Discuss all aspects of raising poultry. No topic is too small
Electric Poultry Fence
Hello all,
Just wondering how people find foxes at getting through, under, over, etc... an electric poultry fence. I am thinking to possibly go this route. But I don't all of a sudden want to find that it doesn't really stop the fox. Also, what is the best way to protect against birds of prey. If I would use an electric poultry fence, I will probably have some sort of pen/chicken tractor inside for housing. But this feels like it would still leave my chickens quite vulnerable to birds of prey. But maybe there usually isn't much trouble with birds. Does anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks
craigmartin
Saturday, May 25th, 2024 Craigmartin; I'd swear by electric chicken fencing.
Personally? I'd rather have my waist high, green fence. Rather than the 'old fashioned', six foot high fence and two hot wires at the foot.
My birds live inside their fence. They also have a secure night box too. Never lost a bird, to fox, since I got that fence. Ones I lost before were all broad daylight too.
Birds of prey? Ireland? I'd say the risk is low enough, as long as ye talking full sized birds? Not much, here, will bother an adult chicken.
Nothing wrong with having a rooster, if ye can, of course. I do. But, that's not what he's there for. I really don't give Birds Of Prey a lot of thought.
Ratcatcher
Saturday, May 25th, 2024 Foxes are neophobic and investigate anything new. With electric netting this results in a hard shock on their damp nose as they sniff it. After that they won't try to climb it or go under it.
I wouldn't worry about loosing birds to birds of prey unless you are lucky enough to have Eagles, goshawk, or peregrine around. I personally have never lost any birds to them. I would be far more worried about Foxes, dogs,mink,ferrets, stoats, pine marten, badgers and even occasionally hedgehogs.
Glyn
Sunday, May 26th, 2024 How would this fencing hold up against pine marten and mink? Do the hens fly over it?
CockCrow
Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 CockCrow; The meshes get small, toward the bottom of the net. Pineys, especially, because of how they move themselves, are likely to get a belt. A grown *Male*?! Not a cellophane rat in hades chance of Not getting a belt.
That said? Belt and braces, where small ground vermin's concerned ;)
Chickens flying over it? I imagine that would be more down to the individual or breed of bird. And its perceived compulsion To fly over? Mine don't. Or the foxes would've had them all, by now! LOL!
Ratcatcher
Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 Hey thanks you all for the info/advice I appreciate it. Now I have some more questions.
For a relatively small egg laying operation, say up to 100 chickens, is there any regulations that I would fall under for selling eggs directly to customers or to a shop? And as I go up the scale say 300 chickens and then on up to 1000 chickens, all for egg laying, what regulations would I have to comply with to be able to sell the eggs to anyone or any business?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Carter
craigmartin
Monday, June 3rd, 2024 You need to register and be inspected to sell directly to a shop, regardless of the number of hens or to sell directly to the public, if you have more than 50 hens.
Glyn
Tuesday, June 4th, 2024 Electric fences work well and don't need to be staked to the ground to keep foxes out. A good shock will be a sufficient deterrent.
To maximise the shock it's important that the fence isn't grounded by having sticks leaning on it or that current isn't attenuated by long grass touching the conductive strands.
This is best achieved by putting a layer of insulation under the fence; a plastic damp proof course will do the job. It's a good idea to use one at least 30cm wide to allow for trimming any adjacent grass before it reaches the fence and to test the fence periodically.
ballygannon
Monday, June 24th, 2024
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Electric Poultry Fence
Hello all,
Just wondering how people find foxes at getting through, under, over, etc... an electric poultry fence. I am thinking to possibly go this route. But I don't all of a sudden want to find that it doesn't really stop the fox. Also, what is the best way to protect against birds of prey. If I would use an electric poultry fence, I will probably have some sort of pen/chicken tractor inside for housing. But this feels like it would still leave my chickens quite vulnerable to birds of prey. But maybe there usually isn't much trouble with birds. Does anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks
Saturday, May 25th, 2024
Craigmartin; I'd swear by electric chicken fencing.
Personally? I'd rather have my waist high, green fence. Rather than the 'old fashioned', six foot high fence and two hot wires at the foot.
My birds live inside their fence. They also have a secure night box too. Never lost a bird, to fox, since I got that fence. Ones I lost before were all broad daylight too.
Birds of prey? Ireland? I'd say the risk is low enough, as long as ye talking full sized birds? Not much, here, will bother an adult chicken.
Nothing wrong with having a rooster, if ye can, of course. I do. But, that's not what he's there for. I really don't give Birds Of Prey a lot of thought.
Saturday, May 25th, 2024
Foxes are neophobic and investigate anything new. With electric netting this results in a hard shock on their damp nose as they sniff it. After that they won't try to climb it or go under it.
I wouldn't worry about loosing birds to birds of prey unless you are lucky enough to have Eagles, goshawk, or peregrine around. I personally have never lost any birds to them. I would be far more worried about Foxes, dogs,mink,ferrets, stoats, pine marten, badgers and even occasionally hedgehogs.
Sunday, May 26th, 2024
How would this fencing hold up against pine marten and mink? Do the hens fly over it?
Tuesday, May 28th, 2024
CockCrow; The meshes get small, toward the bottom of the net. Pineys, especially, because of how they move themselves, are likely to get a belt. A grown *Male*?! Not a cellophane rat in hades chance of Not getting a belt.
That said? Belt and braces, where small ground vermin's concerned ;)
Chickens flying over it? I imagine that would be more down to the individual or breed of bird. And its perceived compulsion To fly over? Mine don't. Or the foxes would've had them all, by now! LOL!
Tuesday, May 28th, 2024
Hey thanks you all for the info/advice I appreciate it. Now I have some more questions.
For a relatively small egg laying operation, say up to 100 chickens, is there any regulations that I would fall under for selling eggs directly to customers or to a shop? And as I go up the scale say 300 chickens and then on up to 1000 chickens, all for egg laying, what regulations would I have to comply with to be able to sell the eggs to anyone or any business?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Carter
Monday, June 3rd, 2024
You need to register and be inspected to sell directly to a shop, regardless of the number of hens or to sell directly to the public, if you have more than 50 hens.
Tuesday, June 4th, 2024
Electric fences work well and don't need to be staked to the ground to keep foxes out. A good shock will be a sufficient deterrent.
To maximise the shock it's important that the fence isn't grounded by having sticks leaning on it or that current isn't attenuated by long grass touching the conductive strands.
This is best achieved by putting a layer of insulation under the fence; a plastic damp proof course will do the job. It's a good idea to use one at least 30cm wide to allow for trimming any adjacent grass before it reaches the fence and to test the fence periodically.
Monday, June 24th, 2024