Electro-net Fencing

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

I will invest in more fencing when my husband and I buy a farm, but since we are renting and don't actually own the land my coop is on, this will have to do for now.

 

[Fentress]

I love the electro fence as well, but a few problems. Something has still taken a couple of ours. I am thinking a fox jumped over, because I don't think a hawk can fly away with one. Also, my fence is partially buried in snow, so no juice going through the fence.

If the fence is not hot then it is not going to stop much. As a physical barrier without a charge it is not very effective. I get very little snow, so others may be able to advise you on how to deal with that. I know that once you establish your reputation with the local predators as not being a place for an easy meal, they in general, will not waste their time visiting. How may times you want to risk it is up to you.I had a solar charger last year during the winter and it had days where it could not keep up with maintaing a charge. I was lucky enough to skate through without an incident. I got a DC charger for this winter.

I too thought that animals would jump over it. But the theory put forth by the manufacturer which I would agree with, is that animals lead with their nose. Once they get shocked, they want nothing more to do with the fence.

 

[centrarchid]

I have a stretch of poultry netting that is not hot and critters do not challenge it.

 

[BigECarter]

I have a stretch of poultry netting that is not hot and critters do not challenge it.

How long have you had this set-up? I need to make a decision soon - we are letting our chickens free range but we have foxes who take care of our rabbit population in the spring. We will need to have something set up before they come around. That, and we often get lost hunting dogs wandering through.

 

[centrarchid]

My poultry netting setup has been up for about a year. I have had numerous predator challenges but lost no birds to ground predators inside the netting. Almost lost one to an owl but backup plan prevented loss.

I have heavy predator challenges even with dogs owing to location with abundant wildlife and a very high density of free-ranging dogs.

 

[BigECarter]

Perhaps the abundant wildlife helps in your case - easy enough for the predator to go to the next field and get a rabbit rather than trying to figure out how to tackle the fence.

I definitely am going to need something.

 

[Fentress]

I have a stretch of poultry netting that is not hot and critters do not challenge it.

In a previous post you detailed the chargers that you use, but in this post you said that the netting is not hot. Did you mean to say this?

 

[centrarchid]

In a previous post you detailed the chargers that you use, but in this post you said that the netting is not hot. Did you mean to say this?

Sorry for confusion. I have multiple perimeters. Some nested, some not. The poultry netting not hot is stand alone adjacent to hot fencing that otherwise appears similar.

Drawing could be shown. The multiple perimeter concept I think is important.

 

[centrarchid]

Perhaps the abundant wildlife helps in your case - easy enough for the predator to go to the next field and get a rabbit rather than trying to figure out how to tackle the fence.

I definitely am going to need something.

More wildlife means more predators testing defenses. Chickens usually easier to catch than rabbits and more bang for buck than voles.

 

[Fentress]

More wildlife means more predators testing defenses. Chickens usually easier to catch than rabbits and more bang for buck than voles.

I would agree. Last year, my first year with chickens, I put the chicks out on pasture at 2 weeks of age. On the second night, I got up at 3:00 am and turned on the flood light just to see what was going on. Two huge racoons were on the outside of the fence looking in. Nothing goes unnoticed out there!