The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Here is their highest fence. Keep in mind that this is PERMA net - it would be very hard to move around and re-set due to the height and weight. 5' 8" HIgh

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=24231&cat_id=53

 

[aoxa]

The electric netting for chickens go to 4 ft (48") I think they may have higher for other animal types.

One thing everyone needs to know on the electric fences...you have to keep the ground where it is mowed low so that it doesn't ground out on grass or weeds. That may make a difference for some folks on whether they want to use it. Some use a chemical week killer along the fence lines but since this is a Natural chicken thread probably those here wouldn't want to do that.

It's not that hard to keep the weeds/grass down low where it is but some folks may have areas that they can't take care of like that.

How low are we talking? Do I need to weed whack?

 

[Charlieandlola]

I have electric poultry netting, not permanet, but poultry net plus. Yes you have to move the fence and mow the grass to keep it fairly short. The bottom wire is not electric. This summer was extremely dry where I live and I only had to cut the grass twice to keep it low enough. I had the fence in an area with very tall weeds/grass, so I just took the gas trimmer and made a path, then put the fence up. I didn't get all the way down to the ground with the trimmer and the fence worked fine. The one thing I don't like about the poultry net is that if you have very dry ground, it's hard to put the posts in/easy to bend the spike. It was so dry this year that I had to pre-drill the holes when I moved the fence to a new location. Also, a couple chickens liked to fly over the fence, I had to clip their wings, but that's a different story.

 

[Leahs Mom]

For the weeds - you can't weed whak when the fence is up...you have to take it down or you will cut the fence.

-If you're moving the fence to a different location, just do the mowing or whaking where you are going to lay it out before setting it up.

-If you're leaving the fence in the same place but the grass/weeds have grown and you need to shorten them, you can just pull the fence posts out and lay the fence right there where it was - just away from the actual fence line. Then just mow or whak the line and replace the fence.

I'm trying to find an excerpt on it...the very bottom line is not energized so you have a little leeway before having to whack/mow.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Look on this page, at the pdfs (scroll down to the lists) under the topic: Netting Instructions. Lots of basic info from the catalog there.

http://www.premier1supplies.com/instructions.php

 

[aoxa]

For the weeds - you can't weed whak when the fence is up...you have to take it down or you will cut the fence.

-If you're moving the fence to a different location, just do the mowing or whaking where you are going to lay it out before setting it up.

-If you're leaving the fence in the same place but the grass/weeds have grown and you need to shorten them, you can just pull the fence posts out and lay the fence right there where it was - just away from the actual fence line. Then just mow or whak the line and replace the fence.

I'm trying to find an excerpt on it...the very bottom line is not energized so you have a little leeway before having to whack/mow.

It's mostly just to keep them in, not keep other animals out. I don't think I'd even have it on a whole lot.. My grass grows like crazy here. Moving the fence often will be a pain. So I'll probably just do a smaller area for them. Our ground is so hard to put fencing up. There is a lot of gravel under the grass, and it was hard enough to put those plastic fence posts in for a little grow out pen. Not looking forward to that installation! I'm thinking permanent would be a better idea in our situation.

 

[aoxa]

Look on this page, at the pdfs (scroll down to the lists) under the topic: Netting Instructions. Lots of basic info from the catalog there.

http://www.premier1supplies.com/instructions.php

Quote:

young child’s head came in contact with an electrified fence wire while the

child was crawling through wet grass. The fence was correctly installed
and functioning properly. The energizer was a small plug-in unit and
UL approved. The fence wire was electroplastic twine—a relatively poor
conductor compared to steel, copper or aluminum wire.
We strongly caution adults to keep all small children away from all
electrified fences. Children should be warned not to play in an area where
electrified fences exist. Individuals of all ages should take extra care to
avoid accidentally contacting electrified fences with their head or neck.
That is terrifying!

 

[delisha]

Good morning everyone!
I see we have new posters! Welcome to the group and keep posting!
Have fun in Hawaii !!
When you guys get back you will have tons of reading to do.

Maybe we should do a spring hatch lesson..so many chickens will be going into broody mood..maybe we can start off

To brood or not to brood
How to break a broody hen

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Maybe we should do a spring hatch lesson..so many chickens will be going into broody mood..maybe we can start off

To brood or not to brood
How to break a broody hen

Yes Please

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

young child’s head came in contact with an electrified fence wire while the

child was crawling through wet grass. The fence was correctly installed
and functioning properly. The energizer was a small plug-in unit and
UL approved. The fence wire was electroplastic twine—a relatively poor
conductor compared to steel, copper or aluminum wire.
We strongly caution adults to keep all small children away from all
electrified fences. Children should be warned not to play in an area where
electrified fences exist. Individuals of all ages should take extra care to
avoid accidentally contacting electrified fences with their head or neck.
That is terrifying!

Yes. ANYONE who has ANY kind of electric fence must know that is a risk.

The energizers "pulse" in an "on-off" pulse and usually when the fence is touched the immediate response is to pull back. If you are a baby crawling...well... I'd hope that folks with electric fencing on their lots would monitor their children and visitors.

ALL ELECTRIC FENCES SHOULD BE CLEARLY MARKED WITH SIGNAGE STATING IT'S ELECTRIC.

My electronets have signs on them about every 6 feet stating WARNING! ELECTRIC FENCING.