How well do your electric fences work?

[RossAcres]

I just installed a 1.5 Joule electric fence around my bird yard. I installed it to deter predators, not keep my flock in. My flocks have their own individual pens that are pretty predator proof. I installed this fence around the entirety of the yard to deter predators like foxes, coyotes, dogs, etc. I put about 6 hot strands along the fence, starting at 5 or 6 inches off of the ground. What have been your experiences with electric fences to deter predators?

 

[ChickyCh00k]

If I remember correctly @DobieLover has quie a bit of experience with electric fencing. Hopefully they will share here!

 

[Rock17]

The local vixen seems wary of it.

 

[DobieLover]

What have been your experiences with electric fences to deter predators?

Provided the fence is well maintained, excellent.

I run three 164' nets at 42" high jumpered together and powered with a 10,000 volt/1.2J charger that is plugged into a 120 receptacle. I have 2 jumpered, 8' ground rods that are sunk into very mucky soil grounding the system.

I regularly spray the fence line to keep growth from hitting the low hot lines.

I have a momma black bear that lives somewhere in the woods behind my house. I have seen her twice in my backyard. I have seen a mother fisher with 2 kits run through these woods right on the other side of the drainage ditch (aka - the moat) that is about 15' from the back of the coop/run.

I have heard coyote and fox and saw racoon tracks in the snow around the pen.

No ground predator has ever gained access to the chickens within their pen.

In the nearly 6 years they've been in their larger digs, I've had countless unsuccessful hawk strikes. Just one loss of a 10-week-old pullet that was as far from aerial threat cover as she could get.