Protecting My Peafowl
My peafowl will now be safe from predators in their enclosure.
Recently, I shared photos of a big project underway in my peafowl yard. I wanted to install fencing above the pen to keep the peacocks and peahens safe. The first step was to move the coop 25-feet toward the center of the space, so it could support the new wire fencing. Once that was complete, our friends from Garon Fence Co. Inc. in nearby Bedford, Hills, came in to do their part - secure strong steel posts around the perimeter of the yard, attach cables to brackets on the coop roof, and then spread strong fence fabric to cover the entire area. It was a big undertaking, but it is comforting to know it will keep my beautiful birds free from harm.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Earlier this month, I showed you how we moved the peafowl coop a short distance using an old fashion method of rolling the structure over aluminum poles into its desired place. Here is the coop just before it was moved.
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- Here, it has already moved several feet into place – one can see the designated footprint. Pete uses a jack to move the aluminum poles where needed.
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- And here is the coop in its new spot – the center of the peafowl pen. My property manager, Doug White, and I devised a plan that would allow this structure to support wire fencing above the space in order to keep wild predators from getting in.
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- We used the team from Garon Fence Co. to put up the new fence top. I’ve used Garon for other projects. This company put up the fencing around my peafowl yard a couple of years ago. They also replaced the fence around my chicken coops.
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- The first step is to dig holes for the steel posts. Each post hole is dug four feet deep – all by hand.
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- These are the galvanized steel posts. They are 14-feet tall and will be buried four feet into the ground. These are made for strength, durability, and corrosion resistance.
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- After the posts are secured and leveled in the concrete, they’re left to dry thoroughly.
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- A total of 14-posts are secured around the enclosure.
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- Next, Garon Fence Co. foreman, Raul, below, installs a steel bracket just under the peak of the coop roof.
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- Here is one fully installed. There is one on each end of the peafowl coop roof. This will support the cable that will hold up the fence fabric.
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- The cable is then run from each of the posts to the brackets on the coop.
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- This is 316 gauge cable. It is corrosion resistant and can hold more than 330-pounds.
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- Here is a view from the side showing how the cable is attached to the brackets in the center of the yard.
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- The next step is to install the fence fabric. This is 4×4 inch wire fencing. Each roll is 60-inches wide and 200-feet long.
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- The fence fabric is carefully spread over the cables from the center out.
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- It takes several crew members to carefully unroll the fence fabric and attach it to the posts.
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- At first it looks a bit wavy, but as it is installed, the tension is increased and it is pulled taut.
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- They secure it with these chain link fence wire ties, also known as chain link hook ties, or chain link fence tie wires. They are constructed from a heavy duty bendable gauge wire.
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- The wire ties are placed along the edge of the fence fabric, attaching one strip to the next.
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- Here is a section showing how it overlaps and connects to the next strip. It is a large pen, so the fence fabric must be installed carefully.
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- The entire project takes a couple of weeks to complete. This photo is taken from my stable hayloft. It shows how the brackets hold up and support the fence fabric above the roof of the coop.
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- Here is another view from the ground looking up – the fence fabric does not touch the roof at all, but helps to support it, so it won’t sag from heavy snow cover.
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- And here is one side all done. I think my peafowl will be very happy with their improved enclosure. I am glad it will keep them safe from wild, hungry animals.
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