Electric Fence basics for dog control

[Davaroo]

I want to put up some electric wire to keep my dogs out of the chicken yard. Im not looking for poultry fencing to keep chickens in - I want to keep dogs out.

I'm thinking common charged wire at 6", 12", and 18". Dogs touch it with their nose, get the shock of their life and run off howling. I in turn, clap my hands in glee, reveling at the scent of fried dog. **

But for once I really dont want to get into a long research project, here.
I'm interested in a simple charger and wire set up for a pen about 90 feet long by about 20-30 feet wide. Lets call it 3 wires charged over 500 feet, just to err on the side of prudence. Solar power is nice, but not neccessary. Low cost is desirable

Has anyone done this in a backyard?

** You may recall that my own dogs have killed 2 flocks in the past. Since I don't intend to shoot and barbeque the dogs (although I've considered it), we're upping the ante on deterrence here.

 

[morelcabin]

I have this exact set up. It works wonders for everything. Nothing gets my birds anymore. I paid about $80 for the charger, and altogether including the wire and post insulaters I think it was about $150 tops. Check your local feed store. Zareba Red Snap'r modell 88C 110 volt

 

[kees]

Have you considered using the remote training collars with
underground wires and flags around the perimeter?

Suzy

 

[coberdor]

Well, remember the collars only work for your own dogs, not neighbor's rude, uncontrolled dogs, nor any coyotes.

I use a charger from my horse fence. They even have insulators that go on chain link fence that will work on all sorts of other fencing, You just have to make sure that no weeds, etc. are shorting it out.

It works like a charm. I keep one high and low on my horse fence. One low for dogs, fox and coyotes, one high for big dogs and it helps keep kids from climbing over the fence to "play" with the horses and goats. They only try once. Hehe. Actually the dogs learn faster than the kids.

 

[morelcabin]

Quote:
Ohhhh, why do I believe that?

 

[Davaroo]

MY beloved wife, Lori, is a dog lover par excellence. We have 5 and I am always fighting with her to keep that number from growing.
This same affection extends to cats, but that is another matter altogether.

Canine breed selection is far less important to her than 'spur of the moment lovability'. This is why I am not going to kill them. I'm not much of a killer myself, I like them under all other circumstances and she is my wife, my other half. It would crush her and diminish me to do it.

But her way of selecting dogs means you get a mixed pack, for good and bad. Two of these mutts have herding instincts and a couple of the others are simply rambunctious heathens. Together, this rag tag assembly spells disaster for chickens.

Frankly, I like the collar idea. I'm a techie, gadgety kinda' guy at heart.
But, I have no intent to further "train" such a mongrel band. Been there, done that.
No collars or other means to dissuade them will be used... my mind is set on that score. That is just good money thrown after bad.

No, it is the electric wire for them, from here out.
The more ideas on that which I can get, the better. So far so good.
My thanks go out to you all.

 

[amazondoc]

Good to see you around, Dave!

As you may remember, I live with a pack of dobermans. I keep intending to put up hot wire, but I also keep managing to not get around to it.

After listening to many other folks here on BYC, I intend to create the same basic setup as another poster already mentioned -- wires at 6, 12, and 18", and maybe one around 4-5 feet. I already bought a charger -- it's a 10 mile solar charger. It did cost a bit!

My dogs killed my first set of birds because I got stupid, but none since then (knock on wood) except for one neighbor's chicken that jumped our fence to come visit. Bad decision.

I am using 1/2" x 1" welded wire at ground level. My ground is solid limestone, so instead of burying it I make an apron of about 12" all around the pen in order to prevent digging. I'm using that wire to at least 36" height, then the cheaper 1/2" hardware cloth above that. In areas where I already have strong fencing, I may use hardware cloth at ground level over the fencing instead of the welded wire. Even with something strong like chain link, ya gotta think about little bird heads poking out or little raccoon hands reaching in, and ya gotta think about the digging problem.

My pens are not nearly as large as yours. What are you gonna do to prevent birds flying out?

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Thanks, Doc. Good to see you, too.

To prevent flying, I clip wings.

To discourage it, I also keep shrubbery shelter within the pens. Consider the chickens' origin in the jungle - they are not, by nature, birds of the wide open spaces.

So I maintain an overhead shelter scheme of fairly dense, head high shrubbery to simulate a "jungle" environment. This gives the chickens a sense of cover and keeps them calm - so they are less inclined to flight.

I can make a nice chicken paradise, no problem. Keeping the heathen hounds from this chicken buffet is the next trick.

 

[amazondoc]

Good luck!

 

[Big dreams]

Are these single wires run around and outside the fence? How far from the fence do you run them? I have two "bad dogs" sweet but bad, and not enough time to teach them how to behave around chickens, (could never trust them anyway) I took one out on a leash and let her look at the 6 week old chickens, my my she so wanted them she was shaking. I will continue to try and show them but I need the electric fence

Thanks.