4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Minnie&Moose]

I'm exploring the possibility of electrifying our 25m Omlet fencing so that I can let our chickens out into their part of the garden during the day when we're at work. Most of the battery powered systems I've seen use 12v battery/energiser set-ups but I have found one, through Solway Feeder, that uses a 6v battery (the Horizont B1 energiser) and is supposedly adequate for a 25m net fence. I would like to keep costs to a minimum but want to ensure that our chickens are well protected should a fox wander through our garden during the day, and this particular system would cost approx. half of a 12v battery/energiser system, which is very appealing! Does anyone have any experience of this, or similar energisers please?

 

Thanks.

[Gamebird]

I have 50m of electric fencing so I use a 12v energiser. But for 25m of fencing a 6v energiser as advertised by Solway should be absolutely fine.

 

However, I bought this which lets me know that sufficient power is being sent to the fencing.

 

For my chickens electric fencing has so far been 100% effective in keeping foxy out. They free range all day in safety and gives me peace of mind.

[Minnie&Moose]

Hi Gamebird,

 

Many thanks for your response. The voltage indicators/alarms look like a great idea, and it's reassuring to hear that your chickens free range safely all day. This definitely sounds like the way to go. Looks like our chickens will be getting an electric fence for my birthday this year

[Lesley]

That one looks good and should be fine.

 

We had a small solar energiser 3 years ago which wasn't as good as we hoped - and def. wouldn't have worked properly last summer or this summer. It doesn't appear to be on their site anymore so perhaps we weren't the only ones to find it useless.

[..lay a little egg for me]

I know that electric nets use a lot more power than the single wire type of electric fence used for other livestock. My only concern about using a 6v system is that it might be more vulnerable to shorting out when grass etc touches the fence than a 12v system. Because the lowest electrified line is pretty close to the ground, especially on uneven ground where it is hard to keep the fence taut, I find I have to trim the grass under the fence every week with my system. So it depends a bit on where the fence will be placed.

[Minnie&Moose]

Many thanks for your helpful replies Lesley and Caroline.

 

Re keeping the area clear of vegetation - good to know about that. The section they will have access to is partly lawn (so mown regularly) and partly the remains of a wild flower meadow that has been shaded out by mature overhanging trees, so there's very little vegetation remaining and it should be easy to spot any plants that get past our voracious chickens. I think we should be OK but we'll definitely monitor it and strim anything that might be a problem.

 

Thanks for your help.

[HENthusiastic]

How do these actually work please? Do they electrify the whole netting? I would imagine foxes would just leap straight over a netting fence without touching it wouldn't they? Also, isn't there a risk that the chooks would be electricuted as they bumped into it? My chooks are always pressing up against / pecking at their netting.

[Gamebird]

How do these actually work please? Do they electrify the whole netting? I would imagine foxes would just leap straight over a netting fence without touching it wouldn't they? Also, isn't there a risk that the chooks would be electricuted as they bumped into it? My chooks are always pressing up against / pecking at their netting.

Yes, the whole netting is electrified.

 

Foxes always test a fence first before they decide what they can do with it. After a short sharp sting to their nose they decide it's a no go area.

 

My chickens touched it once and now keep their distance but they are not frightened to go within 6 inches of it.

 

I have touched the fencing a couple of times by mistake and it does not kill you but you would rather not do it again!

 

It keeps foxes out 100% (always leave the fencing turned on) but you have to make sure the chickens stay in the enclosure. i.e. clip the wings of those who think the grass is greener on the other side.