Electric Poultry Fencing?

[jettgirl24]

Hi All,

I went to a screening of Fresh, a documentary about sustainable agriculture last night and Joel Salatin mentions using electric poultry fencing for his portable chicken pasture areas. I googled it this morning and it seems to be fairly affordable (although in quantities above what I will need). According to Joel it can't be beat for keeping chickens in and predators out, except hawks obviously. I'm just wondering if any of you have tried it and what you think?

 

[patandchickens]

It is good stuff as long as a) you don't mind losses to hawks and the occasional chicken that flies over the fence and gets itself killed elsewhere; and b) you respect its idiosyncrasies, which means moving the fence and mowing close under it BEFORE the grass gets too tall (can be every week or less in fast growth season, less often when grass is growing slower) and use a fence tester regularly to ensure it's got the voltage on it that you need (at least 4,000v to discourage dogs/coyotes)

It is highly worth tying back the corners, to a second step-in post or to a tentpeg, because the stuff does want to lie down in the wind.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat