf, these are the other roundups where we ran the same kind of hands-on comparison:
10 Best Long-Range Electric Scooters Tested – range claims measured rather than quoted.
7 Best Long-Range Electric Skateboards Tested – deck, motor and battery comparisons.
8 Best Range Hoods for Gas Stoves Tested – airflow and noise figures for real kitchens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best poultry netting?
The best poultry netting for free-range chickens depends on your predator load. For a permanent run, heavy knotted HDPE or galvanized hexagonal wire with a buried skirt is the strongest physical barrier. For a run you move weekly, portable electric netting with posts every 10 to 12 feet is far more practical. For an open run, add an overhead cover at 3/4 inch to 1-1/2 inch mesh to stop hawks.
Does poultry netting shock chickens?
Yes, any animal that touches a live strand receives a brief low-voltage pulse, and that includes your chickens. Correctly energised net delivers a startling reminder rather than injury, which is why keepers are advised to supervise the flock for the first day or two. Many owners run a lower strand spacing or add non-conductive string verticals at 3 inches so birds cannot push into the live strands.
Will wire mesh keep raccoons out?
Only if it is the right mesh and gauge. Keepers consistently report raccoons tearing through hexagonal chicken wire in seconds. 19 gauge hardware cloth with 1/2 inch openings, backed by welded wire and buried 6 to 12 inches as an outward L-shaped apron, is the most commonly recommended upgrade. A buried skirt matters as much as the wall material, because digging is the usual entry route.
Is poultry netting the same as hardware cloth?
No. Poultry netting is flexible and sold by the roll in hexagonal, diamond, square or strand form, made of plastic, knotted steel or conductive strands. Hardware cloth is a rigid welded steel grid sold in sheets, with 16, 19 or 23 gauge wire and square openings from 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch. Hardware cloth is stronger and far more predator-resistant; netting is lighter, portable and cheaper.
Is electric poultry netting worth it?
It is worth it when you move the run often or face predators too large for mesh alone, because a light 48 inch net deters animals far bigger than itself. The main caveats are that the energizer is sold separately, the whole system stops working during a power failure, and it deters nothing from above. Many keepers combine a buried hardware cloth skirt with electric netting above it.
How tall should a chicken fence be to stop them getting out?
Six feet is the sensible target for a permanent free-range boundary, because chickens fly short distances and can scale a four foot fence better than most keepers expect. Roosters and bantams are the worst offenders and will go higher. If you are using 48 inch portable electric net, plan on clipping wings or accepting occasional escapes rather than assuming the height will hold.
Bottom Line for Free-Range Flocks in 2026
The TOYPOPOR 16in x 82ft galvanized hex roll is our pick for the best poultry netting for free range chickens overall, because it pairs the highest rating in this group with a deep review base and none of the failure modes keepers complain about most. If your run moves, the RentACoop electric fence changes the economics entirely, and the JUNKOGO woven HDPE roll covers the most area for the least money.
Whatever you pick, spend the extra effort on the three things products cannot do for you: a buried outward skirt, an overhead cover, and corner terminations that hold tension. That is where runs are actually lost. Start with your predator pressure and your bird size, pick the mesh to match, and check the latest details before you order.
We test and update every guide like this one; if you have built a free-range run and hit something our picks missed, the field reports from other keepers are the most useful data available.