Electric fencing - advice please!

[Suechooks]

Recently bought some electric poultry netting and after Maureen's loss decided it was time to use it. I plan to put it as supplementary fencing outside the new run which is usual post and wire etc and should be fox proof but has not been in use long so not yet put to test:confused.
The problem is the posts seem to be so bendy that it's impossible to tension the netting and its trailing on the ground or flapping about and touching the run wire.
Second problem is that I don't need to use the full length so have several yards left at the end.
1. How does everyone tension the netting
2. Can i leave some in a bundle at the end?

Have found a couple of links on internet already but just wondered how other grapes manage.

[RichmondHens]

You don't need to use the whole roll - roll out the length you require and then leave the unused bit at the end in a roll and then fasten to a post to keep stable.

You can buy extra tension rods (there are several types - we go for the green plastic ones with different level hooks down one side and a double prong at the bottom) - we get packs of 10 or 20. To tide you over though a bamboo cane with a slot cut in the top to take the top wire will suffice.

[Suechooks]

Thanks for that RH. I guessed I'd need extra posts as the ones supplied just don't hold the netting up. I've been and strimmed all round but it still rests on the ground. Will go and get some posts in the morning and try again.

[Nicos]

We had a bit of electric fencing tape left by the previous owner - (about 1.5cm wide) and threaded it in and out of the top row- and looped it onto the last upright.
It seems to keep it a bit more taught!

We also needed to buy extra posts to lift it slightly..it's certainly worked esp on the uneven areas!( they were a much cheaper version from a farm supplies shop)

I think it needs to be a bit floppy to put the foxes off trying to jump it .


remember to put a few dabs of honey on the fencing at fox nose height!

[Suechooks]

Thanks Nicos! It's a bit "belt and braces" with me as even in the snow there were no fox footprints but as there was one living under a shed about 200yards away till a Jack Russell flushed him out and no sign since - my big concern is where he has relocated.

[pipscariad]

We've tensioned our fencing by putting stakes in at the corners, and tying the fence to them to pull it straight. Underneath the fence we've laid a strip of old carpet, about 8" wide, so that the grass doesn't grow up around it and earth it out. The extra posts are a good idea, I need to get some!

[Hilary B]

It doesn't need to be TOO tensioned. The lowest strand isn't electrified anyway. If there are rabbits in the area, NEVER leave it 'up and not on'! If you can get hold of some rigid plastic pipe/rod, you could use that to 'space' it from the wire mesh fence (sounds like you only have it a foot or so away). Wooden posts/spacer-rods have the drawback that wood gets wet, and will then conduct, but if you can overcome that one.....

[Nicos]

You can buy things like this...


http://www.fencesafe.com/images/sc-250.jpg


to attach the wire to a wooden fence post