two circuit electric fence?

[feliciadawn]

I am a new chick owner, with my flock at 2 months old. I have purchased materials for an electric fence, and they are arriving in dribs and drabs. Meanwhile, I have searched everywhere but haven't found an answer to this question. I want to set up two circuits for my electric fence -- a day circuit that encompasses the run, and a night circuit that prevents entry to the coop. My run is actually a good chunk of my backyard, perhaps 1000 sq feet. It filled with all kinds of exotic perennials and shrubs, and it is not possible to have it covered and mechanically secure (for example with hardware cloth.) My coop is secure, but I don't want raccoons or foxes trying the doors and windows every night, just in case someday someone chews a hole and gets in. The idea would be to have an electric fence that prevents entry to the larger run during the day, and prevents entry to the coop at night. So I would need to switch the circuit between day and night. Obviously, during the day the chicks need to be enter the coop, and I need to be able to enter the coop to clean it and add water/food. When it is in night mode, I want anything who tries the door or windows to get shocked.

I figure this would be possible just switching some alligator clips, but want to see if anyone has done this, and if there are foreseeable issues.

 

[Sequel]

I am a new chick owner, with my flock at 2 months old. I have purchased materials for an electric fence, and they are arriving in dribs and drabs. Meanwhile, I have searched everywhere but haven't found an answer to this question. I want to set up two circuits for my electric fence -- a day circuit that encompasses the run, and a night circuit that prevents entry to the coop. My run is actually a good chunk of my backyard, perhaps 1000 sq feet. It filled with all kinds of exotic perennials and shrubs, and it is not possible to have it covered and mechanically secure (for example with hardware cloth.) My coop is secure, but I don't want raccoons or foxes trying the doors and windows every night, just in case someday someone chews a hole and gets in. The idea would be to have an electric fence that prevents entry to the larger run during the day, and prevents entry to the coop at night. So I would need to switch the circuit between day and night. Obviously, during the day the chicks need to be enter the coop, and I need to be able to enter the coop to clean it and add water/food. When it is in night mode, I want anything who tries the door or windows to get shocked.

I figure this would be possible just switching some alligator clips, but want to see if anyone has done this, and if there are foreseeable issues.

I have that set up! We just put a gate handle on which during the day hangs on the coop. I call it my night wire. Hit post too soon. I can take some pics shortly.

 

[feliciadawn]

I have that set up! We just put a gate handle on which during the day hangs on the coop. I call it my night wire. Hit post too soon. I can take some pics shortly

I would love that. Thank you.

 

[Sequel]

 

[Sequel]

I don’t think my pics told you much, haha! We wired the perimeter fence, then wired the coop, and ran a wire with gate handle from coop wire to perimeter fence. Just put a sturdy wire loop in the perimeter wire. Then at night when chickens are locked up you can hook up wire from coop and it’s all hot.

 

[feliciadawn]

ok so you just add the safety handle hook to the perimeter fence in the evening?

 

[Sequel]

ok so you just add the safety handle hook to the perimeter fence in the evening?

Yes. You just have to think about which end to put the handle on so that you don't have your loose wire during the day being hot. DH told me to think about it like water. That's help me a lot, lol Maybe wouldn't hurt anything, but I have 5 gates in my chicken/garden compound and all the handles are hooked on the hot side so no dangling hot wires.