Electric fence opinions

[bgmathteach]

A wire that comes to about mid chicken and just inside the perimeter of the enclosure would probably work better than the hot wires in the poly.

Darn.

I was really hoping the polynet would work because it is relatively easy to move with the chicken tractor. A 'real fence' would be way to difficult & time consuming to move daily. And, with the number of birds I have...and the need to have a dig proof tractor, I really need some kind of easily moveable fencing adjacent to or surrounding the tractor.

Anyone have some thoughts/possible solutions to my dilemma of easily movable but still contain chickens and deter ground predators?

 

[SCMommaHen]

Darn.

I was really hoping the polynet would work because it is relatively easy to move with the chicken tractor. A 'real fence' would be way to difficult & time consuming to move daily. And, with the number of birds I have...and the need to have a dig proof tractor, I really need some kind of easily moveable fencing adjacent to or surrounding the tractor.

Anyone have some thoughts/possible solutions to my dilemma of easily movable but still contain chickens and deter ground predators?

I have not had any problems so far other than the rare flyover. But I have hens with 1 rooster. It's possible that roosters need a longer zap than the short pulse. You could also try doubling up on the stakes to keep them from going under. TS has 4ft plastic stakes for about $2. My hens have not gone anywhere near it after getting zapped a couple times and the one that occasionally flies over will panic and circle the pen until I put her back in. Other than bird netting idk how you would solve that.

 

[McChooky]

You could run overhead cables to drape bird netting or shade cloth from but you'd have to move them every time you moved the tractor (same way you slide a shower curtain)

 

[McChooky]

Darn.

I was really hoping the polynet would work because it is relatively easy to move with the chicken tractor. A 'real fence' would be way to difficult & time consuming to move daily. And, with the number of birds I have...and the need to have a dig proof tractor, I really need some kind of easily moveable fencing adjacent to or surrounding the tractor.

Anyone have some thoughts/possible solutions to my dilemma of easily movable but still contain chickens and deter ground predators?

Maybe your poultry netting hasn't got enough 'juice'? If so the problem might be its not grounded well enough .Ran a test to see what its putting out?

 

[cmom]

I use poly rope wire. It's easily movable with step in posts. Years ago I moved the pens around with the electric wires but not anymore

.

 

[bgmathteach]

I have not had any problems so far other than the rare flyover. But I have hens with 1 rooster. It's possible that roosters need a longer zap than the short pulse. You could also try doubling up on the stakes to keep them from going under. TS has 4ft plastic stakes for about $2. My hens have not gone anywhere near it after getting zapped a couple times and the one that occasionally flies over will panic and circle the pen until I put her back in. Other than bird netting idk how you would solve that.

I'll have to try this, then, with extra stakes. Maybe the trouble was that the pen was full of Roos? (Since I hatch my own, I always have more Roos than I want to keep....they stayed there for the last couple of grow out months) They generally get along okay since they grew up together from hatch, but they do 'harass' each other like boys being rough on the playground - ish, not bloody fights. I did have 2 that would fly over despite clipping wing feathers, and 2-3 that would end up 'burrowing' out after repeated attempts. I have yet to try it with a more 'normal' mixed flock.

Maybe extra stakes & an inside hot-wire at about 8"? nothing to lose by trying! I bought some shade cloths and was planning on using 6' posts just outside the perimeter to support the shade cloth (with one in center of pen to support middle - like a tent) Wish me luck

 

[cmom]

Birds have to touch the wire with their combs or flesh to be zapped. Their feathers are good insulators. The only protection from aerial predators is a covered pen or area.
https://www.plamondon.com/wp/faq-simple-electric-fences-chickens/

 

[McChooky]

It you built a wire enclosure w/heavy duty netting on top then put an electric fence around it your flock would be well protected from predators . Poultry netting is an excellent fence for "free ranging" inexpensive meat birds (inactive) on pasture 8-10 weeks .If you're raising a flock of egg layers in a chicken tractor in a portable fence it may be challenging to make modifications that won't limit mobility

 

[bgmathteach]

Maybe your poultry netting hasn't got enough 'juice'? If so the problem might be its not grounded well enough .Ran a test to see what its putting out?

I'll have to get a tester and try this. Our soil is very rocky/gravelly, and last year it was so dry..that may have been part of it. TX for the suggestion!

 

[bgmathteach]

It you built a wire enclosure w/heavy duty netting on top then put an electric fence around it your flock would be well protected from predators . Poultry netting is an excellent fence for "free ranging" inexpensive meat birds (inactive) on pasture 8-10 weeks .If you're raising a flock of egg layers in a chicken tractor in a portable fence it may be challenging to make modifications that won't limit mobility

Yes, I have a primary/main pen that is attached to permanent coops...that is very safe. But, I feel so bad that they don't get to eat grass & many bugs...main pen is, of course, dirt & bedding. Was hoping to be able to use a chicken tractor & mobile netting for the nicer part of the year. !Let them eat grass! And let the main pen recover so they have something interesting in the pen in the colder months. I do have 2 small 'grazing frames' in the pen, but my ducks drill down under the frame and destroy about 4 inches in from each side...so need to build larger frames. Plus, would love to get chooks out of pen in spring, clean it, let Sun UV the heck out of pathogens, then reseed and let grow until they come back in in fall. Maybe it is just a pipe dream, but feel I gotta try.