Questions about electric fence

[PhiberOptikx]

I am fed up with feeding the wildlife fresh chicken. We have lost 6 birds in two weeks to predators here while letting them free range. So I am ready to build a fence. The issue is that I don't want to build a giant fully enclosed bird aviary. I don't really like the look of them and am really only interested in keeping out things with teeth at the moment. So, my plan was to build a 5' high fence like in the picture. My plan was to run a single strand over the top so that raccoons couldn't just climb the fence. However, if I understand correctly this would not work because the raccoon has to be touching the ground to receive a shock correct? Or, since the raccoon would be standing on metal wire that is buried in the ground would it still work? I know that I could just put the strand about 8" off the ground around the base but I am concerned it would just jump over the wire and climb the fence. Any help would be appreciated here
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[btguy]

that would work provided a) the wire is grounded. (this just means connect a little bare wire to it and then bury the rest of the bare wire) b) the fence wire and shock wire are positioned so that an animal can't go under or over without touching it firmly (fur provides some insulation) c) aerial predators are dealt with separately. they make a fence that has insulated wiring throughout so that the whole think is a shock wire but it can be a little pricey. like premier PoultryNet.

 

[PhiberOptikx]

Ok, I am clear on everything aside from point "A." Are you saying I should try to electrify the entire fence, or are you saying that as long as the 2x4" hardware cloth has good contact with the ground that it will allow the animal to be grounded (shocked) as long as it is touching both the fence wire and hot wire simultaneously? I plan to bury the wire about 18" out from the fence to prevent any digging so I would hope that would ground it well enough.

 

[btguy]

that the 2x4 wire must be grounded for a hot wire to shock something touching only the hot wire and the fence. vinyle coated wont work well as the vinyl will act as an insulator. burying part of the wire would do perfectly well.