Will electric fencing work?

[henaynei]

My land is too uneven and steep for chicken tractor Tried it.... both chickshaw type and ground level type.
chickshaw too hard to get up and down steep hills, ground level type too many large gaps around the bottom.
want to free-range but not practicable here, too many ground and air predators: hawk, owl, crow, fox, bobcat, opossum, raccoon, coyote, black bear, and loose dogs. Yes, we have quite a healthy ecosystem.

 

[Molpet]

anybody with $$ to spend on electric chicken nets, they are having a sale according to their email below... I have some, mainly used ones, they work well.


Thank you for your business, comments and product reviews throughout 2018.

We’re excited to begin 2019 with over 7,500 product reviews submitted by users just like you! Whether you’ve got livestock in the pasture or a flock of chickens in the backyard, our customer reviews can give you the confidence to make the right decision.

To express our gratitude, we’re offering 10% OFF our retail price on all in-stock electric netting, net gates and netting kits. Enter the promotional code WINTERNET9 during checkout to take advantage of this special pricing.

We look forward to providing you with the best field-tested farm supplies and equipment for years to come.

—The folks at Premier 1


https://www.premier1supplies.com/poultry/fencing.php


Orders must be placed on or before January 14th!

10% OFF PROMO CODE*
WINTERNET9

* Discount only available on orders placed between 12:01 a.m. (CT) Jan. 10 and 11:59 p.m. (CT) Jan. 14, 2019. Discount does not apply to previously placed orders. Offer applies exclusively to in-stock retail priced electrifiable nets, net gates and netting kitspurchased at premier1supplies.com. Closeouts and used items are excluded. Cannot be combined with any other promotional offer.

 

[Howard E]

Hi y’all

I am considering getting some electric net fencing for my chickens. I’m too old to have to keep moving cattle panel fencing.

My problem is that my chickens don’t try to go under my 4 ft. cattle panel fence, they fly over. Even though I’ve cut everyone's flight feathers on both wings.

I don’t see how an electric fence will stop them since if they touch the top they will not get shocked as they won’t be grounded.

Any one have some insight or suggestions?
Thanks

Insight? Yes! A willingness to accept suggestions? That's up to you.

I think most folks understanding of how electric fences work to confine and repel animals is lacking. An effective fence is not a physical fence at all. It's a mental one.

Case in point being chickens........would you believe this simple fence keeps my birds off the patio?



The same birds that will fly onto or over a nearly 4' high chain link fence will not cross this dinky little hot wire that is only 5 inches or so high. Will not do it. They paid no mind whatsoever to a 2' high plastic fence......but respect this. So what gives?

They were trained early on that the simple little white thing (it is a single strand of 1/2" poly electric fence tape) dishes out the most painful experience they have had to date, and to avoid similar pain, they avoid the tape. Will approach it....to within a foot or so, but do not cross it. When being trained, most will step on it and get zapped on the bottom of their foot. They launch, go outside, strut around trying to find a way to get back in, and most just simply hop over it to get back in. They could just as easily hop back out, but don't. Probably the fear that when they come back down, they will get another dose of whatever it was they got the first time. So again, a mental barrier.

This is the setup they were trained on......



That is what keeps my birds in. It also keeps predators out and for the same reason. Predators trying to cross and enhanced (3 or 4 wire low fence) will invariably get zapped and want no more part of that, so simply stay away. Same issue.....what awaits them on the other side? If more of the same of what they got last time, why risk that? Again, not physical barrier at all.....strictly a mental one.

When they are being trained, they will step on that tape, or not, and if not, will step over it to get out. Don't be discouraged. They all have to get it once, sometimes twice before the fear of another jolt makes it not worth the risk of trying. The fence shown was the only thing used to confine those birds within that garden area and it did so for about 4 months.......from brooder until they started laying.

Once trained, the birds stay in. To then use the same fence to keep predators out, I up that to 3 or 4 wires. Highest about 20 inches off the deck. Electric netting would work to, but is more work and more expense. I prefer the poly tape or wire fences.

 

[centrarchid]

Can we revisit your wing clipping? A picture of the wings as they currently look is needed. What breed are you trying to confine?

 

[henaynei]

oh!! I'll have to check that out - hope it lasts until my next check!!!

anybody with $$ to spend on electric chicken nets, they are having a sale according to their email below... I have some, mainly used ones, they work well.


Thank you for your business, comments and product reviews throughout 2018.

We’re excited to begin 2019 with over 7,500 product reviews submitted by users just like you! Whether you’ve got livestock in the pasture or a flock of chickens in the backyard, our customer reviews can give you the confidence to make the right decision.

