Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ValarieF]

Ive had my nap Time to clean the chicken run and visit the chooks!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

The area I'm looking at has a power pole with ground right there. I would need to run the fence between the pole and the ground.

Then your fence ground should be located at least 30(?) feet away from the power pole. I could look into this better later. The ground doesn’t have to be right near the fence. I think it doesn’t even have to be right next to the charger either but I’m not sure about that. I think you don’t want to ask a system’s ground to do more than that system has been designed for. I believe they advised in the literature against connecting any ground to a power pole but it might be okay to run a fence next to a power pole.

So I think the ground can be anywhere in the circuit. I believe you just have to complete the Circle Of Zap: between the soil and the critter touching the soil and the fence, the fence, the charger’s positive wire sending power to the fence, the charger’s negative wire going to the ground rod(s) and the soil again. Maybe when things are near each other it’s easier to identify where a problem is if your voltage drops.

If correct, the only downside is you use more insulated cable running from the charge to the ground if it is a distance away, and you might need more charger? Also, the ground between the critter and your ground needs to be conductive to complete the circuit.

My ground is four-five feet from the charger, but the charger is maybe 150 feet from the fence. I ran the positive cable 20 feet up to the barn upstairs window, 30 ft out across a swale over to the wooded hillside, 80 feet along trees and then another 20+ down the hillside to the fence. I think I could have run two cables out there and put the ground by the fence if I wanted. Or run the ground cable somewhere completely different. One thing I do have out there which I love is a cut- out switch, with a short clip cable going to the fence.

Sorry for the long post. I do yadder on. Hope it is helpful though.

 

[RoyalChick]

Then your fence ground should be located at least 30(?) feet away from the power pole. I could look into this better later. The ground doesn’t have to be right near the fence. I think it doesn’t even have to be right next to the charger either but I’m not sure about that. I think you don’t want to ask a system’s ground to do more than that system has been designed for. I believe they advised in the literature against connecting any ground to a power pole but it might be okay to run a fence next to a power pole.

So I think the ground can be anywhere in the circuit. I believe you just have to complete the Circle Of Zap: between the soil and the critter touching the soil and the fence, the fence, the charger’s positive wire sending power to the fence, the charger’s negative wire going to the ground rod(s) and the soil again. Maybe when things are near each other it’s easier to identify where a problem is if your voltage drops.

If correct, the only downside is you use more insulated cable running from the charge to the ground if it is a distance away, and you might need more charger? Also, the ground between the critter and your ground needs to be conductive to complete the circuit.

My ground is four-five feet from the charger, but the charger is maybe 150 feet from the fence. I ran the positive cable 20 feet up to the barn upstairs window, 30 ft out across a swale over to the wooded hillside, 80 feet along trees and then another 20+ down the hillside to the fence. I think I could have run two cables out there and put the ground by the fence if I wanted. Or run the ground cable somewhere completely different. One thing I do have out there which I love is a cut- out switch, with a short clip cable going to the fence.

Sorry for the long post. I do yadder on. Hope it is helpful though.

Yes exactly right. Pick the best spot for the ground rod and then connect it to the charger using an above ground wire. You can buy wire specifically for this from the fence supplier. Mine is probably 20' away. Same with the charger, it can be anywhere and connected with an insulated wire.
I have put my connecting wires in old broken garden hoses so they are easy to find and easy to avoid cutting with a mower or strimmer.

 

[RoyalChick]

Cat litter tax. From before the Chicken Palace was built and the Princesses lived in the school project coop.

 

[Ponypoor]

Maybe you could set up a temporary screened canopy on top of several poop piles? Against aerial predators, assuming it is securely fenced against ground predators.

Just to warn you with my experience- anything that keeps the chickens in, a hawk can make use of. Like one tried to pin Butters against the fence, that’s how s/he got Queenie several days earlier. Landed on Butters, sort of, because Butters saw it only at the last second and moved, so Butters squirmed out of the grip, and the hawk hop-flew after her, driving her into the fence, and sort of tried to get talons on her again but she was flapping and squirming around and then the hawk saw me.

There had been plenty of things to run under on the left and right, including the chair the hawk eventually flew up to and perched on to reassess as I came at it, but the hawk approached Butters from a direction that the frightened chicken wanted to just run straight away from and thus into the fence. Butters wasn’t thinking like a cat - go left or right and dodge and feint, she was thinking only “away”. The hawk was intent and really didn’t want to leave, even with me running at it. If Butters had run under something I think the hawk would have gone after her trying to grab her from under there. Your rooster, if he can give a warning in time, will allow them to run under something. But what about this kind of determined hawk? Not preaching here, just an experience to consider.

Yes I have been pondering safe havens which are also horse safe (because we all know how smart they can be at times - not!).

I think I will have to give it all so thought next spring.

 

[ValarieF]

Me and Dottie she on my knees flew to my arm when I held it up she got me dirty too lol

 

[Ponypoor]

Dead Tree Trunk is Down

View attachment 3314479
And the inside of the new roof is painted. Time to break for lunch.

That’s an awesome view!

 

[ValarieF]

Other featherbabies
Zeus and his girlfriend

 

[Ponypoor]

Floor Solution in Place

View attachment 3314658View attachment 3314659View attachment 3314661

The Chief Inspector has returned and approved this solution provided I use the 3 inch screws from this can.

View attachment 3314665

Good choice Inspector Glynda

Looking good!

 

[Ponypoor]

Are you talking about the Cat Stevens song?

Oh man am I mixing up my songs again?!

Maybe - don’t know, just caught the tail end as I was heading to the barn…