Question about electric fencing and weather

[Mom2Cool]

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Funny that you should mention that... my dog just went to visit (aka terrorize) the chickens and encountered the electric fence for the first time. I felt kind of guilty watching him run up there and knowing that he would likely get zapped, but it was bound to happen at some point any way so...

Our yard is very woodsy too and has been overgrown with weeds for years, so I was unable to see what was happening. I did however hear a "yelp!" and saw my dog hauling *** back towards us with his ears down and his tail between his legs.

It must have stung because he hasn't been interested in going over there again, but after he got a belly rub and a few minutes of "Oh, poor doggy, are you okay? Mommy loves you" he was just fine.

My husband did a lot of reading on the Premier1 site and here at BYC before purchasing the fence. The overall consensus seems to be that if you buy an energizer specifically made for the purpose of keeping predators out and livestock in the fences are safe. The high voltage packs a kick but the current is very low because the fences have high resistance, so though they hurt they'll likely a milliamp or so of current.

Actually, I think I will go measure it and report back here too reassure you and myself.

Edited too say: the hubby just got back with the multimeter. He measured at different points along the fence, and depending on where he measured (directly on the wire or on the fencing material), he got between 0.3 - 1 mA. Keep in mind that that is measuring with a meter using a metal probe - a chicken's feathers will help insulate it, and I'd imagine a dog's fur would increase its resistance too so there should be no harm. It takes about 20 mA to kill a human.

LOL well hubby didn't have a meter & so to "test it" just decided he'd stick a finger on it! ROFL & he said "well it's not something I'd do again & I can't imagine any animal making that mistake twice". Later on in the day the chickens walked under it, over it & stepped right on the netting as they went inbetween the wires & weren't even phased by it. Hubby thought it must not be working for some reason but the dog wasn't going any where near it when I went out to get some pictures of the coop & the chicks with the camera. She ALWAYS follows me to the door of the fenced in part & has to be told to "wait out here" but this time she was on the outside of those posts & the white wiring/netting. She is a momma's girl & was doing a bit of whinning when I was cooing to the chicks etc. & the gate I'd walked through was wide open for her to come through but she wouldn't come near it. When my son came home from work (not a kid but a 25 yr. old) hubby said "hey I need to test that electric fence 7 it's gonna sting wanna give it a whirl"? Like father like son...... sure enough it's working. I guess the dogs can feel the charge coming off it? I imagine it'll happen at some point when they're not of their right mind & chasing something, but frankly when we're out there we'll probably keep it off. I just need it for peace of mind when I need to leave home or when we actually want to sleep..... Here's a couple pics of the end result. I'd love to see yours if you've got a pic or 2. I love seeing people's coops &/or set ups for their chickens...

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

We have electric fence for the donkeys - I have roosters that free range - there is nothing funnier than seeing a "full of himself" roo who has ticked his comb on that fence.

They learn to duck very quickly. I say this as I have hit the stupid thing, myself - it is certainly not deadly - just embarrassing to be dumb enough to tick the fence.

We have a pretty strong fence - it's a 10 mile box and we've got it maybe over a couple of acres, but it is the pulse type, so sometimes they hit it and it's ok - the next time they get zapped - then they squawk, jump and run/fly all at the same time.

I don't know how it'll work with snow piled up on it - we don't get that much snow, but if farmers up north have hotwire fencing, it must work in snow. We get TONS of rain - the most we get is a short we have to fix because something fell onto the fence, or it is arcing at a wood post (those ones have nails to hold the resistors on - sometimes it arcs.)

One time I heard it arcing and went to look, and found a cicada had landed touching both the metal post and the wire - you could see the electricity arcing through it's head. It was dead - so yeah, I guess if you're teeny enough, it can be deadly - but chickens aren't that teeny.

Peace -
Meriah

 

[FFChick]

Before we installed an the electric wire at the top of rail/wire mesh fence our dog would jump over it. She was hit twice by cars while crossing the street. I was reluctant to install the electric fence for fear of hurting the dog. My husband figured that maybe the third time the dog got hit by a car would be fatal one. It only took one try at her climbing the fence with the electric that she never it tried again. I was there to watch, she yelped. We have now added the electric fence around our alpacas. It keeps her out of their space. I'm hoping it keeps the coyotees and bears out, too.

