First attack

[TacticalRedneck]

so my flock suffered its first attack today. Right in the middle of the day. The Fox was attacking my pekin duck. Some how she is still alive but I doubt she will make it. I still haven’t found one duck but the rest of my flock is now locked up in the coop. I have let my flock free range from day one but am now having second thoughts.

I was considering the electric poultry fence netting but am curious how well it will work for predator control. I thought I read somewhere that it is designed to stop digging and climbing. Has anybody used it specifically for predator control?

Thanks for any help. I appreciate it.

 

[MickWithChicks]

Now that the fox has found a food source, she'll probably come back; especially if she has pups. Definitely keep your flock locked up while you fortify your enclosures.

I had to lock mine up for the same reasons and built them a huge run and buried corrugated iron 450cm out from the fence line to stop digging. I'm adding electric wire soon to stop any foxes jumping/climbing over the 7ft fencing.

I know people who have had good luck with poultry fence netting. You have to make sure that your grass is kept short around the fence so you don't burn out the controller though, and as the chickens won't be sticking their heads near it they won't be keeping the grass short for you.

 

[Trish1974]

Sorry you had to go through that. Foxes are the worst! I would definitely try the electric poultry netting. I have an electric fence around my run. I don't think I'd have a flock left without it.

 

[christwodog]

Electric fence is the way to go. TSC has a solar model for about $89, I think. Mine has deterred a couple of dog attacks. I have the pulsing type, 7000 watts - you don't have to worry too much about grass or weeds touching the wire with the pulsing kind of charger. A lot of folks swear by them, I know I do!

 

[sylviethecochin]

I depend on the dogs and the fact that my coop is surrounded by what is basically a flat, cover-free kill zone, but my father does occasionally turn on the electric.

One word of warning: Don't leave the electric on in a thunderstorm. It will blow out your controller. It did this twice when I was growing up, and is the reason why Dad's electric fencer is only occasionally turned on.

Other than that, it works great. It's hard to prove how many predators would have attacked, but I know that the neighbours' dog stayed far away from our pasture, and I saw the aftermath of a rabbit using it to keep away from a young (I assume he was young. Stupid thing walked right into the fence, from the yelping) fox once.

 

[Flamens Farm]

I am so sorry to hear about your ducks, it can be so frustrating when it happens but you know for sure what predator it is and that makes it a little easier to fortify your area from it. I hope the injured one makes it though and wish you the best of luck to keep that fox away from the rest.

 

[Trish1974]

One word of warning: Don't leave the electric on in a thunderstorm. It will blow out your controller.

X2. I learned this the hard way Friday night.

 

[christwodog]

I depend on the dogs and the fact that my coop is surrounded by what is basically a flat, cover-free kill zone, but my father does occasionally turn on the electric.

One word of warning: Don't leave the electric on in a thunderstorm. It will blow out your controller. It did this twice when I was growing up, and is the reason why Dad's electric fencer is only occasionally turned on.

Other than that, it works great. It's hard to prove how many predators would have attacked, but I know that the neighbours' dog stayed far away from our pasture, and I saw the aftermath of a rabbit using it to keep away from a young (I assume he was young. Stupid thing walked right into the fence, from the yelping) fox once.

Is that true for the solar chargers, about the thunderstorms? I leave mine on all the time especially when no one is home. And we have alot of thunderstoms here in the summer. No problems yet, but it is a solar unit.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Is that true for the solar chargers, about the thunderstorms? I leave mine on all the time especially when no one is home. And we have alot of thunderstoms here in the summer. No problems yet, but it is a solar unit.

Electricity attracts electricity (That's probably a bad way of explaining it, but it's what I got.) If it's circulating, and there's lightning nearby... Doesn't matter what's powering it.

 

[TacticalRedneck]

Thanks for all the replies. I’ve been researching from premier1supplies.com. Has anyone used them? I didn’t realize that TSC sells the poultry netting. This wouldn’t be my first time with electric fence. I have pigs but I use just 2 strand wire for them.

What I don’t understand is how does the netting deter digging? Is it just the fact they get close to dig and get shocked?

If I do go this route it would be through fairly thick woods (primarily alders). I realize I would need to clear trees and it would be a lot of work but do you think it would work well for this application? Also I live in Maine and obviously snow is a concern.