Dogs and Electric Fences

[Roscoe2k2]

Good thread! I successfully used Premier1 poultry electronet for 2 years. Until my birds started making daily excursions over the fence. No amount of clipping would keep them in. I had the higher fencing. When the birds ranged outside the electronet, they were vulnerable to hawk attack. I lost 3 full sized birds in a very short time. Always outside the electronet. This forced me to change up my management style. I built a 500 s.f. run, which was covered with bird netting in the non snow season. Birds were still vulnerable during snow season, as I had a hawk swoop down into the run to get a chicken. Now, I have the summer run, with deer netting over it. The winter run is a single bay of that run that has welded wire fencing and green house tarp over it. I still have the electronetting, and envision putting it up in a configuration that would allow me to stretch bird netting over the top of it.

I a

 

[Roscoe2k2]

Good thread! I successfully used Premier1 poultry electronet for 2 years. Until my birds started making daily excursions over the fence. No amount of clipping would keep them in. I had the higher fencing. When the birds ranged outside the electronet, they were vulnerable to hawk attack. I lost 3 full sized birds in a very short time. Always outside the electronet. This forced me to change up my management style. I built a 500 s.f. run, which was covered with bird netting in the non snow season. Birds were still vulnerable during snow season, as I had a hawk swoop down into the run to get a chicken. Now, I have the summer run, with deer netting over it. The winter run is a single bay of that run that has welded wire fencing and green house tarp over it. I still have the electronetting, and envision putting it up in a configuration that would allow me to stretch bird netting over the top of it.

I a

As per BYC's worst predator survey, dogs are one of the most serious predators of chickens. We see posts on this topic almost daily. Most responses run towards the SSS (shoot, shovel and shut up) solution, with sentiments leaning towards killing the dogs. I can appreciate the sentiment, but my problem with that is it generally happens after the fact. My preference is to get ahead of the issue and do things to avoid the need to whack my neighbors dog in the first place. BTW, this is not a new issue. The phrase "a dog is a man's best friend" was coined during a civil case revolving around the shooting of a neighbor's dog. The case of "Old Drum". Circa 1869.

https://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/education/olddrum/StoryofBurdenvHornsby

I might be BYC's biggest advocate of using electric fences. My experience with them goes back decades, but only recently have I adapted them to use for protecting my birds. In my experience, they work and work well. My neighbor's dog made a play for the birds early on, hit the fence, let out a yelp and has never been back. That is my solution to dealing with the neighbor's dogs. No shooting, no shoveling and no shouting. Quite, peaceful enjoyment......and all my birds are still alive.

So here is how I did it. A four wire fence, bottom wire 5 inches or so off the deck. Remaining wires staggered about 5 inches or so off the deck. Top wire no more than 20 inches or so high. Most adults can simply step over it.

View attachment 1202918

Dogs (and other predators like foxes and coyotes) encounter this and try to crawl under or through it and get themselves zapped in the process. As in serious, high voltage pain. 7,000 volts plus. That will deter almost any of them.

Reaction is like this:

There are many variations on this theme, from using wire or the white poly tape fence or rope.....or electric poultry netting. I have found my wire to be easiest to maintain, but all will work.

Again, my experience is this is a safe and effective way to open up yard space to allow the birds freedom to roam about, yet lift the burden and worry of the predator threat. I've lost track of the number of dogs I've seen running loose in the yard, yet to date, I've never lost any birds to them. I chalk up nearly 100% of that success to the fence shown above.

What I would like to see with this thread is testimonials from other growers. Those using also using fences to protect your birds. How you have them setup (pictures please!), and success or failures using them.

