Author Topic: out to grass or not, electric fence question? (Read 5441 times)

zeeteecee · « **on:** June 13, 2012, 06:36:27 am »

I have recently bought more hens & my hubby and I are finding the workload a bit of a chore as there are now three sheds & small flocks to do.we have a small paddock & wondered if the free ranging flock running free would be an option? We have foxes by the carload in the area so wondered how effective electric fencing would be as I've never used it for poultry before?
Any help or advice you guys may have would help us immensely.thankyou.

jaykay · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2012, 07:37:52 am »

Is this the sort of stuff you were thinking of?
http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/50m_Poultry_Netting.html

I've never used it, as fortunately we don't have many foxes, but I understand it's effective if well maintained and the only real way to keep bigger flocks safe in foxy areas (as with all electric fencing, weeds growing through it will earth it etc.).

zeeteecee · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2012, 07:49:19 am »

We have some for our pigs so I understand about the risk of shorting out.just wondering how fox proof really.I think I may get some & give it a go. So long so don't put it near to our trees I think it should be ok.
Next question, is it ok to mix my flocks now,18 month old &20 week olds?I have enough space to keep them separate if need be.

Sylvia · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2012, 08:33:29 am »

A lot of people swear by it. I tried it and foxy jumped over the top of it, killed all my birds, then had to leave them there as he couldn't jump back out carrying one.

Eeyore · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2012, 01:30:24 pm »

Hello, We have foxes and they are around throughout the day - they use the cover of the crops to hide in. I have a number of ducks - pets. I really didn't want foxy to eat my ducks so I errected a 6ft high fence and on the outside of the fence I have an electric stock fence (the netting type). I looked into what type of energiser is best to keep the foxes out and it said the more "kick" it gives off the better. If the fox touched the fence and got a strong enough "kick" then it wouldn't try it again. This has worked for me. The other thing to add is when you put up the electric netting fence to angle the fence outwards slightly - it prevents the fox from getting too close and makes it more difficult if the fox wanted to jump it. I use a Hotline Gemini 120 to power a 50m electric stock fence and it does the job. I wouldn't use the electric fence without a 6ft chicken wire fence inbetween as I wouldn't want the ducks to get an electric shock - it is also another barrier for the fox.
I hope this helps.

zeeteecee · « **Reply #5 on:** June 13, 2012, 05:57:50 pm »

Thankyou,I am still deciding what to do, I have heard that running an electrified tape around the outside of the netting, fixed about a foot high and the same distance from the fencing helps deter the fox too.I am really not sure what to do?

zeeteecee · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2012, 02:57:11 am »

Have found something interesting,122cm high poultry netting, with double pronged pole
s for strength and a gate arrangement included.seems quite reasonably priced too,50m at £152 inc our there snouts..think I'm tempted to go for that if Amy at all.does anyone use just electric fencing, not in conjunction with anything else.how successful is it in this case?

zeeteecee · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2012, 07:12:11 am »

Typos! L meant
Or there about!
It was early!!

funkyfish · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2012, 08:24:16 am »

We use poultry netting only. We have 2x 50m double pronged stuff with a enegiser which has a solar pannel trickle charger on top. Pricey but gives a hell of a kick! It is very effective at stopping foxes.

One hen decided to fly over (we do wing clip but hadn't been able to catch her to re do her), and was a pile of feathers. No other birds were taken. We also have guinea pigs in non fox proo runs within 50m sheep netting and they have been safe for almost 2 years- fox could easily jump over as our dog can.

I don't think what we have is 100% but it's worked so far.

zeeteecee · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2012, 08:40:21 am »

That's good to hear, I will certainly buy the netting, we have an energiser which says itwill do quarter if a mile so should give a kick to it!
But I will make sure I clip feathers!! $:-\$

AllenFrost · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2012, 12:58:02 pm »

I use the electronet fence (from Premiere1 in the US) which is made in New Zealand I think. I also use a solar charger. I move it around the pasture with my mobile chicken coop on wheels so the chooks always have fresh grass and bugs to eat. It is important when setting up electric net fence to cut the grass under the fence so the grass does not short out the circuit and reduce the amount of shock to the foxes. I have not lost one chick to any predators so far with only using the fence 36"high ( about 90cm?)
It is said that once the predator touches the fence with his nose and gets a good shock he will no longer be too interested in breaking through so it is important that the first time he approaches he gets a real good shock. The chicks have touched it but they only squawk and then move away. The feathers tend to insulate them from the shock but they will not try to get out. I have had friends using chicken wire fences that have lost almost all of their chicks to predators and I have not lost one yet. I also lock them up tight at night for double protection.