Will electric poultry netting keep raccoons out?

[lynndif]

I lost a hen today
I have a small coop completely enclosed with conventional chicken wire but during the day I leave the door open so they can wander in an electric poultry net enclosure. Today when I left for work it was already light & they were fine. When I returned they were hiding in the coop & one had been killed. She was in the coop & the predator had attempted to pull her through the chicken wire by her head. The electric netting was still energized, but was pushed down like something large had crossed it. I assume my girls had tried to escape by running into the coop. I live in the woods & do have black bear & raccoon around. If it had been a bear, I would think the coop would have been torn apart. It sounds like raccoon to me but it doesn't seem like they would go over the electric fence. Any suggestions? Should I add more electric? I am most concerned that the attack occurred during daylight. I don't want to leave my girls locked up all day but not sure what else I could do.

 

[hayley3]

So sorry for the loss of your chicken. Raccoons are smart enough to stick their hands in there and pull the chicken out. Was the chicken intact? Maybe the raccoon tried, killing the chicken but then the electric made him let go before he could do more damage.

 

[Free Spirit]

Are you sure the net was at full charge and not reduced power from leaves or grass shorting out some of the lines? Sounds like a raccoon from your description. The pads of their feet are sensitive so if the net was a full power (and not shorting on grass or ground from sagging) then it should have kept them out. But if it had a power reduction then the raccoon would have easily just walked over it. You may want to get a tester (they're very cheap) and check the voltage.

 

[aart]

I lost a hen today
I have a small coop completely enclosed with conventional chicken wire but during the day I leave the door open so they can wander in an electric poultry net enclosure. Today when I left for work it was already light & they were fine. When I returned they were hiding in the coop & one had been killed. She was in the coop & the predator had attempted to pull her through the chicken wire by her head. The electric netting was still energized, but was pushed down like something large had crossed it. I assume my girls had tried to escape by running into the coop. I live in the woods & do have black bear & raccoon around. If it had been a bear, I would think the coop would have been torn apart. It sounds like raccoon to me but it doesn't seem like they would go over the electric fence. Any suggestions? Should I add more electric? I am most concerned that the attack occurred during daylight. I don't want to leave my girls locked up all day but not sure what else I could do.

Does the electric netting completely enclose the coop/run?
Agrees to test your netting for proper ground and charge.

 

[lynndif]

I had not thought of thst. I think I will get a better tester. I have a cheap one that just shows it is working. For now I am keeping them confined - not that they are very eager to leave the coop anyway. Thanks for the help!

 

[alibabba]

I test every evening. Just because...and I like to leave coop doors open so I don't have to race outabed and let the chickens out!

I have no net, just 2 strands of polywire around 2 very large pens on the cheapest charger...get 7000 volts on the tester, but in the rain only 3 to 5.

no problems. I have fox (who I hear calling/screaming every night AROUND my property. No losses since these two little lines of electric.

Bizzarre...but possibly just bad timing, that the power was compromised and the predator happened to be there the same day.


Maybe a one time, random thing if you check daily...and the voltage is good. Maybe the gaps are too large? I have 2 x 4 welded wire with the strands outside. A coon could try to grab something, but at night no. everyone is in the coop.... cept for that One crazy rooster on top of the dog pen...but coons can't climb past the 2 strings of electric at the bottom....


Your story is puzzling.

 

[tougholdbird]

We have used the electric poultry fencing for past 6 years. I use it only for day grazing.

When I utilized on a larger area with a larger flock, we put in LGDS specially for the chickens.

Short answer: raccoons and other predators are highly intelligent! Do not count on your fencing.

Good luck!!