I like to let my chickens free-range, but I am noticing an issue. They really like to hang around in areas I don't want them hanging around in--the porch, on the cars, in the goats' feeders, the vegetable garden--and they ignore areas that would be really good foraging ground--the compost pile, around the hay stacks, under trees... So I'm thinking of making them a good size portable pen that I can move them around in, so they will stay out of the places I don't want them, and actually get out there and find food and get their lazy butts away from the grain bin, where they sit half the day hoping for a handout.
I know people are using electric netting with portable corral kits. That netting is super expensive though, so I'm trying to come up with something homemade. I have most of the parts from a portable electric horse corral, but it is made for six strands of electric wire, and I just don't see that holding chickens in, especially bantams or young birds. If I were to take the wire and weave verticals between the six strands, so it is sort of a net that they can't get through, could I hook the charger up to that and have a homemade electrical wire net? Or, what if I wove a non-conductive something through it to make a netting between the strands? I could make the pen that way without the electric, but I think it would be nice if I could hook that up too (I've got a battery powered charger) for extra security. I'm guessing that probably would not work, but it's a crazy thought I had. I have little money but tons of time and wire.
I know people are using electric netting with portable corral kits. That netting is super expensive though, so I'm trying to come up with something homemade. I have most of the parts from a portable electric horse corral, but it is made for six strands of electric wire, and I just don't see that holding chickens in, especially bantams or young birds. If I were to take the wire and weave verticals between the six strands, so it is sort of a net that they can't get through, could I hook the charger up to that and have a homemade electrical wire net? Or, what if I wove a non-conductive something through it to make a netting between the strands? I could make the pen that way without the electric, but I think it would be nice if I could hook that up too (I've got a battery powered charger) for extra security. I'm guessing that probably would not work, but it's a crazy thought I had. I have little money but tons of time and wire.