Simplest Electric Fence Ever...Cheep!

[limited25]

That is really nice, expert advise and reimbursement. Congratulations.

 

[mobius]

Why thank you!

 

[aart]

It was fully tested and all shorts corrected...mostly due to run HW cloth ends sticking out from the builder...bent it all back inside the wood so all set. Fully high charge per tester....not weak charge (9 volts?)

It IS grounded...see the green knob on the charger? There is polywire attached to the grounding plug and then run/stapled down the side of the coop and attached to hardware cloth at the base of the coop/run that touches the ground. With a knot. It is simply that grounding rods not needed...bear expert tested and confirmed...hope this helps...

9 volts or 9000 volts?

 

[mobius]

You are right @aart , 9.8kV max. Showing 9 kV on the tester as well as on the unigizer. I am not an expert! I relied on the experts to show me what to do and followed their input...I am very very good at other things (like following directions) but electric is not my strong point. Which is why I was leery to begin with about electric fencing for chickens but if I can do it, anyone can...that's my main point. DECORATIVE electric fencing, however, I am really good at that!

 

[aart]

Good big diff between 9V and 9kV....needed to clarify for those who might not catch that.

Guided by experts.... who checked your work in person(?)...and showed you how to test?.....I'd say you're set.
...and you got half the cost back?

It's been running all summer? Only on at night so you can access everything during day time?
Have any bears 'test' the system for you...maybe caught on game cam?

Bear scare the h3ll out of me.....really glad they are not around here.

 

[mobius]

Good big diff between 9V and 9kV....needed to clarify for those who might not catch that.

@aart yes thanks for the correction duh on me

Guided by experts.... who checked your work in person(?)...and showed you how to test?.....I'd say you're set.
...and you got half the cost back?

Ummm yes. Bear expert funded by our tax dollars. Remarkable. And the reimbursement is done through private donations, not government funded. It is a non-profit tho.

It's been running all summer? Only on at night so you can access everything during day time?

Yes exactly. Turn it off in the am, turn it on at night. Little slider switch.

Have any bears 'test' the system for you...maybe caught on game cam?

No but the bear expert had some funny stories with game cam evidence.

I think I have had one invasion, likely a racoon, who got under perimeter fence and snagged some polywire off in one corner, which I easily restapled, but no other evidence. Out here? That is really good.

Bear scare the h3ll out of me.....really glad they are not around here.

umm yes again. Well. Haha! I didn't think it was a problem either. Have you ever seen a pomeranian flush a bear? However, this is useful for ALL predators. I did NOT want to do it, but I suspect I would have far fewer molting, non-producing slacker lay-abouts than I do now~if I hadn't~

 

[MTchicklady]

Hmmm I will definitely attach my energizer to the hardware cloth I'm installing as well then, thanks! I need to let mine out to free range and can't be home always so my system will be on 24/7 but this will add a second layer to the system in case they get around the fence.

 

[mobius]

Hmmm I will definitely attach my energizer to the hardware cloth I'm installing as well then, thanks! I need to let mine out to free range and can't be home always so my system will be on 24/7 but this will add a second layer to the system in case they get around the fence.

Very good idea and creative! The critters put their paws up or sniff with nose to test for weaknesses...that is what bear guy told me...that is why this works...just use a tester to make sure it is live...if the predators touch the HW cloth they will get stung.

 

[Leighe]

Will try to post proper details here....

I found out about an electric fence reimbursement program in parts of the Rocky Mountain States:

I am super excited to learn recently about an Electric Fencing Incentive Program. There are many bears in my neighborhood and they are waking up. New chicken owner here....

No food outside, no garbage, food taken in every night, coop like Fort Knox...hardware cloth? Doesn't matter. Perimeter fence, chain link? Doesn't matter.

Do I want to do this? No...but I have to. I live in the base of the Rockies, smack up against the west foothills, 60 miles from the Continental Divide. Is it gorgeous? Yes. Are there bears here? OMG.

So I researched the living you know what out of electric fencing. I was uber lucky to talk with the local head of Fish Wildlife and Parks a couple days ago at a friend's party. He said: Electric Fence. I said: Ick, really. Well, short story long, that discussion spurred me on to research the heck out of it ( and I am not fond of electricity). Yup. Gotta do it. He was right. Grrrrr....izzly....

OK. Then.

I run across an amazing incentive program: 50% of cost up to $500 will be reimbursed (meaning I believe you could spend 1K and get reimbursed $500). Doesn't matter if it is just around coop or around perimeter fencing, or a new fenced area. Talked to the gentleman today and with some paperwork, receipts, etc, I will get reimbursed. He will even help with a materials list and planning if I send him pics. This is for black bears , grizz, you name it.

The Incentive Program covers Montana, Idaho, Washington State, and Wyoming (specific counties). Colorado also has this program and I don't know where else, these are the ones I have found.

I know, I know, you all want a link:

www.defenders.org/got-grizzlies

http://bearsmartdurango.org/electric-fencing/ (for Colorado)

I am floored and quite happy: I can get expert advice, protect chickens (and bears), and get reimbursed!! Ya gotta LOVE it!

It is first come first serve. Don't wait til the money runs out. I got a next day pleasant, informative response to my voicemail inquiry.

Boy, wouldn't that be nice to get reimbursed to protect my chickens! I absolutely loved reading your entire "ebook" on setting up electric on a coop. I now have to go look at how I can apply it to my set up. Scared.To.Death.of.Electric.

 

[mobius]

Thank you Thank you!

I was super scared too. But it was so easy, have to say. Reimbursement, you know, you could call those Rocky Mountain links on the phone and see if they know of anything for Texas...you have coyotes and racoons and so on!

One of the reasons they have this reimbursement program here is that it costs FAR more to find and rehome a bear that is predating...and the officials have to do that...

Also maybe one of YOUR fish wildlif and parks guys could come out to advise you even if there isn't a reimbursement program.

As far as cost, probably $200-250 for any size...if you do the coop/run...the only variant is the amount of polywire and it comes in big spools.