Will my horse fence energizer melt my Premier1 fencing?

[Mer1977]

Hi Everyone!

This is a great forum! I've been lurking for a while, and finally have a few burning questions that I would love your help with.

I’ve just ordered some Premier1 fencing to give our girls more roaming space – 100’ x 42”. I already have an energizer for my horses, which is a model "Saco XX High Voltage". These are the most complete specs I’ve been able to find:

http://www.mightypets.com/fishock-sacoxx-largepastureelectricfencecharger.aspx

Although we have 4 acres of fenced pasture, our energizer is only charging maybe 300’ of fencing (the rest has a high brush barrier, so no need to charge there). So there’s plenty of juice in this energizer to support 100’ of poultry fencing, and it would be extremely easy (and cheap) to use our existing charger.

When I spoke with Premier1 the first time, Lady #1 said my current energizer should work fine with their fencing. So I didn’t order a new energizer.

But their video said to be sure to use a “low or wide impedance” charger, not “high impedance” or “weed burner”. So I called Premier1 back, and spoke with Lady #2. She said I should NOT use my charger unless the manufacturer says it’s low impedance or not a weed burner. (The specs above say it is a weed burner. And Saco apparently makes another model that they specifically call “low impedance”.)

Unfortunately I’ve found no way to contact the manufacturer directly. And my feed store doesn't know anything about Premier1 fencing.

So, have any of you used an energizer similar to mine with your Premier1 fencing? Will it melt or otherwise damage the fencing?

Also, I read on this forum how some chickens will fly over a 4’ fence.

Lady #1 at Premier1 said 42” was fine for chickens, and that people buy the 48” for deer. My girls used to occasionally jump up on top of the outdoor coop when I let them roam (supervised), and the coop is about 40” high. They haven’t been up there in a while, though.

Do chickens typically fly over 42” fences? Should I have ordered the 48”?

FYI, we live in Upstate NY, and we have coyotes, mink, raccoons, skunks, possums, and occasional bears or stray dogs. So I’m terrified to let them roam unsupervised.

Thanks so much, and happy holiday weekend!

 

[centrarchid]

Hi Everyone!

This is a great forum! I've been lurking for a while, and finally have a few burning questions that I would love your help with.

I’ve just ordered some Premier1 fencing to give our girls more roaming space – 100’ x 42”. I already have an energizer for my horses, which is a model "Saco XX High Voltage". These are the most complete specs I’ve been able to find:

http://www.mightypets.com/fishock-sacoxx-largepastureelectricfencecharger.aspx

Although we have 4 acres of fenced pasture, our energizer is only charging maybe 300’ of fencing (the rest has a high brush barrier, so no need to charge there). So there’s plenty of juice in this energizer to support 100’ of poultry fencing, and it would be extremely easy (and cheap) to use our existing charger.

When I spoke with Premier1 the first time, Lady #1 said my current energizer should work fine with their fencing. So I didn’t order a new energizer.

But their video said to be sure to use a “low or wide impedance” charger, not “high impedance” or “weed burner”. So I called Premier1 back, and spoke with Lady #2. She said I should NOT use my charger unless the manufacturer says it’s low impedance or not a weed burner. (The specs above say it is a weed burner. And Saco apparently makes another model that they specifically call “low impedance”.)

Unfortunately I’ve found no way to contact the manufacturer directly. And my feed store doesn't know anything about Premier1 fencing.

So, have any of you used an energizer similar to mine with your Premier1 fencing? Will it melt or otherwise damage the fencing?

Also, I read on this forum how some chickens will fly over a 4’ fence.

Lady #1 at Premier1 said 42” was fine for chickens, and that people buy the 48” for deer. My girls used to occasionally jump up on top of the outdoor coop when I let them roam (supervised), and the coop is about 40” high. They haven’t been up there in a while, though.

Do chickens typically fly over 42” fences? Should I have ordered the 48”?

FYI, we live in Upstate NY, and we have coyotes, mink, raccoons, skunks, possums, and occasional bears or stray dogs. So I’m terrified to let them roam unsupervised.

Thanks so much, and happy holiday weekend!

Weed burner may cause problems poultry netting. I will contact supplier of brand I use (not Premier) and see what they say.

Poultry netting requires more Joules per unit length of fencing to keep it hot since such netting always has so many more shorts even when kept clear of weeds.

If adequate resources; i.e. food, water and cover inside fencing they are much less inclined to fly out. My American Dominiques will even fly over 48" fencing to get at feeders for chicks and chicks routinely fly over the fencing. Favorite game hen simply flies over an entire paddock enclosed by poultry netting plus another hundred feet for eats. Still very effective against ground predators.

Hotter fence needed for bears.

 

[Mer1977]

Centrarchid, thanks so much for your advice!

I've called the feed store where I purchased the charger, and the owner didn't know enough about the Premiere1 fencing to advise me (although he does know a lot about energizers).

I've left a message for the top egg-spert at Premiere1, so we'll see what he has to say.

 

[Mer1977]

Just to close the loop, I spoke with Gordon at Premier1. He educated me on the impedance issue, and told me I could melt my poultry fence with the horse fence charger. He was very informative and nice. So.... I've ordered one of his energizers.

Thanks, all!

 

[centrarchid]

I am getting same thing back from Carla at Ken Cove. I am still trying to find out what upper limit is for number of 164' lengths that can be be strung in series from a single charger. At some point multiple chargers will be required and that means multiple paddocks.

 

[Mer1977]

The energizer I ordered (which Gordon recommended) gave these stats:

Should Power...

• 1 mile of 3 strand cattle fence
• 1/2 mile of a 5-7 strand sheep fence
• 6 of the 164' sheep/goat nets
• 3 of the 164' poultry nets.
• All distances are dependent on amount of grass/weed load on the fence.

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=12602&cat_id=170

This is the Patriot P5 energizer.

 

[centrarchid]

Looks similar to what I am expanding into where charger will be 1.0 Joules. My preference is to go solar on powering chargers since some are going to be some distance from house.

 

[Mer1977]

Maybe Gordon could be a good source for you? (Please know that I don't represent Premier1 - in fact, I was annoyed at them for receiving two different answers. But now I'm a happier customer.)

 

[centrarchid]

My preference is to use American made products when all else equal. I intend to compare products eventually but want a little more experience first.