Good guard animal?

[centrarchid]

My suspicion is OP lives where snow is not deep. Additionally, maintenance of vegetation to keep poultry netting hot is minimal. OP needs to indicate location and potential legal limitations as they can apply to guard animals as well, especially in locations where hotwire it not legal.

 

[MeepBeep]

Additionally, maintenance of vegetation to keep poultry netting hot is minimal.

I would argue that all depends on location, climate and the size of the area covered... Grass can easily grow an inch a day during good weather, some weeds several inches a day requiring you clear the area every day in some instances, and if that area is large it could amount to a significant amount of work very easily... And for me snow is the big zinger, way too much effort to clear the snow and keep the drifting clear to make it practical... There are several factors that determine the amount of maintenance,what works well for you won't work for all...

Also I would also personally not trust poultry netting to deter larger predators as it offers little physical resistance to a charge and since it generally is 48" or shorter, many predators like bobcat, coyote, wolf, domestic dog, and fox for example can clear jump 48" with a running start...

One has to also consider it's effectiveness against heavily furred animals as a good winter fur coat on a predator can render it mostly useless as well... As evidenced from the people I got my llamas from, they warned me 'my' llamas had learned that their fur protected them from shock and had learned they could simply bulldoze the electric fence to get to the other side or squish between strands...

I personally believe people give electric fence way too much credit based on their experience alone while discrediting others... I'm not saying it won't help and can be effective but it's far from the end all to predator protection many claim as it has several real identifiable weaknesses...

As I recommended, I'm a firm believer in layered protections...

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I agree with @MeepBeep. I have extensive experience with electric fencing we use it for our cattle. It requires constant upkeep. Deer run through it, snow knocks it down, vegetation grows over it, floods, drought even makes it less effective because it is no longer grounded well. In a small space electric fencing is easy and wonderful, to surround most farm yards, impractical and ineffective.
Personally my problem is the number of gates my property would require. We have at least four areas were my husband needs to come and go out of our property with a tractor. several layers of protection, especially when it is humans you are protecting and not poultry, is the best.

 

[centrarchid]

I have used it for cattle, hogs, sheep and horses well before trying it with poultry. By far the easiest application is when used for small flocks of free-range poultry. This needs to be kept in the context of what the OP is trying to do. When it comes to layers that I have stressed for quite some time. When budget is limiting then investment can directed to the layer likely to be most cost effective which if dogs (feral or otherwise) are the biggest problem, then electrified poultry netting is very difficult to beat.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I have used it for cattle, hogs, sheep and horses well before trying it with poultry. By far the easiest application is when used for small flocks of free-range poultry. This needs to be kept in the context of what the OP is trying to do. When it comes to layers that I have stressed for quite some time. When budget is limiting then investment can directed to the layer likely to be most cost effective which if dogs (feral or otherwise) are the biggest problem, then electrified poultry netting is very difficult to beat.

Exactly, she is trying to protect a large area of property. She has already stated, surrounding the whole area is not possible, and already has her chickens in a chain link fenced area. She could electrify that fence, easily, but it is the humans that could be out that is the true concern

 

[centrarchid]

Exactly, she is trying to protect a large area of property. She has already stated, surrounding the whole area is not possible, and already has her chickens in a chain link fenced area. She could electrify that fence, easily, but it is the humans that could be out that is the true concern

Area to be protected appears smaller than mine (5 acres with actual chickens using it) where my fencing approach is more cost effective. If area is larger than I think then this will all be folly as other predators will make dog issues less important.

If even the most minimal protection can not be provided then free-ranging may not be the best route. Maybe chicken tractor time. If chickens are silkies like shown in avatar then free-range is not a good option under any circumstances.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

When the dogs attacked, we have a large chain link fence surrounding our two chicken coops, and the dogs just opened up the gate! We did not have a lock on the gait. We have taken preventive measures against hawks,opossums, raccoon, etc. but had not been prepared for a wild dog attack. Yesterday evening we went to Lowes and bought a six foot tall chain link gait and fixed up a good strong lock for it. This and our guns should hopefully prevent this kind of thing from happening in the future. Thanks

I agree about the fence and the dogs. We have way to much property to even consider fencing it all in, and it is perfect for my siblings to explore and play as long as an adult is with them. so the fence won't work. So our best bet is to just shoot the dogs if they come back, and hope we can prevent something like this from happening again.

.

Area to be protected appears smaller than mine (5 acres with actual chickens using it) where my fencing approach is more cost effective. If area is larger than I think then this will all be folly as other predators will make dog issues less important.

If even the most minimal protection can not be provided then free-ranging may not be the best route. Maybe chicken tractor time. If chickens are silkies like shown in avatar then free-range is not a good option under any circumstances.

Area to be protected appears smaller than mine (5 acres with actual chickens using it) where my fencing approach is more cost effective. If area is larger than I think then this will all be folly as other predators will make dog issues less important.

If even the most minimal protection can not be provided then free-ranging may not be the best route. Maybe chicken tractor time. If chickens are silkies like shown in avatar then free-range is not a good option under any circumstances.

It does not sound like she really does free range, at least not as I consider it.

 

[centrarchid]

Not enough information available on which to base sound advice.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Ok

 

[Weehopper]

Also, it wouldn't hurt to report it to your local animal control.