Electric Fence

[MyCozyCritters]

I need help deciding what kind of electric fence to install. I have my coops pretty well predator proof, except I have one Border Collie that likes to play with my chickens!
She doesn't bother the large chickens, nor the guineas, it's just the smaller half grown chickens and the babies. She keeps predators away, I have to say that, since I haven't lost any one of them this whole summer!
I have taken to tying her out during the day (keeping the babies in small cages at night) and letting the small ones be in pens during the day on the grass, in which they can be contained, but if she's loose she gets inside the pens no matter what...she's big enough to push her way through: she will find a way or make one to let them out! She just can't be trusted, no matter what I do! So far she's just played with them, but I'm afraid if she goes on she will get to hurting them! And these are mostly babies I have hatched myself and I love em!
What I want to do is put an electric fence around their pens till she can't even get TO the pens! Maybe just put the wire all around....and I have no idea where to start! I don't know what would work...or just how it's done, really!
So any suggestions as to just what to buy and how to install it would help me so much!
Thanks for any help!
~Anne~

 

[Penpal]

A border collie is intensely smart with a strong work ethic. You might try giving her a job that concerns the chickens. You could let her herd the little chickens, but only if she is obedient to you and you understand the dynamics of herding and balance. She also needs a solid "leave it" command whether or not she herds.

I have portable electric netting. It is easy to set up.

 

[mcdze]

you just need a fence charger, theres 2 types, constant on and pulse .. the constant on is more effective for things smaller than cows .. then youll need a roll of aluminum wire 'for' electric fencing .. the charger itself needs to be in a dry location, with a way to run the 'hot' wire outside with at least a 3" clearance so it doesnt touch anything .. an outside outlet makes that more simple, but again, the charger itself needs to be shielded from the elements ... also youll need to run a second strand of wire to a ground, it doesnt matter if that touches anything, but the better the ground, the more effective the fence will be, it works best if the ground goes deep in the soil where its always damp, a piece of steel rebar pounded in the ground 6 feet or so would be about perfect, just wrap your wire around it multiple times for a good contact .. after you got the unit installed good, just run your wire to where you want it, they make insulators to screw it off to wood, posts, etc, but again, 3" of wire clearance away from any object makes a stronger charged fence .. also to simplify and make the layout easily modifyable, the use of 3/4"pvc pipe, drilled at the top to pass the wire through works dandy .. you can adjust the height by just cutting to length .. set the height so the target animal will brush it whether they try to duck under it or walk over it .. you can also make an easy 'gate' in the wire by just making some loops and terminate the wire at 2 poles, and use a piece of wire bent into a hook at one end .. i recommend turning it off before touching it though lol ..