Keeping chickens contained

[jp57]

We are trying to get our property to where we can let our dogs out without having to take them out on a leash. They go after the chickens, so we moved the chickens to the rear of the property so they have their coop, enclosure, and a field they can free range on and share with our goats. They keep hopping the fence (4') and going into the area that we would like the dogs to roam. They fly up to the top of the fence, and then jump off. Would a low voltage electric line at the top of the fence be enough of a deterrent?

 

[annaBsChick]

Can your dogs not get crawl underneath the fence? I guess it depends on what kind of fence your talking about.

 

[jp57]

It is a post and rail fence with heavy wire into the ground to stop the dogs from getting out and to stop predators from getting in.

 

[aart]

They fly up to the top of the fence, and then jump off. Would a low voltage electric line at the top of the fence be enough of a deterrent?

You'd need both a ground and a hot that they would land on at the same time.
Even then they might just fly right over without landing.
You could add a couple feet of floppy chicken wire at top of fence so they can't land.

 

[chickens really]

My friend actually just ran an electric one line wire around her Coop about a foot up off the ground and the Dogs will not touch a Chicken even if it gets out. The Dogs associate the jolt to the birds..

 

[Miss Eliza]

I’m not sure an electric wire would help contain the chickens. I think they need to be grounded to set a shock. It would keep the dogs out but that’s not your issue.