Polytape Electric Fencing, will it fry my chickens?

[MeowPonyMix]

Presently working on putting together an area for chickens for supervised free ranging. Area will be approximately 40'X40', can easily go larger if necessary. Planning on utilizing some existing fencing that I use for my horses, which includes 6' capped t posts, and no climb wire (buried some as well).

..but then there is the electric fencing part.

Our pastures have 3 strands of 2" polytape electric fencing (Zareba) for horses and goats. This lines the interior of my pastures since some of us can't have nice things and like to break out and eat the neighbor's front yard (looking at you chestnut mare).

I was planning on having the electric fencing face OUTWARDS of the chicken area, with the polytape running fairly low to the ground.

So two similiar questions:

1. If poly tape is facing the exterior of the fencing, before the no climb wire, sitting about 2" out from the t posts, would the chickens be relatively safe from the electric fence?

2. I was hoping to have the chickens hang out in my smaller pastures from time to time. In this case, the polytape would be on the interior of the fence. Are chickens wise enough to avoid electric fence, or should I go ahead and unplug the fencing when they are down there (supervised, not in with the horses)?

Thank you for letting me pick your brains. Trying to make sure I have the safest set up for the new addition to our home--- before they come home.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Did you get that from Premier1? If you call them they are very helpful with this type of question.

I've used electric netting, the tester just says it is over 7000 volts. I don't know how high it actually goes. My chickens have been zapped by that and it has not hurt them. The safety factor built into electric fencing or netting is that it is not a continuous current, but it pulses maybe 50 times a minute. Since it pulses you can turn loose if you get zapped. If it was a continuous current you could not turn loose and it could kill horses, chickens, or you.

Electricity will not keep chickens in all that well. Their feathers are great insulators. My chicks go through the electric netting without issue until they get too big for the holes in the netting. When mine get zapped it's when their combs or wattles touch a hot wire. When that happens they squawk, jump a couple of feet back, and then go about their business.

 

[MeowPonyMix]

Did you get that from Premier1? If you call them they are very helpful with this type of question.

I've used electric netting, the tester just says it is over 7000 volts. I don't know how high it actually goes. My chickens have been zapped by that and it has not hurt them. The safety factor built into electric fencing or netting is that it is not a continuous current, but it pulses maybe 50 times a minute. Since it pulses you can turn loose if you get zapped. If it was a continuous current you could not turn loose and it could kill horses, chickens, or you.

Electricity will not keep chickens in all that well. Their feathers are great insulators. My chicks go through the electric netting without issue until they get too big for the holes in the netting. When mine get zapped it's when their combs or wattles touch a hot wire. When that happens they squawk, jump a couple of feet back, and then go about their business.

Hi Ridgerunner!

I purchased the fencing directly from Zareba. I suspect our fencing runs as hot as yours, last I tested it. Sounds like from your feedback a combo of the no climb and electric fencing may help keeping chickens in. I'm reassured feathers are good insulators.

Thank you for the thoughtful reply.

 

[TAM Farm]

I think they will be fine in both situations with the electric fence. I'm not sure what the no climb looks like therefore how effective it is or will be, but the chickens should be ok with the electric fence. my daughter wanted me to add the smiley guys.
th