The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Wildlife => Topic started by: blades on November 03, 2015, 12:42:00 pm
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I have a 4 acre field that is well fenced with rylock and a tight wire top and bottom. I've been creating a wildlife area within this 4 acres with quite a lot of tree planting. Can anyone confirm if the addition of a single electric wire on upright stand off insulators around the top of my fencing would assist in anyway to stop roe deer coming in?
Obviously this would be a much cheaper alternative to deer fencing the whole place. A few people have said the electric wire is 'sensed' by the deer and puts them off? I'd be grateful for anyone else's findings?
Thanks in advance
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We have rylock with a top electric wire as our standard fencing. We still get deer in our fields sometimes as they just jump it. I think if you want to keep them out you will need deer fence.
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A deer fence is probably the best option although I have seen roe's clear a deer fence before.
Long term, if the funds, energy and enthusiasm is high you could plant a hedge next to the fence - over time it will grow, good for wildlife and birds, keep stock in and also if high enough keep deer out.
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Thank you for the replies... Well it looks like electric fencing for them is a non starter... Deer fencing, as much as I would like it, would be too costly... Looks like home made tree guards will be the only solution.
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a local estate has added battens to the top of the posts and 3 strands of electric wire. It has worked for 3 years on roe and fallow but not muntjac protecting new plantations.
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I take my dogs to a supposedly deer proof field. Top is fine - rylock, but would you believe they put chicken wire on the bottom? Presumably to keep out bunnies. The deer just push it in and munch away. That said in 5 years they've only killed three saplings that I can find, in 26 acres.