Electrify the yard fence or the pen fence?

[birdy_num_nums]

I'm considering electrifying some part of our fencing once we get it up (soon! chicks are growing fast!). My predator concerns are: coyote, bobcat, dogs. I am not sure yet if we have racoons in our area. I smelled skunk (I think; it was a vague smell, not strong) on only one summer evening last year (we've been out here 3 years now). But I am assuming smelling it once means we've got them?

Which would offer the better protection, electrifying the 5ft livestock fence around the yard, or the hen pen of 6ft chain-link panels?

I just read on another thread that coyotes can leap over fences. Can bobcat leap over, too? Would electrifying help deter even a leaper, ie, would they maybe get their muzzle zapped while investigating and go away?

 

[jenjscott]

The most effective way to deter the jumping is to have a hotwire at the bottom and another at the top. With a high fence they jump and catch the top of the fence and then go on over. The lower wire discourages the ones that would dig through, and the high one, the jumpers.

 

[Kentucky]

birdy_num_nums:

I personally use the 2" yellow stand-off insulators around the pen and coup area to support the "HOT" wire, with all the main enclosure fence grounded. The (3)three strands of 16ga bare wire are at 3", 8" and 18" high.

The 6' high fenced pen is "totally covered"; 2/3 roofed and 1/3 open.

Thus far, I have found no indication of digging or climbing only tracks, except for one raccoon who decided to attack the hot wire, which was a bad decision.

For what its worth, skunks are almost everywhere, unless disturbed you won't smell them.

Hope this helps,

Kentucky

 

[patandchickens]

The previous post have GOOD advice about how to hang the wires.

If it were me I would definitely electrify the yard, not just the chicken pen. Reason being, the further you can keep the predators from the pen, the less likely they are to realize that there are Tasty Morsels in there, and the less tempted they will be to go to unusual lengths to bypass or ignore your electric wires. Distance is a good defense

Good luck,

Pat

 

[panner123]

A good place to start is afence.com
There they have plans for laying out your fence and all the things you will need. An electric fence works if it is done right. If not you are watsing your money. I live in the Sierra foothills and have an electric fence, it works. The only other fence I have is plain chicken wire, it keeps the chickens in (except my fliers).