Electric fence netting

[costello]

I have several questions for those with experience with Premier's electric fence netting. They have a number of options, and I don't want to spend money on things that don't improve its usefulness. I've decided to go with the white PoultryNet Plus (so that's two decisions out of the way). Other options I'm hoping people can weigh in on:

1. 42" vs. 48"? I think my chickens could fly over either. (And my main concern right now is confining them. I posted in predators and pests, because this looked like the best place to put this question.) I'm assuming I'll have to clip their wings with either height. Is there an advantage one way or the other?

2. Single spike vs. double spike? The double spike looks like it might be more stable, but I also have very rocky soil. The thought of having to drive twice as many spikes into the ground - each time risking an encounter with a rock - isn't appealing. I'll do it if there's a benefit.

3. Length/Kits. The kits all come with 164' fencing. That's way too long for my needs. That would nearly enclose my entire property. Should I skip the kit thing and buy a shorter length? If the fencing you have is too long for the area, can it be folded or rolled in some way to shorten it?

I'm working with a very challenging space. It includes many trees, a slope, and no one area with a large square or rectangle could be made. 50' seems too short for an adequate area. (I have six hens.) But 100' may be too long.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[aquagolda]

first of all DONT clip there wings because if a predator comes in they cant fly away and if you want to clip there wings then lock them in the coop at night or don't clip there wings and throw netting over the top and make an entrance threw the coop for you and then make the fencing tall enough for you to walk in there without bending down the more the room the merrier.
then you can get in and out without predators getting in and you don't have to worry about that and your chickens can keep there wings.

 

[aquagolda]

I think double spick is better

 

[aquagolda]

yes I have fencing also that is too long so either roll it up or cute it if cutable

 

[aquagolda]

the bigger the space the better since the coop I have I only have 5 chickens they can free range and get out of the cage but theres absolutely no grass so just a tip and its ok if there's trees but if there's pine trees if you need to grab your chicken then clip the bottom of the tree so the chickens don't and cant go out of your reach.
trees are great for shade especially in the summer but if there great flyers don't put the trees in the range area because then if they fly on top and there's no roof netting over or the fence is shorter than the tree the birds can fly on the tree get higher than the fencing they can fly out


sorry for the so many messages and long paragraphs but I hope I helped

-aqua-

 

[New Chicken Lad]

I have the electric fence netting in my backyard for my four girls and it is wonderful. I got mine from www.maxfence.com. What I like about theirs is that they offer the poultry netting in green/black. You almost can't see it except for the additional posts I purchased from them that turned out to be white. You say you don't have a large area for a square or rectangle. This stuff is extremely flexible. You can make any shape or design you need. My area looks like a capital L, approximately 48' X 24'. We used one length of 164' + 39" gate. It's sooo easy to setup, husband did it by himself in less than 20 minutes. Maxfence offers a 82' version as well. I ended up calling them to order cause all their 'kits' that included a discount were too big for me. They took my order for what I needed, then gave me my own kit price discount.

And these fences absolutely have kept every predator we have away from our girls. My husband and I have seen with our own eyes the following touching the fence and being very unhappy about it and getting away from it as soon as possible and not ever come back: black bear (yes bear), deer, raccoon, skunk, cat, wild turkey, and wife (me!). I've accidently hit it twice with my elbow when being lazy & not turning it off while scooping treats out of a bowl over the fence.

Holy crap batman, who ever named that area of our body the 'funny bone' I'll never know, haha.

As far as the hens being able to fly over the fence...They're not prolific flyers, but depending on the size and breed, yes could probably fly over. I have 3 buff orpingtons (heavy birds) and 1 specked Sussex. The speckled Sussex flew over and got out one time, but only because I was late bringing out their daily feast and she was on a mission to find me.

She has not done it again, but if I bring out their special food late, as soon as she sees me, she'll mess with me and fly straight up at me (scares me every time too and I even know she's gonna do it). Otherwise, the girls are let out of the coop every morning @ 7:00am into their fenced-in play pen free range area and do whatever they want all day until they march back into their coop at night. I even leave them like that when I'm not home (which for me is usually only once or twice a week for a couple hours at a time).

Hope my little bit of info can help you. Best of luck, Helen

 

[centrarchid]

Overlap ends to deal with excess length. Single spikes adequate for keeping mine upright. Hitting rocks can be problematic.

 

[costello]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. Unfortunately I got home this evening to find the neighbor's dog had killed four of my six hens.

My two remaining chickens still need protection, though, so I guess I'll wrap my property in electric fencing.

Just too sad tonight to know what to say.

 

[New Chicken Lad]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. Unfortunately I got home this evening to find the neighbor's dog had killed four of my six hens.

My two remaining chickens still need protection, though, so I guess I'll wrap my property in electric fencing.

Just too sad tonight to know what to say.

so sorry...

 

[XtremeRooster]

I feel your pain. However in my case my own dog commited the chickencide. I am working on my dog's behaivior with a shock collar. But I will not give anymore advice on how I deal with neighborhood dogs, the last bit of advice I gave on dealing with neighbors dogs resulted in the thread being closed. Call local law enforcement.