Electric Poultry Netting

[chocolate m'scovy]

Has anyone had experience with this sort of containment? I don't want a pen or coop for our biddies; instead, I prefer something which imitates freedom as much as possible. But, 100% complete freedom means devastation for seeds and ideals of squeaky-clean porches.
So, I want a happy medium. And a sort of fencing around the perimeter of the chickens' allowed area is appealing due to its movable nature. I suppose I would have to clip wings too to prevent happy escape artists...

Any feedback would be much appreciated!

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Wait - they aren't going to have a coop? Do you plan on just having them in a fence? I do think they will need a coop inside that run so they have a place to lay eggs, sleep, and be safe from foxes, hawks, raccoons, cats, dogs, owls, and what not. I have a friend who keeps her hens in a coop, which is inside an electric fence. She lets them in the fenced in area during the day, but they go back in the coop for night. The fence does help to ward off walking predators and keep the hens in. I think it would work, provided, they had a sturdy place to go for the night away from predators that can fly, or somehow hop the fence (using a tree, possibly). Also, they might wanna get out of the rain, sun, or wind.

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

Oh, of course they will have a place to sleep and lay eggs! We have portable pens that would work for that purpose...I just don't want to confine my biddies to a pen when they can have a field.

 

[JackE]

I have electric poultry netting from Premier. I bought 300' of the netting (Thinking about getting another 100' section) and use a 110VAC charger to power it up. A solar charger is available. It was real easy to set up, once I dug the trench and ran the wire down to energize it. The chickens stay in it even though it is just 4' high. The first day it was up, the birds didn't know what to make of it. A couple of them got too close, and it was easy to tell when that happened. It has worked great for me.
Jack

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

I have electric poultry netting from Premier. I bought 300' of the netting (Thinking about getting another 100' section) and use a 110VAC charger to power it up. A solar charger is available. It was real easy to set up, once I dug the trench and ran the wire down to energize it. The chickens stay in it even though it is just 4' high. The first day it was up, the birds didn't know what to make of it. A couple of them got too close, and it was easy to tell when that happened. It has worked great for me.
Jack

Thanks for the advice! We already have fencing for goats, but the chickens can just squeeze under as they please...with the occasional squawking when a chicken runs into a wire. Sounds like it works with your chooks...good to hear.

 

[dc73nova]

Ive had the premier fencing for 2 and a half years now, and it has worked great keeping predators out and the chickens in. In that time I've lost one chicken to a hawk and thats it. It's been holding up great as well. I'm very happy with it.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Did anyone try to cover the area enclosed by the electric net to protect for hawks? I just got the ele tronet and agree that it is easy to set up.

 

[dc73nova]

I did not cover mine at all. I have 2 fenced in areas, one section I am using 200' of electic fence and the other one is like 320' so it would be hard to cover. Like I said, I haven't had any problems with predators since I set mine up and I live in the woods right next to a creek with lots of predators around.

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

Thanks for your input! I like to imagine that the hawks accidentally zap themselves trying to filch our chickens.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can also use the Premier poultry netting without electric to confine your birds. I've used mine around areas of their field that I didn't want them going into, and after 6-8 months of no flying over the 40 inch high fencing, I just purchased 2 more 100 Ft. lengths. One problem though--without the electric I have had 2 cats and 1 little dog get into it and get caught and almost get choked, so I'm going to break down and get the electric controller next.