Electric fence sagging

[palomino]

Last summer I got a 50 metre length of 1.22m high close-mesh electric poultry netting:

temporary and permanent poultry electric fencing | EFD

It worked fine from a battery and energiser for a few months, we moved and mowed underneath it when the grass was growing, but now it has sagged so badly under its own considerable weight, the bottom few inches have bent over so they lie flat on the ground.

I know additional posts are available to buy, but I think I'd need a post every metre, and they're ridiculously expensive. Anyone else had trouble with sagging netting? The hybrids still fly over it, even those with clipped wings, so I'm thinking of giving up with it and getting Heras panels instead, with a line of electrifed wire at fox height around the outside (sadly nobody in the family is up to erecting posts and 6 foot chainlink). Ugly, but they won't sag!

I'm disappointed with this, and keen to rectify it before the fox cubs and their hungry mum are back.

[Nicos]

Yikes!...doesn't sound good does it??

That's the fencing I have.
I put some electric tape across the top of mine- sort of woven through the top holes.
bit like this one...
http://www.parmakusa.com/Baygard/Pla...re-TapeCU2.jpg

I thought mine was a bit saggy because the land is very uneven.
I have 2 lots of 50m lengths with 10 extra 2.5" wooden posts every so often ( cost about £2 each)
I have no probs at all with that set up.

My gals have only flown over a couple of times- one to lay away from the others - but soon stopped- and another one to escape one of the cockerals from mounting her.

Why not phone the company and explain your problem...they may come up with another idea??

[Suechooks]

I use extra posts between some of the built in ones to get a better line. I use the ones they use for horses (that's what they guy from online countrystore told me was best. I also put damp-proofing membrane on the ground (6" wide) under the bottom wire and this inhibits grass growth as well as insulating it. I get 4000 volts through all along the fence length.

[Glutton4...]

I use the same type of netting, like Nicos, I have two x 50metre lengths. However, I have double the amount of posts, as it does sag badly otherwise, and I'm on flat level ground. In addition to the extra poles, I also have taller posts, from horse fencing, like Sue does. I have these at the corners, for support, and periodically along the straight lengths too. Strung from the top of these is a single piece of electrified line, as a sort of trip wire, like they use in rabbit fencing, to stop anything jumping over the top of the mesh.

SO FAR, the foxes have stayed out, and I know they're there, as we have seen them in broad daylight, and, as I moved the fence at the weekend, I've noticed fresh fox dung where the run used to be!

If you want a picture, as a better explanation, let me know and I'll take one tomorrow.

[frias]

We have a similar fence. Just weave a bamboo stick through every yard and tie in with string (not metal ties!). Fence still works perfectly. OH can testify as he regularly gets zapped when talking to the girls.

[Bramble-Poultry]

i would suggest that the sagging is caused as the netting isnt under much tension. You cant get a really good tension on the plastic poles as they lift out of the ground. One solution would be to fix proper wooden posts in at the corners and tension the netting (using insulated fixings) between these main posts, and then use the plastic inbetween to hold it in place.

If that fails, then i would contact the manufacturer and as for their technical people....

[Glutton4...]

...If that fails, then i would contact the manufacturer and as for their technical people....

And they will tell you to buy additional posts, or use proper wooden posts as you've just described. Been there, done that!

[frias]

That's what I found G4. Got 2 packs of bamboo canes from Wilkos for less than £4.

[chris]

Their site that you linked to suggests extra staking too..

[Hilary B]

Have you got 'guy ropes' at every change of direction? You can't maintain a reasonable tension without. Rigid (eg wooden or bamboo) posts help, but a putting a tie (plastic string, eg baler twine) to a peg (like a tent peg) so that the top is kept tensioned will do even better. The snag is that these guy ropes (as on a tent) are very easy to trip over!

[RichmondHens]

We use extra posts, plus guy ropes at the corners.

It may all seem like a lot of extra expense, but isn't it worth it to keep Mr Fox off the chooks?

[Glutton4...]

We use extra posts, plus guy ropes at the corners.

It may all seem like a lot of extra expense, but isn't it worth it to keep Mr Fox off the chooks?

I also use guy ropes at the corners. The geese fall over them, if they're out, but no one else seems to. But I do tie coloured string on them so my Dad doesn't mow them!

[pipscariad]

I use fence stakes at the corners and tension the fence to these with baler twine. I also managed to cadge a couple of old leccy fence posts from a friend - try freecycle? They're not the same as the ones that came with the fence, but do the trick.

Sadly I lost a hen to Mr Fox for the first time last week - she was the last remaining one of the first 3 I got three years ago, and she flew out of the enclosure. I've threatened my other two and told them that's what happens when they don't listen to me and stay inside the fence.

[frias]

I haven't needed guy ropes as yet. I would be first to fall over them if I did as haven't seen my feet for years! My fence is 4feet high but unfortunately my Black star flies over occassionally and I have warned her about Mr Fox. Sorry you lost yours Pipscariad.

[Glutton4...]

If you clip one wing, they should stay in. It works with mine, and the youngsters could get over Heras before they were clipped!