Question about Hotwire

[Pele]

Hi all,

I am starting to become concerned about my neighbor's dog (trained bird dog, horray

) getting under the fence and getting into my yard.

I have heard several people talk about putting a hotwire around the coop, and I wanted to ask for some clarification about what exactly it was. Is it just a line of electric wire nailed to the base of the coop? A few inches out buried underground? If it is, how do you keep the chickens from getting shocked should they touch the base of the coop? (mine perch on the base frame at the door all the time when I let them out).

Please share your awesome BYC wisdom with me! Thanks in advance!

 

[bryan99705]

It's a system with a charger that puts out a pulse of electric charge every couple of seconds. They come in plug-in models and solar charge models. You can buy step in posts that are pre-insulated and have wire holders built into them (everything has to be properly insulated to prevent grounding out) The wire comes in metal wire, flat tape and braided string styles. Pay attention to properly grounding the system as it affects how hot the charge is.

Typically you set up a perimeter around the bird's area. When setting up to protect birds you need to clear a path or lane for the fence to prevent grass and brush from grounding out the unit although the fences are usually hot enough to kill the occational grass blades that touch it. Set the bottom strand of wire about 3-4 inches off the ground and a second wire a few inches above that since most critters are not very tall. Above that, a couple more wires spaced wider will stop a taller dog. These systems are fast and easy to set up, effective, and easy to relocate as needed. A weedeater ran under the fence occationally and keeping the ground wet around the grounding rod will almost guarantee that unwanted pests will stay away including troublesome kids

The shock will knock

you back a step but will not kill a animal unless it is very small or weak. You can see what happens on YouTube under electric fence shocks.

It's funny to see reactions.

 

[Pele]

Oh wow, thanks for going through a detailed explanation! I was imagining a totally different system.

 

[zengrrl]

I might be checking into this myself, great info!

 

[bakerjw]

If you see a dog sniffing around then you can hang a small aluminum pie plate from the wire and put some dog food in it. One good zap and the dog will shy away from the coop/run for a long long time. Use marshmallows for raccoons.

 

[bryan99705]

Quote:
And set up you're video camera!

 

[Bizzybirdy]

Just make sure you get a "pulsating" fence charger. A while back the jerk at Ace Hardware sold me one (even told me it was safe for my CHICKENS) that wasn't pulsating and it killed one of my geese the next morning. He couldn't get away/let go of it. So sad, plus those are very dangerous to children.

Took it back and didn't even get an apology. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

 

[Pele]

Quote:
Oh my gosh, thank you for adding that on. I'm sorry you had to go through that

 

[harveyhorses]

Wow I didn't even know they were made that didn't pulse, some of us might call that 'house current'.
A neighborhood beagle hit mine, I was actually worried enough to call and make sure he remembered where he lived, it was an loder beagle that I've known for years, and his owners don't let him run.
They found him by his yelping:/
It also hurts a lot worse when it is wet. I have mine around my run and my garden, only thing i've found that works for deer. (tried all the remidies out there, when I sprinkled hair around they just thought I changed shampoo)