This is your goal: a chicken tractor surrounded by a roll (or two) of electric net fencing. It's late afternoon and the chickens are roaming the pasture, but know the chicken tractor is home, and will go there to roost tonight. At dusk I'll tie the last section of fence to the first and hook up the fence charger, making a complete circle of electrified net around the chickens.
What you'll need:
- A roll of electric net fencing of a type appropriate for your animals and your conditions. Electric net fencing comes in different heights, densities of netting and styles of posts. Looking at the catalog and just calling and asking for some advice will help you choose. This is Premier1's 12/48/3 net fencing for poultry with single spikes.
- Step-in or fiberglass rods for supports in the corners. Some kits come with fiberglass rods, and you can purchase step-in posts at farm supply stores for a couple dollars apiece.
- A fence energizer. Again, there are many choices here, but most places selling electric net fencing can help you select an energizer appropriate for your needs. I have a Patriot P5 with a deep-cycle marine battery to energize it. Every few days, I lug the battery up to the shop and charge it up again. The hens respect the fence enough that they don't try to escape just because the battery's not there for a few hours.
- A ground rod and wires. The energizer must be attached to a ground rod sunk into the soil a few feet. Any bare conductive metal will do. Use the type of wire specified by your energizer; again, the person selling you the fence and energizer can advise you as to what you need.
- A mowed area. It's kind of hard the first time, but soon you'll have a sense of the area that your setup will use. For electric net fencing to work properly, grass must be cut low or else the vegetation will decrease the voltage on the fence.
