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.

 

[ChixHaven]

@DobieLover I have some clarifying questions about your set up. You have a 164 ft. long 42 inch high electrified poultry netting fence? Setting the electrified netting low enough prevent digging in? Can the netting touch the ground (I think not) or does it start at 6 inches off the ground or so and still deter digging? And what about predators jumping the 42 inch fence? I am wanting to deter coyotes and they are jumpers and diggers, yes? And do you have netting overhead for hawk protection? Thank you for the clarifying details.

 

[krogen]

I have a pretty normal livestock setup that is also effective for chickens. Alternating hot / ground wires (I think 3” apart, would have to check). Zareba charger.

With small chickens, we’ve had some escapees in the past but they either learn or grow quickly enough that they eventually see it as a barrier.

We also have a dog in the fenced area, Anatolian Shepherd. Took her once or twice to touch and learn the fence. She was afraid of the area for a couple days but she got used to it. Never had the dog escape.

We’ve had the setup for a year now. Zero problems with predators.

 

[DobieLover]

You have a 164 ft. long 42 inch high electrified poultry netting fence?

X3. I jumped 3 nets together to enclose about 1/3 acre.

Setting the electrified netting low enough prevent digging in?

No.

Can the netting touch the ground (I think not) or does it start at 6 inches off the ground or so and still deter digging?

The bottom strand is not hot. The rest are. So the bottom strand can touch the ground.

And what about predators jumping the 42 inch fence?

They don't think that way. Instinct tells them to come up and sniff the fence to investigate it. That is when they get a huge correction and are very unlikely to attempt to enter the pen.

I am wanting to deter coyotes and they are jumpers and diggers, yes?

One hard pop from the fence is going to deter them from ever coming back. That's why it's so important to power the netting with a very strong charger. I run a 10,000 volt, 1.2 Jewel, well grounded charger. Thus far, it has kept all ground predators out of the pen including the local black bears.

And do you have netting overhead for hawk protection?

I do not. I have a very large run with a solid roof on it that the chickens can run into for protection. There is also a huge old style Quince bush out there that the flock can completely disappear under. And, until recently, I've always had a rooster on the lookout for them. In the over 6 years my flock has been contained to the pen I've only had one loss to a hawk. It was a 10-week-old pullet that was about as far away from aeriel protection as she could get.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@DobieLover do you bait yur fencing, or have you ever baited it, to lure a bear or other predator to sniff the fence and get popped? If so, what did you use (peanut butter, bacon, grease, other?) And do you do this on the regular?

 

[DobieLover]

@DobieLover do you bait yur fencing, or have you ever baited it, to lure a bear or other predator to sniff the fence and get popped?

Never did. Never do. I've never had a breach.

 

[ChixHaven]

X3. I jumped 3 nets together to enclose about 1/3 acre.

No.

The bottom strand is not hot. The rest are. So the bottom strand can touch the ground.

They don't think that way. Instinct tells them to come up and sniff the fence to investigate it. That is when they get a huge correction and are very unlikely to attempt to enter the pen.

One hard pop from the fence is going to deter them from ever coming back. That's why it's so important to power the netting with a very strong charger. I run a 10,000 volt, 1.2 Jewel, well grounded charger. Thus far, it has kept all ground predators out of the pen including the local black bears.

I do not. I have a very large run with a solid roof on it that the chickens can run into for protection. There is also a huge old style Quince bush out there that the flock can completely disappear under. And, until recently, I've always had a rooster on the lookout for them. In the over 6 years my flock has been 10-week-old pullet that was about as far away from aeriel protection as she could get.

Thank you @DobieLover. This was helpful.