Re: Electric fence for chickens?

We have successfully used electric fences placed on 2x4 boards placed on the
ground surrounding chicken pens to keep out coons, possums, coyotes, dogs
and snakes in central Texas. The wires run on insulators about 1" above the
2x4. The fowl became accustomed to the wires and avoided them although, if
excited, occasionally flew or jumped across. You will need to check
regularly as any twigs or debris blowing onto the barrier will short it out.
However, its "reputation" will render it somewhat effective even if
temporarily "dead."

"Andrea Fease" <afease@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:emglma$8b3$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
We recently purchased a real farm - 1712 farmhouse, 1800's barn +
stable, several outbuildings, and are planning to restore it and move into
it in time :-) . The main motivation was our horse, who is boarded
elsewhere; we've been busy restoring the stables, fencing the paddocks and
putting in electric fence (which is a must for horses).

Among the buildings on the farm is an old chicken coop - it needs a
lot of work plus a fenced in area for the chickens/ducks, which we will be
doing. According to our soon-to-be-neighbors, there are foxes, raccoons
and hawks, so we will have to put in more secure fencing than the simple
garden fencing we currently have at home (a more urban area).

The electric horse fencing package states that it protects not only
livestock, but also against predators, which got us thinking. Would it be
feasible to put in electric fencing for the chickens/ducks? Overhead
would probably be just some wire cover against the hawks, but on the sides
I want to prevent foxes, racoons, maybe even dogs from thinking this is a
free chicken dinner.

The fence charger for the horses is a low impedance 2-joule 7000V
system - it cycles on and off so if the horse (or something else) touches
it, they get a very quick shock. I think it goes on once a second for a
fraction of a second, every second. The fence uses polytape, a vinyl tape
with steel filamints embedded, which delivers the shock:

http://www.safefence.com/index.html

Does this sound like something that would work? We would have to get
a second system anyway (since the chickens/ducks will be foraging away
from the horses). Do chickens and ducks respect electric fence like
horses? Are they smart enough to get a shock and stay away from it, or
are they likely to peck/bite/clamp their beaks onto it and shock
themselves to death? And more importantly, will foxes, raccoons, etc.
respect the fence?

We are more interested in keeping the predators out than keeping the
chickens in (which is an easier problem). We were thinking of surrounding
both the building and the yard with electric, otherwise something could
try to dig/chew/maneuver their way into the coop while avoiding the
electrified yard. Obviously we are going to do everything to
critter-proof the coops, but since they are pre-existent with dirt floors,
there isn't going to be an easy way to create an impervious floor as we
have at home (where we built the coops from scratch with lumber floors).
I suppose we could build a wood floor and attach it somehow, but that
might be a difficult thing and might rot since we cannot raise the
buildings for air circulation.

A big concern is the ducks - they have a pool, and love to throw
around water - water and electricity don't usually mix too nicely. I want
to make sure that this is safe for chickens, ducks, and us :-) !

If this is feasiable, how low/high should the fence be - how big a
vertical area needs to be electrified so something does dig under it or
jump over it?

Any thoughts are most appreciated! Thank you!!

- Andrea




.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Electric fence for chickens?
    ... The main motivation was our horse, who is boarded elsewhere; we've been busy restoring the stables, fencing the paddocks and putting in electric fence (which is a must for horses). ... Among the buildings on the farm is an old chicken coop - it needs a lot of work plus a fenced in area for the chickens/ducks, ... A big concern is the ducks - they have a pool, and love to throw around water - water and electricity don't usually mix too nicely. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Electric fence for chickens?
    ... of work plus a fenced in area for the chickens/ducks, ... The fence charger for the horses is a low impedance 2-joule 7000V ... water - water and electricity don't usually mix too nicely. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Abelard Update
    ... Many of the the cattle fence chargers in use today put out ... the juice was on I was unable to move off the wire. ... When a cat touches the charged wire, ... with electricity. ...
    (rec.pets.cats.anecdotes)
  • Re: Abelard Update
    ... Many of the the cattle fence chargers in use today put out ... the juice was on I was unable to move off the wire. ... When a cat touches the charged wire, ... with electricity. ...
    (rec.pets.cats.anecdotes)
  • Re: electrocuted - underground power line for lighting caused death of 14 year old
    ... see an electric wire that must have run above the fence, ... I don't know if the wire ran above the fence when the wire wasn't ... Hard to imagine why the electricity would have followed a path through her ... shoe will also have some significant resistance. ...
    (alt.home.repair)
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