A
Anonymous
Guest
Hi There
Dont know if anyone is interested but I have a couple of tips regarding electric fences.
I bought an electric fence kit off that well known auction site. My missus decided that as well as the usual electric fence wire, she would also get some of this super duper fence tape (20 mm).
So I erected the fence with the 20mm tape as the bottom 2 strands of the fence and a further 5 strands of polly/wire mounted onto 5 foot plastic ground spikes, confident in the fact that due to the cost of the tape, it would far exceed the performance of the wire.
How wrong i was.
The hens all managed to step on the bottom strand of the fence and simply duck under the second strand.
Because the tape is flat, as the hens stood on it, the tape was earthing straight to the ground and not through the hen.
Swapped the tape for the normal fence wire and the problem was solved.
Making sure there is no vegetation touching the fence, watering the ground stake and if possible the ground directly underneath the wire run vastly improves performance.
The fence I have is only a 2 joule fence, I have noticed that once the hens have touched it, they never go near it again. In fact, it could be turned off and I know for a fact that the hens would not stray, however, I live on the edge of a moor and the fox problem would be too great without the fence.
I did toy with the idea of getting electric chicken netting, but the cost was far too much ( I have a 700yd perimeter) and as it happens, I have noted that during the night, Mr Fox can tell when the fence is switched on and stays well away from it.
So if you are buying an electric fence, then my advice would be to stay clear of the fancy expensive "Tapes" and stick with the polly/wire.
Hope that helps someone
cheers
Dont know if anyone is interested but I have a couple of tips regarding electric fences.
I bought an electric fence kit off that well known auction site. My missus decided that as well as the usual electric fence wire, she would also get some of this super duper fence tape (20 mm).
So I erected the fence with the 20mm tape as the bottom 2 strands of the fence and a further 5 strands of polly/wire mounted onto 5 foot plastic ground spikes, confident in the fact that due to the cost of the tape, it would far exceed the performance of the wire.
How wrong i was.
The hens all managed to step on the bottom strand of the fence and simply duck under the second strand.
Because the tape is flat, as the hens stood on it, the tape was earthing straight to the ground and not through the hen.
Swapped the tape for the normal fence wire and the problem was solved.
Making sure there is no vegetation touching the fence, watering the ground stake and if possible the ground directly underneath the wire run vastly improves performance.
The fence I have is only a 2 joule fence, I have noticed that once the hens have touched it, they never go near it again. In fact, it could be turned off and I know for a fact that the hens would not stray, however, I live on the edge of a moor and the fox problem would be too great without the fence.
I did toy with the idea of getting electric chicken netting, but the cost was far too much ( I have a 700yd perimeter) and as it happens, I have noted that during the night, Mr Fox can tell when the fence is switched on and stays well away from it.
So if you are buying an electric fence, then my advice would be to stay clear of the fancy expensive "Tapes" and stick with the polly/wire.
Hope that helps someone
cheers
