Keeping dogs out of my run - barbed wire?

[appps]

We have a six foot paling fence that has a pathway on the other side where people walk often with dogs.

My chooks range in my garden on the other side. Before we had the chooks I once looked out the kitchen window to see a cattle dog jump the fence, run round the yard and jump back out. So I know a determined dog could get over.

I'm worried a dog going by will notice the chickens and jump so am after ideas on how to make it more dog proof without looking too awful as we are in the middle of suburbia and I'm going to see it out my window.

I'm wondering if putting a bracket at an angle and stringing barbed wire, say 2 rows ? Would be enough or if there might be a more attractive alternative?

Should add this is only to keep dogs out as foxes are our only other predator here and they get locked up at night.

 

[TOP KNOT]

We have a six foot paling fence that has a pathway on the other side where people walk often with dogs.

My chooks range in my garden on the other side. Before we had the chooks I once looked out the kitchen window to see a cattle dog jump the fence, run round the yard and jump back out. So I know a determined dog could get over.

I'm worried a dog going by will notice the chickens and jump so am after ideas on how to make it more dog proof without looking too awful as we are in the middle of suburbia and I'm going to see it out my window.

I'm wondering if putting a bracket at an angle and stringing barbed wire, say 2 rows ? Would be enough or if there might be a more attractive alternative?

Should add this is only to keep dogs out as foxes are our only other predator here and they get locked up at night.

Could you string a hot wire?

 

[appps]

I did think of that but I'm wondering if because it borders a public walkway if that might get me in trouble? I saw a very neat three string version on a tv show being used to keep a cat in its yard. Hubby wants to just go barbed wire because it would be easier than running power plus ongoing cost.

But I really am more interested in best defense than ease or cost. I just don't know though if barbed wire will be as effective?

 

[TOP KNOT]

You may want to try a motion sensored LOUD noise gadget to freak out your intruder to deter it from inviting its self in. Like air horn loud. My neighbors annoying aussie shepherd barked at me every time that I come outside, so I blew a sports air horn at it right back. That was the only thing that made it shut up!! It sure didn't like it one bit!!

I suppose you don't want your back yard to look like a prison yard with barbed wire!?!

 

[centrarchid]

Hotwire will be effective most of the time and can be setup so it is not too obvious. You could even electrify barbwire but it is not as easy to work with as wire or ribbon made for the purpose. What would be most obvious to passersby are the insulators. The plastic versions typically are black or yellow but I have seen green. Additionally you could consider the old ceramic white ones to give border a rustic look. If you feel the trashy itch coming on make setup look like Christmas lights.

 

[Northie]

You can get solar powered electric fence. That's what we use for the horses when we want to pasture them where we don't have a fence and it works fine.
Awesome idea with the fog horn by the way lol!