The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lazy gardener]

Oh yeah, they have to come down BEFORE the ground freezes. THAT chore is one that can't be delayed. I also use my tester often to be sure the fence is doing it's job. I stick a bare toe into the grass while holding the fence.

 

[armorfirelady]

Yep.  Definitely have to take them down before the snow.

Last year I waited till the first snow we got. It was light and I wanted the girls out on the ground as long as possible. It also gave the cover crop I put in the garden time to grow before they devoured it.

 

[aoxa]

I planned to take them down in the winter. I think moving them when I mow is my only option. I have a huge mower.. Like a big tractor with a mowing deck that trails behind. It's going to be tough to do, but we will do it at least every other week I guess. No avoiding it :/

I don't think my single rabbit will mess with it when it is live. That would be one crazy rabbit!

 

[armorfirelady]

I planned to take them down in the winter. I think moving them when I mow is my only option. I have a huge mower.. Like a big tractor with a mowing deck that trails behind. It's going to be tough to do, but we will do it at least every other week I guess. No avoiding it :/

I don't think my single rabbit will mess with it when it is live. That would be one crazy rabbit!

Honestly while it takes a few extra minutes to move it its really not that bad. I move the fencing in towards where the hens are then mow it then move it back out. (If I am not going to move it to a new area) I then open an end so that I can mow with the tractor inside the electric netting where the hens are. My girls stay out of the way & trail me to pick up the bugs

 

[Kassaundra]

You guys are giving me an anxiety attack willy nilly touching and moving electric fences, clicking, touching it w/ your toe on the grass!!!!

My Gparents had an jerry rigged electric fence they wired directly to the house electricity. When I was about 10 I accidentally grabbed the wire instead of the handle, contracted my hands on to the fence and couldn't let go. Got bad electric burns on my hands couldn't move my arms (b/c of intense pain) for several weeks. The only way I got off was my gma heard me screaming and shut it off at the breaker box in the house.

To this day that clicking makes me break out in a sweat and hyperventilate.

 

[armorfirelady]

You guys are giving me an anxiety attack willy nilly touching and moving electric fences, clicking, touching it w/ your toe on the grass!!!!

My Gparents had an jerry rigged electric fence they wired directly to the house electricity. When I was about 10 I accidentally grabbed the wire instead of the handle, contracted my hands on to the fence and couldn't let go. Got bad electric burns on my hands couldn't move my arms (b/c of intense pain) for several weeks. The only way I got off was my gma heard me screaming and shut it off at the breaker box in the house.

To this day that clicking makes me break out in a sweat and hyperventilate.

Oh no I DO NOT touch it while its plugged in. In fact I check at least twice after I unplug it to make sure its unplugged. Once I accidently touched the connection piece that was not connected to another piece & zapped myself. NEVER AGAIN Those hanging connection pieces are now wrapped with half a roll of electrical tape so that doesn't happen again

 

[lazy gardener]

Kass, I can understand your fear regarding electric fencing after that experience. The jerry-rigged fence that your grand-parents had was very unsafe and so not right on so many levels. But, the fence that is run with a controller is very different. The controller modulates the current going through the fence, so it's not too strong. The pulsing that you hear is the actual "on time" for the current. I can grab right hold of the live wires on my fence and not feel a thing if my shoes are dry. My fence is run from a deep cycle 12V battery. The youngsters, until they got too big, would run through the lower holes on the fence with impunity. Their scaly feet and feathers make them much less prone to shock. The foolish ninnies still try to dive through the fence (with impunity) instead of going around to the open gate. Shock doesn't happen unless the object in contact with the wires is also well grounded to the ground. So, Mr. Coon, Fox, Dog, and even Bear, with their fleshy padded feet and inquisitive paws or little wet noses close the circuit quite nicely. The electronet fencing enclosure is completed and an opening provided by having the 2 end posts in close proximity to each other. To enter the enclosure, I pull one end post out of the ground, and put it right back in place behind me, or place it off to the side to "open the gate". Of course, if it's raining, I wear boots instead of open heeled crocs, and I never go through the fence barefooted! I never even bother to turn the fence off unless I am moving it. I would caution any one with children under the age of 4, and anyone with cardiac issues (internal pacemaker, defibrillator), but otherwise, it's awesome!

 

[LindaB220]

Kass, I can understand your fear regarding electric fencing after that experience. The jerry-rigged fence that your grand-parents had was very unsafe and so not right on so many levels. But, the fence that is run with a controller is very different. The controller modulates the current going through the fence, so it's not too strong. The pulsing that you hear is the actual "on time" for the current. I can grab right hold of the live wires on my fence and not feel a thing if my shoes are dry. My fence is run from a deep cycle 12V battery. The youngsters, until they got too big, would run through the lower holes on the fence with impunity. Their scaly feet and feathers make them much less prone to shock. The foolish ninnies still try to dive through the fence (with impunity) instead of going around to the open gate. Shock doesn't happen unless the object in contact with the wires is also well grounded to the ground. So, Mr. Coon, Fox, Dog, and even Bear, with their fleshy padded feet and inquisitive paws or little wet noses close the circuit quite nicely. The electronet fencing enclosure is completed and an opening provided by having the 2 end posts in close proximity to each other. To enter the enclosure, I pull one end post out of the ground, and put it right back in place behind me, or place it off to the side to "open the gate". Of course, if it's raining, I wear boots instead of open heeled crocs, and I never go through the fence barefooted! I never even bother to turn the fence off unless I am moving it. I would caution any one with children under the age of 4, and anyone with cardiac issues (internal pacemaker, defibrillator), but otherwise, it's awesome!

Yes, I was pretty much like Kassaundra on the fear factor. This makes me feel so much better.

 

[Kassaundra]

I know the problem was w/ the way they set it up, and yes very unsafe. With what I know now I am surprised it didn't stop my heart since the circuit went across both arms so right at heart level. I know properly done electric fence is safe and effective, however I doubt I would ever be able to use one.

 

[lazy gardener]

Kass, I had the same thought when you told your story. It's a miracle you are alive to tell about it. I do think twice when bending over the elec fence!