To express our gratitude, we’re offering 10% OFF our retail price on all in-stock electric netting, net gates and netting kits. Enter the promotional code WINTERNET9 during checkout to take advantage of this special pricing.

We look forward to providing you with the best field-tested farm supplies and equipment for years to come.

—The folks at Premier 1


https://www.premier1supplies.com/poultry/fencing.php


Orders must be placed on or before January 14th!

10% OFF PROMO CODE*
WINTERNET9

* Discount only available on orders placed between 12:01 a.m. (CT) Jan. 10 and 11:59 p.m. (CT) Jan. 14, 2019. Discount does not apply to previously placed orders. Offer applies exclusively to in-stock retail priced electrifiable nets, net gates and netting kitspurchased at premier1supplies.com. Closeouts and used items are excluded. Cannot be combined with any other promotional offer.

Can we revisit your wing clipping? A picture of the wings as they currently look is needed. What breed are you trying to confine?

 

[henaynei]

Hey, I've been away, sorry
I'll try to get picks this week.
Breeds: Java, Amerarucana, and Leghorn (I know Leghorns are strong and determined fliers )

Can we revisit your wing clipping? A picture of the wings as they currently look is needed. What breed are you trying to confine?

 

[centrarchid]

Hey, I've been away, sorry
I'll try to get picks this week.
Breeds: Java, Amerarucana, and Leghorn (I know Leghorns are strong and determined fliers )

What I have fly circles around leghorns, yet proper wing clipping can keep them grounded.

 

[henaynei]

So right, we've been working on putting up a metal wire electric fence. Both to keep dogs out and chickens in. The coop and run are currently at a neighbor's home - she's a friend and wanted the chickens to watch and help care for them.
She and I are both disabled and with the weather having been very and constantly wet, and cold, and her land rather steep clay base that is very slick we've had to do it in stages. I told her that when we're finished the first time the chickens try to go through it (like they have been doing since it is off) that the first time they touch it and get zapped they are unlikely to try to fly over since they have not had to fly over that barrier in the past.
I'm much more concerned about her dogs - 2 energetic and dedicated Labs with heavy winter coats. IF either of those challenges the fence at a run they could break through and zap or not once through it will be a free for all with them chasing and trying to catch chickens. We WILL be doing careful introductions/lessons with the dogs, trust me!

Insight? Yes! A willingness to accept suggestions? That's up to you.

I think most folks understanding of how electric fences work to confine and repel animals is lacking. An effective fence is not a physical fence at all. It's a mental one.

Case in point being chickens........would you believe this simple fence keeps my birds off the patio?

View attachment 1640870

The same birds that will fly onto or over a nearly 4' high chain link fence will not cross this dinky little hot wire that is only 5 inches or so high. Will not do it. They paid no mind whatsoever to a 2' high plastic fence......but respect this. So what gives?

They were trained early on that the simple little white thing (it is a single strand of 1/2" poly electric fence tape) dishes out the most painful experience they have had to date, and to avoid similar pain, they avoid the tape. Will approach it....to within a foot or so, but do not cross it. When being trained, most will step on it and get zapped on the bottom of their foot. They launch, go outside, strut around trying to find a way to get back in, and most just simply hop over it to get back in. They could just as easily hop back out, but don't. Probably the fear that when they come back down, they will get another dose of whatever it was they got the first time. So again, a mental barrier.

This is the setup they were trained on......

View attachment 1640874 View attachment 1640876

That is what keeps my birds in. It also keeps predators out and for the same reason. Predators trying to cross and enhanced (3 or 4 wire low fence) will invariably get zapped and want no more part of that, so simply stay away. Same issue.....what awaits them on the other side? If more of the same of what they got last time, why risk that? Again, not physical barrier at all.....strictly a mental one.

When they are being trained, they will step on that tape, or not, and if not, will step over it to get out. Don't be discouraged. They all have to get it once, sometimes twice before the fear of another jolt makes it not worth the risk of trying. The fence shown was the only thing used to confine those birds within that garden area and it did so for about 4 months.......from brooder until they started laying.

Once trained, the birds stay in. To then use the same fence to keep predators out, I up that to 3 or 4 wires. Highest about 20 inches off the deck. Electric netting would work to, but is more work and more expense. I prefer the poly tape or wire fences.

 

[Molpet]

oh!! I'll have to check that out - hope it lasts until my next check!!!

Today is the last day of the sale

 

[henaynei]

Today is the last day of the sale

Oh, well, "what's for ya' won't miss ya'" I'm 2 weeks before next pay check...