How to best electrify my chicken run fencing?

[azygous]

No, Howard, I may be stupid about forgetting the wire is hot, but not stupid enough to lick it, although I often get zapped when a sweaty body part accidentally brushes the hot wire.

Amen to the covered run. Not only does a covered, enclosed run offer total security, it also provides much more comfort in winter when winter panels go up on the open-mesh sides. Not only does it protect against hawks and owls, but raccoons are real scoundrels about finding their way into, over, and under any barrier, electrified or not.

I have a solar fence charger since my chicken coops and runs aren't very close to the house, and I also run a hot wire around all my facilities to keep cattle at a distance. You will be selecting your fence charger keeping in mind how many feet you will be charging and where you want to locate the charger.

Solar chargers are usually self-contained units with the battery enclosed and are pretty much weather-proof. Plug-in chargers need shelter from the elements and to be located next to a power supply. Solar chargers are four times as expensive, but are far more versatile. It's really up to you and your budget and your needs what you choose.

 

[cmom]

I would consider running electric wires around your coop and pens. I have 3 wires around most of mine so nothing will try to climb or it will come in contact with the electric wire. I have went to pull a piece of grass that was touching the wire and forgot to turn it off and got zapped when I touched the grass. This wire can tolerate some weeds touching. I do have a meter and check it every day. I use the poly rope wire but the steel wire probably works better. I have a 1.2 joule fence charger and it makes my heart skip a beat. When the birds have touched it nothing so I think their feathers work like insulators.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I have one comment about running single wires as opposed to mesh. A mink or weasel can sneak in without coming into contact. It is even possible they could jump through an opening in the mesh without being zapped due to the intermittent nature of those charging systems.
We had a type of weed that grew most places around the farm. If I wanted to check if a wire was hot, I would use that weed to touch the wire. I could feel the charge but it was a lot less of a jolt than if I touched the fence directly. It would just give me a tingle.

 

[Howard E]

I don't think any of us who have felt the wrath of a truly hot fencer would be stupid enough to lick it. That challenge was aimed at the non-believers.

 

[cmom]

My next purchase is going to be a DC fence charger. We do loose power now and then. I saw a 1.2 joule DC fence charger and it is probably as powerful as the AC chargers. I have a battery but will need to get a battery box for the battery.

 

[GodofPecking]

whole lot easier and more effective to build a predator trap, I should really write a post for that.