Tips for setting up netting successfully

On occasion someone will call in or email and ask "my net is sagging, what can I do?" There are a few options for setting up netting and reducing sag, we'll go over them below.

1. Added posts: For folks who already have the net in their possession and need a little "lift" added posts are their best option. They can be placed anywhere in the net for support. The downside is removing them before moving the net. It is possible to fold and roll the posts in with the net, depending on the post. Posts with multiple clips attached quickly make a nuisance of themselves by becoming snagged on other sections of the net.   


2. Resetting the net: When I set net, I only use posts for added support at corners, if needed. I can usually sneak by with no posts. How? Practice. Also working at Premier has honed my net setting skills. A major help at corners or for straightening sagging net is post placement. Instead of sticking the post into the ground straight up/down at a corner, stick it in at an angle so the top of the post leans away from the corner. The added tension will remove even the most stubborn of sags. 


3. Spike placement: When setting the net, move the spike with your foot for added tension, then stick it into the ground.  


4. Plus Nets: Nets with the term Plus after the name (ex. PoultryNet Plus) have additional posts built into the netting. The closer spacings reduce the amount of sagging between posts (which in turn aids in reducing ground to wire contact). The added posts increase the overall weight and bulkiness of the net, so we shortened the total length (not height). PoultryNet 12/42/3 weighs 1.5 lbs per 10' of net, whereas PoultryNet 12/42/3 Plus weighs 2.1 lbs per 10' of net. Plus nets are shorter in order to be lighter and less bulky, so they're more manageable for the user. An added benefit to Plus nets is their ability to handle corners and curves better than regular nets. 

Post spacing comparison. The net in the back is PoultryNet Plus net with added built-in posts. Net in the foreground is regular PoultryNet. 

The first three options cover what you can do with net you already have. If you're planning on purchasing net, look into using a Plus net for areas with corners and curves.