Who should consider an electric fence kit?

Folks new to using an electric fence. Why? Because all the parts and pieces necessary are included. Those who do so neither save nor lose $$. What they save is the worry of overlooking the key extra items that folks new to electric fence normally need to make an electric fence operational.

Those whose plans involve longer fences (either permanent or semi-permanent) should bypass the kit option and instead buy the individual parts and pieces—because the items needed are likely to vary considerably.

Will electric fence work for chickens?

Yes! Electric net fences are a reliable, cost effective way to control animal movement and practice proper pasture management.

To contain and protect poultry as they grow, we use electrifiable netting. The electric shock stops predators in their tracks, while the netting’s height and tight spacings contain birds. Netting is a complete fence on its own—lacking only a suitable fence energizer.

3 types of kits:

1. Energizer Kits

An electric fence is simply an extension of the two terminals (positive and negative) of the fence’s energizer. Kits include a ground rod and a digital tester. We offer two basic energizer types:

• All-in-one Solar—Energy input is battery (DC) that is recharged by a solar panel that is attached directly to the energizer case.
• Plug-in & Battery—Energy input is 110V AC (plug-in) or battery (DC).

2. Netting Kits

Includes FiberTuff™ support posts for ends, corners and major directional changes. Netting kits are a good option if you already have a fence energizer, or are adding rolls to your existing run.

3. Starter Kits

Simplify purchasing decisions. Starter kits have everything you need in one convenient package to temporarily fence poultry in the backyard or on the pasture. Just add chickens!

Use electric poultry netting for…

✔ Backyard Chickens

Often called the gateway livestock, chickens take up little room, provide meat and eggs, and put marginal land and lawns to good use. Small flocks are easy to keep in the backyard. They’re happy with a little room to roam and protection from predators. But be careful, small poultry enterprises can escalate in size before you know it!

✔ Garden Helpers

Chickens are omnivores, which means they eat plants, vegetables, insects and anything else that crosses their path. When managed well, they are an indispensable garden tool—turning pesky insects and weeds into rich compost. Be sure to fence the birds away from the sections of the garden you want to save for yourselves. They enjoy fresh produce too!

✔ Predator Protection

Chickens and other poultry rely on you for their safety and defense. It’s your job to protect them from predators. Foxes, coyotes, dogs, raccoons, opossums and skunks are stopped by properly installed and energized fence. A common mistake is not electrifying it. Electric fence is a pain barrier, not a physical barrier. Animals conclude the fence itself is painful—and then avoid it.

✔ Pastured Poultry

Is just what it says it is—raising poultry directly on fresh grass or pasture. Birds receive grain and are able to forage. Depending on the type of production, housing involves low-to-the-ground broiler pens and chicken tractors or egg-mobiles.

✔ Rotational Grazing

Can be simply explained as moving poultry between grazing paddocks (pastures or yards) every set number of days or as needed. After an area is foraged, it is left alone to rest until the next rotation. Poultry usually follow the grazing pattern of another type of livestock (sheep, cattle, goats, pigs). The birds clean up any spilled grain (if used) and scratch and distribute manure patties of the larger animals. The flock is protected from ground-based predators by electrified netting and fence energizers. The predators receive a memorable shock and learn to stay away from the flock.

To Reduce Risk and Liability...

Are electric fences a serious safety risk to humans?

Because touching an electric fence is painful and the voltages are high, most assume that the risks from an energized fence must also be high. That’s a myth. Consider that millions of people throughout the world are “exposed” to millions of electric fences every day—yet they are involved in (but are not always the cause of) less than one human death or serious injury per year worldwide. Compare that to the number of annual injuries and deaths that occur from human exposure to tractors, skid loaders, ladders, PTO shafts, balers, mowers, combines, bulls, stallions, rifles, shotguns, knives, etc. This is not to suggest that there is no risk at all. There is, indeed, a small level of risk. And with risk, there is also liability to the fence’s owner.

For safer electric fences:

• Make them visible to humans and animals. Visibility is increased by contrast. (That’s why many Premier nets are black and white in color.)
• Educate. Hang warning signs on all electric fences. Tell children to never touch it. Everyone should avoid head and neck contact.
• Allow space for people and animals to walk easily along or around it.

What NOT to do!

• Never place your head or upper spine near an electrified wire. Accidental head or neck contact can occur when pushing a voltage probe into the soil. Be careful when doing so to avoid head-to-wire contact!
• Never attempt to step over or climb through an energized fence of any kind.
• Never encourage anyone to touch an electric fence.
• Do NOT use an energizer that is labeled high impedance, continuous current, weed burner or weed chopper. We recommend only low or wide impedance pulse energizers.