To elctrify or... not.

[Caat]

So Hubby and I are in the process of designing and deciding what/how to fence the chicken yard (it's a cement pad)... Now we are debating whether or not we should put in electrical fencing. Reason being is that we live at the foot of the rockies (litterally) and we have bald eagles, bears and what not. So to keep unwanted critters out of our chicken yard we're thinking about electrifying the fence.

We're considering putting up 2 layers of fence, something stronger like sheep fencing and then a layer of chicken wire. We're also going to be putting a "roof" on our run. I'm even more convinced of NEEDING a roof after watching a bald eagle soar the sky abouve the house and yard.

I'd love your input

 

[spiritdance]

I use electric fencing because I've owned dogs that could make short work of almost any fence, so I imagine a coyote could too. I have one strand at the bottom to prevent predators from digging under and two strands at the top to stop climbing predators. So far (knock on wood) it's worked great.

 

[justbugged]

Quote:
I would electrify.

 

[Garden Gal]

We have electric wire around our chicken yard; at the bottom and again about 18" - 24" up. I doubt it would stop a determined bear, but it certainly will stop dogs, racoons, etc...

 

[Robert Boyd]

Quote:
BEARS umm Im not sure that using Goat panels would stop them..... ELECTRIFY THE POOP OUT OF IT :^}

 

[hennyannie]

I am planning a double layer fence myself. I currently have the coop backing up to the pasture and have had good luck keeping predators away because the horses and donkeys are between the woods and coop.I also have my dogs nighttime digs near the coop. Now I want to use field fence to make a big turn out for the goats and chickens with the coop/run in the center. I think I will use electricity for extra protection from our main predator, neighborhood dogs.

 

[Caat]

Luckily my "pups" are pretty good at keeping most critters out of the yard... but they are kennelled... so there's only so much they can ward off... though I have to admit, if they wanted to get to the chickens well I guess they'll be going on the raw diet... The coop will be built on a cement pad that's about a foot high (there used to be a cabin there) so we are hoping to be able to get the fencing deep enough so that nothing can dig under.

Thank you to all of you for your great input