 

[Mom2Cool]

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yea see that's what we were expecting that the chickens would get a zap too but they were right ON it and *nothing at all*. That's why hubby thought it wasn't working, but it was working fine when my son "tested it"

And the dog wouldn't go near it and I imagine it's because they can feel the charge coming off of it? Either that or she was just put off because of the white ribbons & they really son't realize yet there is an electric charge..... I'm waiting for when someone toses a ball or a frissbe & it lands inside the fence because my other girl will try bolting right through it. All in time I guess right?

 

[Chirpy]

Electric fences, properly installed, are great for all animals. I've never heard of an animal being killed by an electric fence unless it got hung up in the fence and continually received the shocks; that's really, really rare. There are different types of electric fences, as has been noted on here. Some give off a steady electric 'field' (meaning - you get shocked instantly when you touch it), some are intermittent (which means you have to actually touch/hold it for a moment before you get the shock).

We have the intermittent type for our horses and llamas. We have one wire about 12" off the ground and the other wire about 4 ft. off the ground. I had a 2000 lb. Belgian gelding that loved to walk through my fences. I have llamas that duck between the two wires (when they are off) and get on the road (it's a private road, very little traffic). We turned the wire on and the horse nor llamas ever went through/by the fence again. Yet, my 7 yr. old daughter accidentally touched it and she got a shock but was fine. She said it surprised her!

She's just more aware of it now. I grew up with electric fences and can't count the number of times I was shocked while out playing.

Electric fences work much 'better' if the ground is wet. You know, standing in a pool of water can give you a much hotter shock than standing on dry ground.

Some types of electric fences will ground out if weeds are against it. Most, nowadays, are made so that it doesn't matter at all if there are weeds against it. Ours has weeds against it and it works perfectly.

My teenage boys have done "experiments" with our electric fence. Like, holding hands in a circle and the boy on each end touching the fence.... silly boys. Sorry, but it was hilarious to watch them all jump at the same time as the current went from one to the next.

 

[Mom2Cool]

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It just goes to say that lil boys, teen boys, or *adult boys* it don't matter they're ALL boys & are going to play like this.

 

[MSITHero]

It will work even better in the wet weather. Wetter the better. As long as the charger of course is in a dry area.

 

[MSITHero]

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Is that all you are doing is the PolyTape for your fence? I cant see how that would keep the chickens in.

And for next time, the bare wire is cheaper and more effective against predators then tape. Also you dont need the posts that you used right next to your wood posts. For a lot less money you can buy insulators that screw to the wood posts and then your tape (as you are using) or wire connects to that. Much cheaper.

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
Is that all you are doing is the PolyTape for your fence? I cant see how that would keep the chickens in.

And for next time, the bare wire is cheaper and more effective against predators then tape. Also you dont need the posts that you used right next to your wood posts. For a lot less money you can buy insulators that screw to the wood posts and then your tape (as you are using) or wire connects to that. Much cheaper.

MSITHero that's absolutely correct.... and the bare wire with the screws in the post are exactly what we'd used on the fence that fences in the entire back yard. The fence you are seeing is just what fences in the chicken coop & so we'd done the white tape so that the dogs & people would *see it*. It isn't meant to keep in chickens but keep preditors out.... I had a couple of cubs bears wailing pretty loud & long after grabing hold of it.

The chickens actually have an enclosed area just off the coop. Most preditors don't make it past the golden retrievers notice & the coop & really we didn't need the electric fence at all except for the bears who we all seem to have an issue with here in NJ. We used the white tape around the coop just long enough to finish the entire yard & yes then we used the exact thing you speak of. Hearing how bears have been known to "blow through them we've decided to leave up the extra layer of protection for the coop. The dogs recognize the white tape & stay clear.

But yes you're correct in your thought of the wire working better & no the tape wouldn't keep chickens in just preditors out...

 

[esjro]

Mom2Cool,

You are in NJ? Me too (Delaware Township). Where did you buy your coop? I was looking for one locally but ended up buying a ChickNBarn via mail order.