Plant fences

[donteatbees]

Hello everyone!
I have a very large pen for my chickens (bigger than the 50×50 foot hawk net we got by ~20ft). Unfortunately, the fence sucks a little bit. Our one very smartly stupid dog is incredible at breaking in underneath the fence to eat scraps. We fix it constantly but she just breaks it again.
So until we can afford to completely rebuild a whole new fence (probably smaller as we didn't build the original, it was there when we got there and they clearly didn't know what they were doing) does anyone have any recommendations as to what I could grow inside (or outside) the fence so the dog can't get in. She doesn't dig up plants, especially if they're spiky. I was thinking roses or willow since they don't produce fruit bears might want with a side of chicken. But, obviously it has to still be chicken friendly! Height of plant doesn't really matter if it grows on the inside. But if it's outside I need something easy to keep under 5ft so it doesn't mess up the electrical fence for our dearly detested and unwelcomed bear visitors!
I live in BC, Canada so the weather is hot in the summer and cold in winter.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Gizabelle]

I really like the idea of planting a defensive shrub, but with the cost of planting a long line of plants and the time needed for them to really grow in enough to be a deterrent, you might be better off in the long run just spending the money on the fence.
Have you considered running a very low single or double strand of polywire around the perimeter? You may need a separate charger with less zap to it if you're running something super high voltage for the bear fence, but maybe that could be a more immediate solution?
You could still plant your plant of choice on the inside, but it would buy you some time if you wanted to do it in stages and also give the plants time to grow in.
(Side note: I'm a Floridian and have no idea how snow factors into this, so I may be way off base )

 

[donteatbees]

I really like the idea of planting a defensive shrub, but with the cost of planting a long line of plants and the time needed for them to really grow in enough to be a deterrent, you might be better off in the long run just spending the money on the fence.
Have you considered running a very low single or double strand of polywire around the perimeter? You may need a separate charger with less zap to it if you're running something super high voltage for the bear fence, but maybe that could be a more immediate solution?
You could still plant your plant of choice on the inside, but it would buy you some time if you wanted to do it in stages and also give the plants time to grow in.
(Side note: I'm a Floridian and have no idea how snow factors into this, so I may be way off base )

We gotta fix the electric wire too because the idiot who installed it installed it on the wrong side and a bear hoped the fence and broke it on its way down hahah. But the plants would honestly be easier because it's two spots that are the problem, which I forgot to clarify in the original post! My bad! The fence will be something my dad does because if I do it it'll be no better than the last idiot than came along haha! I think if I bought a few decently sized rose bushes it would be a good start so our main effort and budget can go to the fence.
And lucky, hope you're enjoying that nice Florida heat! Snow sucks!

 

[paintedChix]

I am not wrapping my head around your fence & the problem. Terminology might be part of it...

Are you trying to block the chicken run fence, attached to the coop?

And the electric was run on the inside of the chicken run?

Maybe you could post pictures?

I do know that i am tired of dealing w/ predators, including dogs, digging next to ours. Our tractors as well as permanent run are now getting wire aprons. The run/coops are also getting raised garden beds along fenceline, before apron put on outside. Our plants have gone up A Lot, but yes, so has wire.

Edit to add - a friend of mine in Kalispell, MT had 3 heights of electric wire around her combined coop & run. Part was solar, part plugged in at shed next to it. Last fall, a bear wasn't bothered by zapping & completely tore apart her decently built wooden coop...

 

[Seaslug]

From experience, you would be able to get black willow to grow pretty easily (if you have some rain fall) if you have access to one decent sized bush. You may have to keep it trimmed after they start growing, but we bought a single bush and cut stems from it to plant all over our property. Just jab them into the ground and many will root. Usually you would do this with smaller stems... but I took branches and put them in my chicken run to use for perches and the pieces that were horizontal ended up growing... from branches more than 2" in diameter inside the run. As long as they have damp earth, they do what is necessary to hang on. And the nice thing is, if one cutting does not take root, you just take another cutting.
It will not necessarily protect your run by growing spines or thorns, but it is an inexpensive way to propagate many plants, quickly and at a decent size.
Hope you find something that works for you.

 

[aart]

Our one very smartly stupid dog is incredible at breaking in underneath the fence to eat scraps.

Post some pics of the fence please.
I'm assuming this fence is what keeps your chickens confined?

 

[donteatbees]

I am not wrapping my head around your fence & the problem. Terminology might be part of it...

Are you trying to block the chicken run fence, attached to the coop?

And the electric was run on the inside of the chicken run?

Maybe you could post pictures?

I do know that i am tired of dealing w/ predators, including dogs, digging next to ours. Our tractors as well as permanent run are now getting wire aprons. The run/coops are also getting raised garden beds along fenceline, before apron put on outside. Our plants have gone up A Lot, but yes, so has wire.

Edit to add - a friend of mine in Kalispell, MT had 3 heights of electric wire around her combined coop & run. Part was solar, part plugged in at shed next to it. Last fall, a bear wasn't bothered by zapping & completely tore apart her decently built wooden coop...

Ah, yeah sorry. My coop is weird. There's a pen surrounding the building/coop they live in. It's just like... open. We didn't build it and have been working on fixing it. The last people didn't care about the chickens, they only had them to give their LSG dogs something to do. But it's just a 50×~70 foot fenced pen that's ~5 feet tall but not very secure. The coop is on the right side close to the gate, like ~6 feet from the fence. Our dogs are the main solution to predators, but unfortunately the one is a fat cow and wants to have all the scrap food haha

Edit: Added photo of coop/pen. This is the only photo I have at the moment. It is a bit old. I can take more in the morning.

 

[donteatbees]

Post some pics of the fence please.
I'm assuming this fence is what keeps your chickens confined?

This is the only photo I have at the moment. It is a bit old. I can take more in the morning.
Yes, the fence keeps them (somewhat) contained. Except for the good fliers.

 

[donteatbees]

From experience, you would be able to get black willow to grow pretty easily (if you have some rain fall) if you have access to one decent sized bush. You may have to keep it trimmed after they start growing, but we bought a single bush and cut stems from it to plant all over our property. Just jab them into the ground and many will root. Usually you would do this with smaller stems... but I took branches and put them in my chicken run to use for perches and the pieces that were horizontal ended up growing... from branches more than 2" in diameter inside the run. As long as they have damp earth, they do what is necessary to hang on. And the nice thing is, if one cutting does not take root, you just take another cutting.
It will not necessarily protect your run by growing spines or thorns, but it is an inexpensive way to propagate many plants, quickly and at a decent size.
Hope you find something that works for you.

That sounds perfect! We definitely get some rain and I've had willow trees and other willow plants in a different region that was drier than where I am by a LOT! I'll add black willow to my list of plants to research and make sure they'll do well and aren't invasive in my area. Though I'm pretty sure they'll do good. Maybe I can be real crazy and plant roses too after the willow takes a good hold into the ground. We'll see. Me and my green thumb have done weirder things haha