Fencing that works

[cromschickens]

I am asking for some opinions/advice about my fencing. I don't have any up yet but will be ready for some very soon and the time is now to buy. I have planned for 4' woven wire fencing with 3 strands of electric fencing just out side of it. One just above the ground, one about midway up and yet another just above the top of the woven wire. I will put steel fence posts every 10'. The coop and all of this will be in some pasture ground here in central Iowa, and the coop will butt up to the fence on one side. There are no trees that will overhang the fence, not with in 20'. The coop is tight with half inch plywood and has firmly attached hardware cloth over the window and screen door openings. We have plenty of coyotes, raccoons, and the like, there will be cattle running free in this pasture ground. Has anyone every had success with this type of setup? There are a lot of people that think that I am going to basically sacrifice these birds. I feel that if I keep my coop shut up at night that all should go well. What isn't kept out by the woven wire the electric fence will. I know that hawks will try to carry off chickens some times but I understand that those are only the smaller chickens. So if there is anyone out there that has any experience(s) with success or failures with this sort of thing I would love to hear from you. Thanks in advance!

 

[cromschickens]

My chickens have been out for a week now and haven't lost any. I have only 2 strands of electric fence, one down low and one above the top of the woven wire fence. So far so good, I will keep posting updates for anyone who may wish to try this type of fencing

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks, croms. I'm watching this thread as I'm trying to determine fence too.

 

[jeep381]

I would plan on covering the pen with wire also.

 

[HEChicken]

I didn't see your original post but thank you for updating it. I just bought my fence materials today and I'm doing something similar except without the electric fence (can add it later if I need it). Rather than re-type it all, if you click on the "My Coop" link under my name, I have more detailed info on my fencing there. It is towards the bottom, so don't feel you have to read through all of it

 

[fried green eggs]

What I would be thinking about is: How strong is your fencing - If you lose power? If you put hardware cloth buried under the ground around pen as a apron and added strong netting over the top, 2' high chicken wire inside the woven wire so coons can't reach in and grab & chickens can't stick heads out to electric wire then, it would be a even safer set-up. imho

 

[harveyhorses]

I would also advise a top. Even with no trees, everything, and I mean EVERYTHING can climb. Or scramble, over 6 ft. I used PVC pipe to make my A frame roof, it was not easy, but it works. Electric is great, I have a battery powered fence charger. but it would not stop a hawk or an owl.

 

[cromschickens]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I have been considering covering the run, hawks and owls are real threats around our area. I will work on getting some pics up of what I have. Jeep381 you said to cover the coop in wire, are you meaning electric? Also there is 2 feet of chicken wire around the bottom of the woven wire. The electric fencing is powered by a 110 volt electric charger that is rated for 5 joules, it is tied into the same electric fence that keep our bulls in. The past few mornings they have been sitting in front of the coop like watch dogs, kinda funny I thought. But I could loose power and that would be bad I do have a solar fence charger but I haven't hooked it up yet. We are new to all of this but have learned alot, and learn more with each passing day. I am lucky to have a place like this to bounce ideas off of somemany different people. Thanks again to everyone for sharing your knowledge.

 

[Debbi]

Instead of using chicken wire around the bottom, make the investment in 1/2" x 1/2" hardware cloth! Coon hands can go through chicken wire, and they can also literally tear/chew it out! I agree too with covering the top. Run at least a 2 foot wide apron along the bottom of all sides, and cover it with dirt or gravel, it keeps the diggers out. Electric fence is fine if the weeds don't short it out, or lightning strikes it, or there is an outage. Solar chargers have batteries that drain quickly with even a light load of weeds or snow...ask me how I know. Best defense, is a strong fence!