My biggest worry is overhead predators more than anything.I have cats that part a

As per BYC's worst predator survey, dogs are one of the most serious predators of chickens. We see posts on this topic almost daily. Most responses run towards the SSS (shoot, shovel and shut up) solution, with sentiments leaning towards killing the dogs. I can appreciate the sentiment, but my problem with that is it generally happens after the fact. My preference is to get ahead of the issue and do things to avoid the need to whack my neighbors dog in the first place. BTW, this is not a new issue. The phrase "a dog is a man's best friend" was coined during a civil case revolving around the shooting of a neighbor's dog. The case of "Old Drum". Circa 1869.

https://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/education/olddrum/StoryofBurdenvHornsby

I might be BYC's biggest advocate of using electric fences. My experience with them goes back decades, but only recently have I adapted them to use for protecting my birds. In my experience, they work and work well. My neighbor's dog made a play for the birds early on, hit the fence, let out a yelp and has never been back. That is my solution to dealing with the neighbor's dogs. No shooting, no shoveling and no shouting. Quite, peaceful enjoyment......and all my birds are still alive.

So here is how I did it. A four wire fence, bottom wire 5 inches or so off the deck. Remaining wires staggered about 5 inches or so off the deck. Top wire no more than 20 inches or so high. Most adults can simply step over it.

View attachment 1202918

Dogs (and other predators like foxes and coyotes) encounter this and try to crawl under or through it and get themselves zapped in the process. As in serious, high voltage pain. 7,000 volts plus. That will deter almost any of them.

Reaction is like this:

There are many variations on this theme, from using wire or the white poly tape fence or rope.....or electric poultry netting. I have found my wire to be easiest to maintain, but all will work.

Again, my experience is this is a safe and effective way to open up yard space to allow the birds freedom to roam about, yet lift the burden and worry of the predator threat. I've lost track of the number of dogs I've seen running loose in the yard, yet to date, I've never lost any birds to them. I chalk up nearly 100% of that success to the fence shown above.

What I would like to see with this thread is testimonials from other growers. Those using also using fences to protect your birds. How you have them setup (pictures please!), and success or failures using them.

 

[Roscoe2k2]

I a

My biggest worry is overhead predators more than anything.I have cats that part a

Seems like my iresponse gets cut....sorrry folks...I'd love the idea of free range.....I'd have to make a tractor
The cats only want to get a stray mouse....I'm learning.

 

[flappychicken]

My biggest worry is overhead predators more than anything.I have cats that part a

Cats? I have never worried about cat's getting chickens.

 

[drumstick diva]

Cats are more likely to go after chicks - they prefer helpless targets. Adult chickens can put up a good fight especially if they do it en masse.

 

[Folly's place]

Cats are happy to have chicks, if they aren't protected. Big birds are another story! There are stories here about very tough cats getting older chickens, but it's rare.
Mary

 

[alibabba]

Cats I have never worried about cat's getting chickens.

It'd have to be a serious cat, poss Maine Coon. Any cat i see likes to watch from a distance. Chickens will chase a cat off, in my experience, it's very funny.

But little chicks roaming without a Broody, would be an issue.

 

[alibabba]

"I grew up successfully around hotwire several decades ago, and by measures of those that know me, everything turned out OK with no mental scars directly attributable to getting shocked. My young kids (6 an 4) are well adjusted to fencing and it have helped expand their vocabulary and technical thinking."

Yes.perfectly safe. My kids touch it for fun. 6,9, 11,15.

I bumped my bottom into it many times on the horse farm where I worked. Surprising, but not the least painful more like a static electric shock.

 

[alibabba]

Good stuff. We are getting a chain link fence installed 12 X 24, 6' high and buried a foot. Also covered with chain link for hawks. We plan on putting hardware cloth 2 or 3 feet high, and electric around the outside. 1 strand or 2? Could use some help on what I may have wrong.

 

[alibabba]

How high should the 2 strands of electric be ? I like the idea of hardware cloth. 2' should do it.

All that Digging and expense. seems really excessive. Doesn't need to be. Strand wire keeps Grizzly Bears out of garbage cans and dumpsters...

Personally, I like to move my fence around and don't want to dig up the yard.

I have a strand at first stop on welded wire, about 4 in. and another at about 14 in. give or take. Has not been breached in 4 years. I worry about weasels, they are here, but not prevelent. Eventually I need to get the bottom meshed, plastic would be fine I am sure, til they try to weasel and chew, they'll hit the electric.

Imho. With electric fence you could have a toilet paper fence and it's not getting breached.