Electric Fencing/Netting That is at Least 5 Feet High?

[R Victoria Peterson]

Thank you, Krazyquilts,
Have you had any issues with coyotes or foxes jumping over the 48 inch electric fence?

 

[R Victoria Peterson]

I am also reading that you must train your chickens first before placing within the electric fencing confines, because they can get tangled etc. How do you go about training them and teaching them it is electric . . .other than watching them the first time they are confined and being ready to turn the power off, if needed, or help them get untangled?

 

[rjohns39]

I am also reading that you must train your chickens first before placing within the electric fencing confines, because they can get tangled etc. How do you go about training them and teaching them it is electric . . .other than watching them the first time they are confined and being ready to turn the power off, if needed, or help them get untangled?

Just watch them the first time. Once one or two figure out its hot you'll be fine.

 

[Krazyquilts]

I have the 48" feather net and it's always served me well, until a week ago. I went out and found feathers from my RP hen just outside her shelter. No other signs except the the far fence was pushed out. I fixed the fence and started looking... No evidence, no feathers, remnants etc. Then I counted birds and found my self short a nari hen. That's 40 pounds of turkey mia... That said the coyote has not been back. I've spent sleepless nights waiting for it. I'm pretty certain its a mom and her pups.

I think the mom scared the birds into leaving the safety of the fence and then hunts them down. Just my best guess.

What do you mean that the far fence was pushed out? That the posts were pushed out?

That's too bad about your turkey. :-( By Nari do you mean Narragansett? I have 5 Narragansett poults right now that are my first foray raising turkeys.

 

[Krazyquilts]

Thank you, Krazyquilts,
Have you had any issues with coyotes or foxes jumping over the 48 inch electric fence?

We haven't set it up yet. We are moving to our farm this weekend.

The fence will be mostly for sheep via rotational grazing but I want to run meat birds in the pasture behind the sheep so I wanted a fence that would work for both species. I would have preferred the 68" high fence just to be safe but my husband, who has more on-farm experience than I do, and a friend who uses similar fencing for his chickens both said that the higher and waaaaaaay more expensive fencing wasn't necessary. I'll report back with updates as we use the fence.

 

[rjohns39]

What do you mean that the far fence was pushed out? That the posts were pushed out?

That's too bad about your turkey. :-( By Nari do you mean Narragansett? I have 5 Narragansett poults right now that are my first foray raising turkeys.

Something got in and then knocked the fence down going out. The post was out of the ground and laying flat. And yes Narragansett. What's worse is it was a daytime attack. There are trees with over hanging branches...

 

[rjohns39]

I need to correct my earlier post as I now have evidence of what's been knocking my fence down. It is not the predator, which btw is coming in by climbing a tree and jumping off the overhanging branch (I need to start liming the trees). So not a coyote or dog either. Still not sure what it is--but it likes to hunt in daylight.

As for the fence... 75-100 pounds of Tom Turkeys (3-4 @ about 25lbs each) who are freaked out by the predator. Today, one of my best fliers (hen turkey) went out wandering as she usually does and she got attacked by something. I watched her Tom blow through the fence to try and get to her. She survived the attack but didn't make it through the day. And I still have no idea what it was--but able to hide in the tall grass and unable to out right kill her.

 

[Krazyquilts]

I need to correct my earlier post as I now have evidence of what's been knocking my fence down. It is not the predator, which btw is coming in by climbing a tree and jumping off the overhanging branch (I need to start liming the trees). So not a coyote or dog either. Still not sure what it is--but it likes to hunt in daylight.

As for the fence... 75-100 pounds of Tom Turkeys (3-4 @ about 25lbs each) who are freaked out by the predator. Today, one of my best fliers (hen turkey) went out wandering as she usually does and she got attacked by something. I watched her Tom blow through the fence to try and get to her. She survived the attack but didn't make it through the day. And I still have no idea what it was--but able to hide in the tall grass and unable to out right kill her.

Wow, how awful for you! Thanks for the update.