Most cost effective fencing?

[docdubz]

If you're out with them and not worried about predators, what's the point of a fence.

Where I would keep them fenced, close to the house and my shop, is safe from predators during the day. But free ranging them I'd definitely run into predator problems. I'll free range eventually but not til I'm hatching eggs.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I use plastic netting on my grow out pen so my littles can see my bigs without the two flocks mixing. No, they don't get tangled up in it. I also use it to keep my poultry out of my raised beds, and sometimes, in combination with some step in plastic fencing, I'll use it to make an outdoor run for a few weeks while I'm getting ready to merge flocks.

I also have some attached to livestock fencing (which serves to keep the goats I don't own yet out of the chicken run) because the holes in it are big enough that my smaller birds can walk right thru it otherwise.

It is absolutely useless as predator protection. Completely, utterly, worthless.

Which is why I have 3 strands of electric fencing stretched 1/2 mile each, plus two more neutral wires to protect the acres where my birds free range.

But for quick fencing on level ground, where your only purpose is to keep some birds (whom you are watching) contained? Its just fine.

Whether its economical to you to put up multiple fences, of differing purpose, or not - not a decision we can make for you.