what kind of electric fence?

[Lbux]

I have had 2 ducks and 3 chickens eaten by a predator (I think it's a fox, raccoon, or a weasel. I thought that maybe electric fence would keep it out, so I was wondering if solar powered or a/c would work better

 

[dlswhit]

Solar powered will definitely be a lot more expensive - if you're near AC power, I'd go with that as the cheaper route. You could also run a battery powered controller which is what I do, off a 12v marine deep cycle battery - you have to charge the battery every 6-8 weeks with a charger though, but it's no big deal... I just run an extension cord with the charger out to the coop which is about 150 feet from the house and let it charge in place...

 

[Chick_a_dee]

I would do plug in if you can. We have a solar fencer for our horse pasture and I LOVE IT and I'm planning on getting one for the chickens too, simply because we don't have power at the coop yet and I can't run an extension cord all the time.

 

[musson]

Solar power is not strong enough to repel much and is a lot more expensive. I have a 10 mile Zareba AC powered charger I got from Tractor Supply for about $70. Their web site also has pictures of how to string up the lines for predator fencing.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp...lture/agriculture_install_an_electric_fence#5

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp...10551_10001_36042_-1______?rFlag=true&cFlag=1

 

[Chick_a_dee]

O rly? My solar fencer is insanely powerful. I paid $100 for it onsale, 10 mile fencer from TSC last year and the other day I was taking food down to the horses and Tetley knocked me and I hit the electric polyrope and it was so strong it gave me like a mini convulsion and the shock threw me a few feet. It was so powerful that Luna bolted. Our plug in is a 50 mile fencer, I would never dare to hit one of those suckers.

Years back I boarded our horses at a large barn with a hard wired fencer, our solar fencer took more out of me than that hard wired fencer did years ago when I hit it.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

BTW, the solar fencers are not meant for multi-line applications, but I could easily hook up another line to the one I have and still have some good juice. But, your fencer is only as good as your grounding system really.
This is the fencer I have, but mines not black it's red :S LOL
http://www.tractorsupply.com/fencin...6-volt-solar-operated-fencer-10-miles-3616266

 

[musson]

Ok, but not my personal experience.

 

[nnbreeder]

Our solar powered Zareba is just as hot as the ac units. It will still jump a spark about 1/4 of an inch and the horses respect it.

My favorite though is one that does not pulse and plugs in to 110 ac. Nothing like a good constant zap to train wild things!

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Quote:
I know right! Ours ACTUALLY knocked the wind out of me!

 

[Lbux]

now I'm using one-inch chicken wire to fill gaps an make floors for the coops instead of electric fence.Because the guy selling the fence charger said a weasel or raccoon could easily go under it.