Fencing conundrum

[GalindaTheGoodDuck]

I have electrified wire netting around my enclosure (and, of course, a predator-proof house which ducks are locked in each night). The problem is, and I'm still trouble shooting this, that the electricity hasn't been very powerful lately. It has a strong solar battery and it's been cloudy lately, it could be shorting on dried leaves, or maybe the dry ground isn't allowing enough shock.

Regardless, I'm looking to add a second layer of fencing to deter predators because I'm a worry wart. I am thinking of getting two layer galvanized hardware cloth, small enough to prevent predators from reaching through. Here is the problem: I don't think I can add a roof to the fencing. I don't think my neighbors would like it (my living situation is complicated, we live in co-housing and structures have to be approved by all living there). Is there any point to adding more fencing without a roof?

The main predator out here are raccoons, and I know they can scale any fence, no problem. My neighbors have not lost a chicken to a raccoon, and there is *so* much other food available, from compost piles to trash cans to gardens, that I console myself thinking, why would a raccoon try so hard to scale my fence if other food just far more readily available? I haven't had any raccoon problems yet nut I don't want to be complacent.

Could I put something on top of the fence to prevent climbing? I don't have an outlet nearby (and running cords that far isn't safe) so I'm thinking electric wire isn't an option .

Any thoughts on deterring raccoons in an urban area for this worry wart? Thanks.

 

[aart]

Id trouble shoot your electric fence first.
Maybe @Howard E would help, he's an ace at hot wire.

 

[JackE]

How much voltage is the fence/netting carrying? What kind of grounding does the fence have? One rod, more? If it's not properly grounded, you'll have a weak charge. What brand of charger are you using? Some of then, are junk. Have you checked all the way around the bottom perimeter of the fence, to make sure one, or more, of the bottom electrified strands of the fence, aren't shorting out, on the ground spikes? That's a common problem, and can really take away from the fence's charge.

 

[aart]

Then there's @JackE he knows a lot too!