Complete dog proofing

[JackE]

I have the 4' high Permanet, and it is up year round. We've had some snow this year. I've found that if the snow is powdery, I can easily clear it with a broom. But, if we get the wet heavy snow, and then a freeze like we've had this year, I couldn't really do anything with it. Just had to unplug and let it be like a regular fence. My birds don't like snow, and they chose to stay in the coop for over a week. I cleared a area for them, and some of them came out and milled around under the coop. I was a bit worried about maybe a fox taking advantage of the de-energised fence. But my theory is, that they have been shocked in the face more than a couple of times, and they have a healthy respect for the fence, so they stay away. At least, that's what I hope. I much rather have the fence energised. I saw a buddy's dog try it out once, and he didn't go within 50yrds of the fence,for the rest of the visit. Stayed waaaaaaaaaay back.

 

[Beekissed]

Winter would be the only draw back. I wonder if the posts could be extended for those times where the fence is out of the snow and can then be energized. Electric fences around cattle fields stay energized in deep snow, don't they? I'd think they would have even more juice when wet.

My dog accidentally brushed against it with his muzzle and screamed like he'd been shot and wouldn't come near it again...couldn't even make him come near it.

 

[Alaskan]

In the winter when our electric horse fence would start to get buried.... If we wanted the shock to stay strong we would have to route the electric to only those wires that were completely above the snow. Also, in wet snow falls, where the snow would stick to the fence wire, you had to walk the fence and pop it off.

The snow conducts the electric off of the fence and so can make it completely worthless.

 

[Sonya9]

You could surround a large area a lot easier with electrified poultry net. No digging in, no expense and effort of constructing a apron for a fence. Just step the fence in, energise it, and be done. I've had my fence up going on three yrs now. I get stray dogs, fox, coon, just about everything short of a bear, and haven't had a loss. I started with 300', and liked it so much, I bought 300' more. One taste of the fence, and the pred forgets all about chicken dinner. Check it out in the link below.


http://www.premier1supplies.com/fencing.php?mode=detail&fence_id=93

Yeah I just bought an electric poultry fence yesterday, should arrive tomorrow. For dogs an electric net would give more piece of mind than wire fencing. I have 6 dogs and believe me I know! I bought from http://www.kencove.com/fence/Electric+Net+Fencing_products.php

They were super nice and the nets are made in the U.S.

Op if you decide to go that route and buy separate pieces (i.e. the net, a charger, etc...) you really might want to call and have them help you with that. I have run hotwire and radio fence before but if I hadn't called when I placed my order I would have been missing some little necessary clamps and such. I would have been upset to have ordered and then ended up frustrated when I missed buying some crucial clips or wiring.

They talked to me about the setup and helped me choose the best and most cost efficient charger for our situation.

 

[soccergirl83]

Sounds like electric nets or wire in addition would really help. I will definitely look into getting wire at least.

 

[Beekissed]

The thing is, not many chickens are going to be using the run in snow deep enough to disable your fence, so it's a moot point probably. One could use the electrified run for all the good foraging months and then have a winter penning situation that was under cover and spacious enough for them to get exercise, use deep litter in that area so they have healthy footing all winter and then reopen the big run when snows were off the ground.

Your charger could be doing double duty during those months as you can hot wire your winter pen with regular electric fence wire at places where preds were most likely to try to enter and use your heavy duty fencing ideas in that smaller winter holding area.

 

[The Lazy L]

Take the suggest steps to secure your coop and run AND use a live animal trap. Catch and call Animal control for pickup.

 

[soccergirl83]

Some of the dogs are very large, like the lab I saw this morning was probably 80+ lbs. I don't think trapping these dogs will help - clearly the owners feel no responsibility to keep them penned. I would rather spend 300 dollars on a secure fence then 300 on a huge trap to catch one dog while his buddy continues to try to gain entry. But thank you for your suggestion. I just think I need to deal with a large number of unleashed dogs from the neighborhood nearby. It's got to be Fort Chickenopolis!

I'm pricing out the cost of netting and its not too bad.

I still wanted to know if anyone has experience with chickens getting stressed to the point of not laying by dogs pacing the fence? Even with electricity I imagine coming home to dogs "spectating" at the fence, even if they can't get in. Do you think my ladies will get used to their admirers or will the bounty of amorous attentions give them the vapors?

 

[Alaskan]

I think they will get used to it.

I have only had drops in egg production after actual loss from predators, or the dogs "playing with" but not killing chickens.

 

[JackE]

When my buddy's dog "Tested" the fence, a lot of the chickens were standing about 8' or so, on the other side looking at him running back and forth barking like a maniac. I think it bothered ME more than the birds. I believe they (The chickens) had seen plenty of visitors at the fence's edge, and did not seem all that concerned about it. Because once the visitor got into the fence, they were gone.