The Fence Post

Top Netting used at the Birmingham Zoo 

Notice how this netting is attached to a 12.5 gauge woven 2" x 4" mesh fence

You have a collection of valuable birds you want to contain within a certain area. You want the birds to be safe from predatory birds from above. You want to cover a large area. You want a high ceiling or open roof. Installation needs to be as easy, safe, and as fast as possible. The material you use must be soft and flexible, enough so that the birds will not hurt themselves when they come in contact with the netting while they are in flight.

What can satisfy all these requirements?

Flight Pen Top Netting - long life and easy to use

Used by zoos, commercial game bird farms, animal rehabilitation, and backyard hobbyists. The multiple strands of woven black polypropylene provide protection for your birds. Here's a list of the benefits:

• Rolls are lightweight and easy to handle
• Support structure can be less robust, less expensive
• Large size rolls make it easier to cover large areas
• No need to make a patchwork of smaller rolls
• Flexibility makes top net softer - less chance of injuring yourself and your birds
• Available in a wide variety of roll sizes, weight, and mesh sizes
• UV resistant for long life
• Top net will not rust
• Mesh is resistant to mildew and rot

Do you have any birds that need safety and protection?

  

The 122 acre Birmingham Zoo draws more than 500,000 visitors a year, making it Alabama's most popular attraction. On February 5th I was treated to a fascinating tour of the facility by Jeff Pribble, the Zoological Manager of Birds. He cares for and manages more than 90 different species of birds - over 400 in number. The zoo is on its way to a goal of 100 species. Such species as the Bali Mynah, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Secretary Bird, and Double-wattled Cassowary are on display in clean, informatively labeled, well-maintained environments that reflect their natural habitats.

Using Netting and Mesh

The Birmingham Zoo uses a variety of meshes in its displays and around the grounds. Vinyl coated welded wire meshes are used in the displays as well as in safety insert panels along walkways, railings, and fences. Woven polypropylene top netting is often used for the tops of the displays. For the bigger displays containing larger birds, woven 2" x 4" mesh is used. A fine woven zoo mesh is also used for the displays of some of the smaller birds.

A World-Class Resource

Along with this fine avian section, the zoo also features a $15 million Children's Zoo displaying the urban and rural wild animals and environs of Alabama. Work on the Trails of Africa is currently underway. Featuring a cultural and botanical "immersion-themed motif", this promises to be a "world-class community asset". The zoo also features two small trains that carry passengers on a 3/4 mile loop throughout the zoo.

 Jeff Pribble & Duncan Page

 If you're in the Birmingham area, be sure to visit!

Do you want to keep your birds or poultry safely contained inside the pen?

Careful Installation 

Have you purchased or are you considering purchasing a woven net to cover the top of your bird or poultry pen?

The potential for problems comes from the fact that any woven material is subject to distortion unless handled properly. Woven netting is lightweight and flexible and particularly subject to being pulled out of shape. Unless it is installed correctly, a 20' x 50' piece of netting will lose its ability to cover a 20' x 50' pen.

When the roll is opened it is longer than its stated length. As it is installed correctly, this length will shorten to its proper dimension.

Avoiding Problems

How do you install it? The following steps can help you avoid problems and do the job right.

1. Stretch one end of the roll out to its full width.                                                                                                     
2. Fasten one end of the top netting to one end of the pen.                                                                                   
3. Starting from this fastened end, pull out only a few feet on each side.                                                               
4. Secure the footage you have pulled out to each side of your pen. It is very important to attach the sides before stretching the next length. Do not over tighten the netting.                                                                     
5. Pull out another few feet.                                                                                                                                     
6. Fasten this footage to each side.                                                                                                                        
7. Continue down each side of the pen a few feet at a time.                                                                                   
8. Be sure to fasten both sides of what you have pulled out before moving on.                                                     
9. This is crucial. Failure to do this can result in a distorted piece of netting that won't cover the entire pen. 
10. When you reach the other end of your enclosure, attach the remaining end of the netting to the structure.

Attach Top Net to the pen sides using hog rings or safety ties for attaching to wire or staples for attaching to wood.

When properly installed, the stated size of the rolls will cover a pen of the same dimensions.

Keeping your pens safe--

Are you raising game birds, poultry or other birds as a business or a hobby? Then you want to make sure your birds are protected with a good netting for the tops of your flight pens.

Known variously as flight pen top netting, top rite netting, aviary netting and game bird netting, these woven and knotted products provide both the protection your birds need and the peace of mind you get from knowing your birds are safe.

This Strong Top Netting:

• is lightweight
• easy to work with and install
• can be fastened together and repaired with hog rings, safety ties or lacing cord
• large pieces are available for your convenience 
• no need to piece together smaller sizes in order to cover a large area
• will not rust
• resistant to mildew
• UV stabilized for protection from the sun
• flexible to prevent injury to your birds
• acts as a physical barrier to both keep your birds inside the pen and protect them from predators

Woven - Flight Pen Top Netting 

These are the netting products most commonly used. They are woven from multiple strands of black, UV stabilized polypropylene.

• Mesh sizes available: 1/2", 1", 1-1/2" and 2" hexagonal openings. 

• Weights available (based on tensile strengths): Light , Medium and Heavy.

• Widths available: 6', 6-1/2', 12', 12-1/2', 25', 50' and 100'.

• Lengths available: 50', 100'' and 150'

Knotted - Flight Pen Top Netting

These products are the strongest and heaviest nettings available. Strands of polyethylene cord are knotted in a diamond mesh pattern.

• Mesh sizes available: 1" and 2"

• Weight available: Extra Heavy

• Widths available: 26' and 52'

• Length available: 155'

With so many sizes to choose from, you can be sure that there is a flight pen top netting product that will work for you.