BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[southernmomma]

@Turk Raphael

I'm sure you're terribly busy, you're life sounds complicated, but would you care to share the latest stats of your Dark Cornish? Could you be persuaded to share photos as well as current weights and general disposition?

M

 

[southernmomma]

Quote:
Yuck, lol...

Are you tracking weights at all? You have a trifecta of meat birds, heritage and hybrid~ care to postulate?

M

 

[gjensen]

Is electronet a possible solution?

I would be interested in first-hand accounts of its effectiveness (or lack thereof). I'm trying to figure out how to create the largest amount of space for the least amount of $. Using electronet for large rotating paddocks is an option I'm considering. Perhaps even in conjunction with one or more side of permanent fence.

M

Electronet has a good reputation for effectiveness. Consider the cost vs. it's lifespan. Also consider the labor etc. For some it is worth it. I never bought into the idea, but does not mean that in a different scenario, I would not have.

What turned me off was the expected lifespan. I decided it was not worth the investment long term. I prefer permanent fencing.

It would cost about 2400.00 to fence an acre. You could get it done for less or more. Farmers market bulletins sometimes has someone with cedar posts pretty cheap. This does not include cross fencing. It may be that you would rather spend 400.00 and have the flexibility that netting offers. I was going to be installing a boundary fence, and partitioning sections for the birds was less than fencing the whole.

Just some things that I considered.

What the big picture looks like is probably the biggest player.

 

[southernmomma]

It does certainly sound effective....but you're right to bring up the lifespan of the product. 10 grazing seasons translates to how much continual use? I don't know, maybe a couple of years.

I've done some quick reading. It sounds a little labor intensive.....I would need to mow a swath each time I moved it, which I hadn't considered. I could perhaps use it to separate small groups, as a divider between permanent fences, etc, but I'm not so sure of it's use in a wooded lot or other unmaintained areas.

M

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote:
Is electronet a possible solution?

I would be interested in first-hand accounts of its effectiveness (or lack thereof). I'm trying to figure out how to create the largest amount of space for the least amount of $. Using electronet for large rotating paddocks is an option I'm considering. Perhaps even in conjunction with one or more side of permanent fence.

M

It does certainly sound effective....but you're right to bring up the lifespan of the product. 10 grazing seasons translates to how much continual use? I don't know, maybe a couple of years.

I've done some quick reading. It sounds a little labor intensive.....I would need to mow a swath each time I moved it, which I hadn't considered. I could perhaps use it to separate small groups, as a divider between permanent fences, etc, but I'm not so sure of it's use in a wooded lot or other unmaintained areas.

M

I have electric netting I purchased thru Premier. While I do not fence off a large area it works well to enclose 1.3 of my acre lot. I am able to move it easily so they get on fresh grass & it effectively keeps stray dogs, coons & fox away & keep the chickens (including chicks) in

 

[Fentress]

I have electric netting I purchased thru Premier. While I do not fence off a large area it works well to enclose 1.3 of my acre lot. I am able to move it easily so they get on fresh grass & it effectively keeps stray dogs, coons & fox away & keep the chickens (including chicks) in

I'm starting my third year and have not lost a bird to a four legged predator.(Nock on wood), with electro-net. So far I can not see any signs of significant wear and tear. Storing out of the way of mice, I have heard is important. I used some just as a physical barrier around a garden, without it being charged, and something ate on it, resulting in minor damaged that can be fixed/patched. It's great if you want to be mobile, it allows you to fully utilize resources on your property. If I had significant acreage, I would try two hot wires, and then move the birds around within that perimeter. Two wires would not be as effective as electronet, but I think it would be cheaper. I think the netting is great for smaller back yard flocks, so many people stop keeping chickens because of predators, sometimes I get a little preachy about the benefits netting.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Is electronet a possible solution?

I would be interested in first-hand accounts of its effectiveness (or lack thereof). I'm trying to figure out how to create the largest amount of space for the least amount of $. Using electronet for large rotating paddocks is an option I'm considering. Perhaps even in conjunction with one or more side of permanent fence.

M

Quote: I also use electronet and have been happy with it. Bought mine in 2012 and then added a few more lengths to it since then. I use the solar charger.

It's true that you have to mow under it from time to time. But it is very flexible. Not for winter snow, however.

 

[colburg]

Quote:
I have the orchard, but only 1 cow and 3 calves on 20 acres. Our eventual plan is to use solar hotwire to mob graze the cattle, followed by the chickens in a mobile coop with electro-netting about 3-4 days after. With the vegetation have in the orchard this year, I think we need about 30-40 head of cattle(or 20 cow/calf pairs) followed by 200 chickens. Our biggest problem is that when it rains on our clay soil, the cows leave huge footprints in the orchard, which can just about ruin harvest in December. We're in the process of letting the bermuda and koicha take over the orchard floor, but even that won't stop the giant foot prints from forming. We have about 3 acres of pasture we can put the cows on when it rains(which isn't too often) but moving them every time storm clouds build up doesn't seem feasible.

 

[southernmomma]

@armorfirelady , @Fentress , @Leahs Mom ~ What great feedback! Thanks so much. It sounds like it might be something I could utilize; maybe not all the time but it might let me free-range over a greater area while we work towards a permanent boundary. I think it might be a valuable tool to combine within a greater perimeter fence....and I'm glad to read that it holds up under continual use~ going strong after 3 years seems considerable to me.

@colburg ~ sorry about that, I got y'all mixed up. It sounds like you're working towards an integrated system. It's what I hope to achieve as well although on a smaller scale. You're considering a 1:1 cow:acreage and then a 1:10 cow:chicken ratio, is that right? How are you arriving at those numbers? It fascinates me more than a little and because I really want to create a food web of sorts I enjoy hearing about the process.

M

 

[bramblefir]

We use the electric netting to mob "browse" the goats on the invasive blackberries taking over the property. It keeps them in (which says a lot) and the few dogs that have touched it have not wanted to go anywhere near it again. This is our first year using it, but it's holding up really well considering how often we get it tangled in the blackberries.

Setup is easiest with two people and you do need to mow where the fence will be to keep it from shorting. It's also really important to keep it hot. Ours has at least 6000v running through it and all of the animals keep a safe distance. It did take a little while for the Nubians to figure out where their ears were in relation to the fence.