Your experience - how effective is electric netting for free ranging during the day?

[Scatterknit]

I'm working through a plan to have a flock of free range layers. (About 50). I want to rotate the birds from pasture to pasture after some cattle that will also be rotating pastures.

I have a mobile coop that's about 10' by 4'. I plan to put up a perimeter of electric fencing (100' x 100' square) around the mobile coop. I'll close up the birds in the coop in the evening and open the door back up in the morning. They'll be able to go in and out of (and under) the mobile coop during the day.

Can folks share their experience on electric netting and how effective you think it would be in this scenario?

I'm trying to decide whether I should add a second layer of protection, e.g. an attack donkey or something similar.

Or to scrap the plan and just build permanent fencing with a hot wire around the base and at the top.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Ever hear of Roundup resistant crops? Sorry to break it to you, but if you buy food at the supermarket, you are eating those foodstocks, treated with Roundup. It's practically in everything. So unless you are growing your own food supply, you are eating Roundup, Enjoy.

I think that JackE and I are both singing off the same page in the hymn book.

Not only that but RoundUp herbicide is used before and sometimes during the production of non GMO food crops. The real scientific facts of the matter is that GMOs and RoundUp are much better for the environment than any of the old timey methods of farming that I have engaged in or witnessed.

In order to better understand how the forces of ignorance are attempting to force a new Dark Ages down onto the back of Western Civilization, read and research how the new Barbarians used half truths, and bald-faced lies to discredit Monsanto. The one thing that these New Barbarians disagree with Monsanto about is that the company is a for profit company instead of some Marxists Production Committee. A old Russian joke from the Soviet days said that if Saudi Arabia adopted International Socialism that in 3 years the Arabs would have a sand shortage.

This is the end-game of the radical environmentalist. Respectfully, their goal is to cull the human flock via hunger, famine, and pestilence. Doubt it not because the Radical Greens are always pining for a new HIV or Small Pox epidemic to break out.

Here is the repudiation of the RoundUp study.

http://www.geneticliteracyproject.o...lini-inside-the-mind-of-the-anti-gm-movement/

Believe what ever it is that you wish to believe, but realize what the end-game is of those who would trick the gullible into self destruction.

 

[Helg]

Round up is a known carcinogen. Monsanto will deny it but the evidence is there unless you talk to one of their scientists. My point is that it will end up in your birds, eggs and you if you consume them.

 

[CrazyTalk]

I'm very aware of round up ready poisoned foodstuffs. That's what the labeling controversy is all about. Unfortunately it takes a real effort to eat safely in this country now. Most of the politicians are in Monsantos pocket. The FDA and EPA no longer protect the consumer. The laws are I enacted to protect the corporations. I seek out Organics at every level of the food chain. More expensive but I consider it good life insurance for my family and planet.

This isn't the thread for this.

Roundup is an effective, safe means to clear fence lines - but as centrachid said - one of the main benefits of poultry netting is you can move it. There's no sense killing the grass underneath the fence line if the line is going to be moving regularly. Just mow tight before you move the fence to an area.


Also, aerosolized vinegar is a pretty bad respiratory irritant.

 

[perryspatti]

This may not be the thread for this, and I had planned to let it die. However,Roundup may be "safe" for your family. I however choose to do my gardening in shorts and tee shirt. without using protections that are suggested by Monsanto. And I would never subject my chickens to anything that I don't want myself. I even stopped buying eggs from one farmer a few years ago due to his use of said product. My family, my opinion.

 

[WthrLady]

Towing the flaming locomotive from the cliff edge and putting it back on the track.....

I just received my Premier fencing electric fence. I ordered the graduated 4 foot tall fence in white, and ordered the gate kit, and also ordered the extra heavy duty corner posts. In for a penny, in for a pound, eh?

Now I just need to find the time to put it up. Right now we are only allowing free ranging while under direct supervision. Even then, though, it is a race to see who can make it to the compost pile first before mommy gets the stick. Sigh... why oh why is a pile of yuck SO attractive to them?! Forget mealworms... rotting compost!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I take the sag out with these. Just get a stick with a fork on it and prop the netting up so it doesn’t touch the ground and short out. Just don’t raise the netting enough to let critters crawl under. That bottom strand is not hot.

 

[centrarchid]

I do it but have a second (cover within fenced area) and third (dogs) layer of protection. Fence alone, especially with out cover and good rooster is going to get you harvested by hawks at some point.

 

[Scatterknit]

I do it but have a second (cover within fenced area) and third (dogs) layer of protection. Fence alone, especially with out cover and good rooster is going to get you harvested by hawks at some point.

How is your cover constructed?

 

[centrarchid]

Brambles, high grass, groves of sumac and other plants cannot approach chickens through or under while in flight. I have some pens tipped up, but they are so small hawks can flush chickens out where they a vulnerable.