Chooks & Electric Fence - Yes or No?

[minskey]

Hi all,

Just wanted to know what you think about electric poultry netting - good, safe to use or a little harsh.

I have 7 hens in 50m of poultry net with an energiser, I live in rural Lincs, they are in the paddock & I am paranoid about foxes so thought it would be OK.

Ta

[sewer rat]

Hi all,

Just wanted to know what you think about electric poultry netting - good, safe to use or a little harsh.

I have 7 hens in 50m of poultry net with an energiser, I live in rural Lincs, they are in the paddock & I am paranoid about foxes so thought it would be OK.

Ta

I have two freerange egg farms near me - one small croft size and one large (40,000 chooks) farm - both use elecric fencing to keep their chickens in one place - there is always the occassional escape artist but generally seem to work okay at keeping chickens in place - don't know about keeping foxes out though.

[BrideXIII]

I guess the chickens will learn to steer clear, and anything that will keep mr reynard out is all good.

[Hilary B]

Electric fencing could (if designed for the purpose) be excellent in keeping foxes out. We never actually used it to keep chickens in, but we used it where chickens also were (goat paddock + free-range poultry) and the only feathered thing ever to come to harm was a turkey, and she wasn't actually harmed (she managed to get herself tied up in the electric mesh around the goat area. Once the unit was turned off it took a good 10 mins to untangle her, but she just walked away in a huff!).
I have heard tales of electric fencing being used to keep rabbits off a vegetable patch. The occasional customer puts the fence up for a while before switching on, and finds that the rabbits have already damaged it, so it doesn't work.....

[francesbean]

i want to get an energizer too - as the fencing just isnt enough to keep my girls in.They know where I live and keep escaping looking for the 'treats lady'. So Ithink they are a very sensible solution. Where did you get your energizer from Minskey ?

francesbean

[Flummery]

I gather that the biggest danger is forgetting to switch it on!

[pipscariad]

I've had my 3 hens inside a 25m electric fence since May, and have had no problems at all, and so far (fingers crossed) have been fox free (I dream regularly that they have breached it though, but then I always have wacky dreams!!). I bought the whole kit from farmcare uk on the internet, and it includes a solar panel to charge the battery. I'd recommend it to anyone. The hens haven't had any nasty incidents with it - I think they are so well feathered that it doesnt really affect them. They pecked it a couple of times at first, but steer well clear now!

[minskey]

Hi Francesbean, I was lucky enought to get an 'electric shepherd' from a friend {£30} who had just bought a new one which cost hundreds; one thing to keep in mind is making sure it is for poultry net and don't go near anywhere selling them as 'Pets' or 'Equestrian' as this seems to add £'s. They are available on a well known internet auction site