Electric fencing for laying hens

[diggergal]

I would like to add some electrified fencing to temporally enlarge my run. I have search this subject and Premier1 and Kencove have been mentioned in the past. I was wondering if anyone has had recent experience with either fencing? What are the pro and cons on electric fencing? Would I have to worry about my dual purpose laying hens flying over a 48 inch fence. They are all pretty heavy breeds; Barred Rock, Delaware, Buff Orpington, Black Astrolorps. I plan on using this fence in temporary areas and they will be secured in their predator proof coop at night. I find the advice on this site invaluable. Thanks

 

[Fentress]

I have the original 42 inch e-net from Premier and it provides excellent perimeter protection from 4 legged predators. Not much of problem with birds flying over. They need to be very motivated to do that, such as very scared, so if they decide to fly over I don't think the 48 inch will be any better at stopping them than the 42.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

@JackE uses this type of fencing, I believe - might be a good person to reach out to to get some feedback.

 

[Belott]

I have the Premiere1 48 inch poultry netting due to all the positive comments by JackE. I bought 500 feet and the Kube energizer.
I have Barred Rock, Black Australorp and Welsummers that are a little over 19 weeks and they have not tried to fly over it at all.

Well worth the investment as far as I am concerned!

David

 

[Ridgerunner]

I believe you are talking about the 48” high electric netting, not an electric fence. They are both extremely effective when used appropriately but they are quite a bit different. I’ve had the 48” high netting for about 3-1/2 years and have not lost a chicken to a land-based predator. My only loss was to an owl one night I was away until 11:00 and was late locking them up.

There is a difference in will one of your dual purpose hens fly over it and can they fly over it. I have about the same hens as you as far as size and even some of the same breeds. I’ve had one adult hen, a Black Australorp, fly over that netting since I got it. That was her flying back in. She slipped out a door to get out. As I was herding her back toward the door to get her back in she casually just flew over the 48” high netting. She cleared it by an easy 12”. If they want to they can fly out but mine just don’t want to.

I have had several juveniles fly out, practically always males about 4 months old. When they are doing their pecking order/dominance fighting thing, if a loser gets caught against the fence he goes vertical to get away. Sometimes he lands outside the netting and does not know how to get back in. A couple of times pullets have done that to get away from an amorous cockerel but never an adult hen or rooster.

One trick I’ve learned to reduce how many cockerels fly out is to avoid sharp corners, plus don’t arrange the netting long and thin. Spread it out as square as you can instead of making it long and narrow.

The electric netting does not work in snow. The snow shorts it out. Once a predator is bitten by it, they learn to avoid it, so it is still a deterrent, but new predators are being born all the time. Dogs are being abandoned in the country. There is definitely a risk if it is grounded out, but for the most part it still acts as a deterrent.

Another problem is that weeks and grass will grow up in it and short it out. Weed eaters and lawn mowers are real dangerous around it, they destroy the netting. How often you have to address that depend on where you live, the season, and how fast weeds and grass grow. At some times of the year it can be as often as 10 to 15 days, sometimes you can go months.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I would like to add some electrified fencing to temporally enlarge my run..... Would I have to worry about my dual purpose laying hens flying over a 48 inch fence. They are all pretty heavy breeds

I doubt that most heavy or duel purpose breeds could fly over their own shadow. But you used the adjective "temporally" so I must ask how long of a span of time "temporally" is.

If you really really intend on the fence being temporary then you will come out well ahead in both material and labor by installing a regular electric fence with 4 to 5 strands of high tinsel wire.

 

[diggergal]

Thank you everyone for the replies. I believe a better description of what I was inquiring would be "electric netting". Your responses have been helpful and I did look back at @JackE thread which also had great advice. I also have a predator proof 8 ft x 40 ft covered secured run but with more than a dozen hens it is devoid of vegetation and I now have sand for easy cleaning. I want the electric netting for temporary and movable fencing so the hens can safely forage. I believe I may invest in some electric netting (fencing) and give it a try.