| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| midlifecrisisfarmgirl |
Posted - Mar 16 2012 : 06:21:12 AM
I am moving my flock from the city to the country and I am SO nervous about predators. Right now they are locked up in Fort Knox at night. They are in a coop inside an enclosed covered run. They range out in the yard during the day. It is not feasable for us to do another covered run at our new place. We have ordered some electric netting so they can still range during the day. We are also going to build a new coop. How do you protect your flock?
"Green acres is the place for me!!!" |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Mar 18 2012 : 6:32:33 PM
We have a solar charger, so if the power goes out, the chickens are still safe. No predators have dug under the fence so far. I think that if they get their nose shocked, they won't stick around long enough or have the smarts to figure out how to tunnel under. I hope so anyway!!
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/StrawHouseDesigns |
| midlifecrisisfarmgirl |
Posted - Mar 17 2012 : 6:44:55 PM
"Sigh"....that is so true. But, I think that they would rather spend their time outside scratching and eating bugs than being cooped up and living longer and more safely. I think that makes the eggs better also and saves on feed. I guess we can just do the best we can to our ability and pocket books and hope for the best. Thanks for the dose of reality .
"Green acres is the place for me!!!" |
| oldbittyhen |
Posted - Mar 17 2012 : 6:06:51 PM
just a thought, animals will dig under, once they figure out they will not get shocked doing so, my way of preventing this is putting down dig wire...3 feet out from fence, laid flat and buried down 4-6 ins, also digging down from fence (straight down) and doing another 2-3 feet of wire fence, nothing digs in or out, also remember that all that, will not stop owls and hawks etc, so you might need a wire fence top also...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
| midlifecrisisfarmgirl |
Posted - Mar 17 2012 : 1:53:10 PM
We are going to put our chicken yard next to the house so we didn't have to get a solar charger. We are just going to plug it into one of the outdoor outlets. I don't know if we will be keeping them there long term, but we needed to get something up right away and figured that would be easiest. You are so right about how expensive it all is. I don't think I can ever get enough eggs to be repaid for this netting! Although, I figure we will need the netting in the future for some temporary cross fencing when we start getting different kinds of animals. I would also like to be able to pen them up in the garden area in the fall. I guess I'll need to get the solar before I do that though. Thanks for the info on the electrical supplies!
"Green acres is the place for me!!!" |
| rksmith |
Posted - Mar 17 2012 : 12:48:14 PM
We don't have the electric netting around ours, just chain link fence and regular (2x2) fence wire. We use a solar panel for our electric fence (around our dog pens) and we are looking into getting a couple of small solar panels and converters to put out in the chicken area to have lights out there (and perhaps electric fence if we start having problems with predators)as it would cost way too much money to run electricity that far from the house. They have small solar panels at Harbor Freight for about 115 I think and the converter is about 20 maybe. If you check with Interstate Batteries (other manufacturers may do the same but I know this one does for sure), they have seconds you can buy for 35 and that is so much cheaper than running electricity(at least for us anyway).
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 17 2012 : 07:48:39 AM
i am happy to hear you girls like the netting. did you buy the solar pack also. i need the netting bad. dogs are getting my chickens. hard to keep them out of the pasture. so i am a troubled farmgirl. so wondering what you did for your power source? thanks for this posting barby. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| rksmith |
Posted - Mar 17 2012 : 06:46:27 AM
Our bird yard is in a very shady part of our property so they have lots of tree cover. We have a huge covered house for them to nest and roost in. Our pens are all fenced. My dad would let his chickens roam around the property during the day and shut them up at night. We have been fortunate in that we have not lost any chickens to predators so far. I think their location is the main reason.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
| RedHoopWoman |
Posted - Mar 16 2012 : 2:17:22 PM
I think the electric netting is a great idea and something I thought about doing but we have done real well with just our dog protecting our animals,he's really good about keeping the coyotes away so even though I don't really like dogs as pets they are golden when you get one with a good temperament that doesn't kill or harass the stock itself.I actually had more chicken losses when I lived in the city to urban raccoons and loose dogs,out here there are alot of coyotes but I have had more livestock losses to domestic dogs than any wild animal.
"Today's Mighty Oak is just Yesterday's Nut" |
| midlifecrisisfarmgirl |
Posted - Mar 16 2012 : 08:23:37 AM
Thanks Paula! I am so glad to know that the netting really does work. I haven't actually talked to anybody that uses it. Just read about it in books.
Also, I want to get some kind of guardian animal. I'm just not ready to do that yet. I would like to wait until we get the perimeter fencing more shored up. I also thought I would wait until we are ready to get some sheep and goats.
"Green acres is the place for me!!!" |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Mar 16 2012 : 07:57:05 AM
I use electric netting too. I know it keeps the critters away. I see footprints outside the netting but no footprints inside the netting. When we first put it up, the cats' curiosity got to them and they touched the fence. When it zapped them they ran for cover. I'm sure the same would happen with skunks and raccoons. Just keep checking the voltage regularly to make sure it isn't shorting out somewhere and draining the charge.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/StrawHouseDesigns |
