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Electric poultry fence questions…

Jay Halbin

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Location: Texas 8A / 8B Border

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posted 2 years ago

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I have a 100’ premier 1 48” fence, but I don’t have an energizer yet.

I was considering obtaining an energizer that plugs into power. My only issue being the fence location is about 300’ from a power outlet.

I’ve scoured the internet trying to find out if I could run a wire from nearest out building to the fence, and if so, what gauge wire would be correct. To mount the energizer inside the building but connect it to a fence 300’ away.

Although, it genuinely seems like the answer is to use a solar energizer.

I’m simply frugal and the lower cost of a plug-in pulsing energizer is enticing to my senses. Im not so familiar with electric fences, yet.

The fence purpose is to keep small predators out of an area. Raccoons, foxes mainly.

Thank you.

Matt McSpadden

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Hi Jay,
Welcome to Permies.com

I am not an expert, but I have used that exact fence. I did use it with a solar charger and it worked well for me. If you are really intent on plugging it in, I would do what most farms do with electric fences. Rather than run an extension cord to a charger, close to where the fence is needed, they plug the charger into the barn, and run a line of electric fence out to the area.

Good luck :)

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Jay Halbin

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Location: Texas 8A / 8B Border

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posted 2 years ago

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Thanks. I’ll probably just for the solar energizer. If it’s lasts a long time, then it may be worth it.

I’m looking at the .3 joules model

Matt McSpadden

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Hi Jay,
I don't recall which I had, I believe I had the Intellishock 60, which is a step up from what you are looking at. This is one area I would not skimp on. If I did it again (and I'm sure I will), I would buy the 120 (1.2 joule) version. You don't want there to be any question when an animal touches that fence. You want them to leave it alone. If you have a lower level energizer (I keep wanting to call it a charger), and there are a lot of weeds touching the fence, and a hungry fox touches it partially... it might not get much of a zap, and could decide he is hungry enough to try again. You want the experience to be so shocking (pun intended) that they never go near that fence again.

Jay Halbin

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Location: Texas 8A / 8B Border

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posted 2 years ago

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I see, thank you for the advice.

I’ve only ever seen a single fox around here, but I did see it.

And raccoons, possums and more than plentiful around here. There are so many I have to tie down my trash cans and I’m considering trapping and relocating as many of them as I can

Jake Esselstyn

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In their energizer kits, Premier 1 sells wire that is intended to run from the energizer to the fence in exactly this situation. You could look at what gauge wire they provide in those kits. Or, just call them. They seem to know their business.

Jay Halbin

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Jake Esselstyn wrote:In their energizer kits, Premier 1 sells wire that is intended to run from the energizer to the fence in exactly this situation. You could look at what gauge wire they provide in those kits. Or, just call them. They seem to know their business.

You're totally right! I hadn't noticed this before. The kits do not appear to be more effectively priced, but they do give me something to research.

James Freyr

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I'm in a similar situation as I move my chickens all over the farm, using the same electric net your looking at, powered from my plug-in fence energizer. Since I also have cows on the move and their paddocks are made with a single electric twine wound on reels and step in posts, I have several reels and I use one and some step in posts as a lead to connect my chicken fence energizer to wherever the chickens are on the farm. Before I did this, I used the black electric fence lead wire and it becomes a pain in the ass to move, especially when grasses are growing and get long. I have found that electric twine on a reel is way easier.

I saw in your post your considering 0.3 joule energizer, may I suggest 1.0 joule. When grasses contact the electric fence, it will drain some of the energy, and as grasses get taller and more of them contact the fence, more energy is drained and it loses it effectiveness as a deterrent to predators. I use a 1 joule energizer and the fence remains painful as grasses grow into it. If the fence hurts really bad, animals remember that.

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Matt McSpadden

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I’ve only ever seen a single fox around here, but I did see it.

All I will say is that chickens will attract anything hungry from a very long way away. We had no sign of anything until we got chickens. Then they started showing up.

Jay Halbin

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Matt McSpadden wrote:

I’ve only ever seen a single fox around here, but I did see it.

All I will say is that chickens will attract anything hungry from a very long way away. We had no sign of anything until we got chickens. Then they started showing up.

This is definitely a concern. Technically speaking, this is my night time outer defense. My small group is contained inside what seems to be an impenetrable chicken Fort Knox, but you never know...

I am VERY concerned though about my children, especially when we talk about raising the power levels on a netting style floppy fence. I have a little under two, and I think what I will do is to construct a third perimeter / blockade cheaply from short t-posts and chicken wire as a physical barrier to keep any and all little people from even approaching the area without an adult present.

With our heavy heavy heavy infestation of deer, we are very accustomed to building tall fences from T-posts.

Jay Halbin

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I also wonder why tractor supply sells LARGE energizers that will run miles and miles, but only put out .1 joule. I can only guess that this is only applicable to a single wire run, and not a net with many strands that also touch grass and weeds at times.

Matt McSpadden

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Hi Jay,
Each kid is different, but I did want to mention that I have 6 children who were around the fence and never had a problem. My oldest was 9 at the time. I showed him and the next two younger, how to safely disconnect the fence. They knew to push the button and then disconnect the orange clip. I never had trouble. Whenever we went out, the older kids would run ahead and fight over who would get to turn it off before the younger kids got there. I was with them the first few times, but after that I was fine sending out the older kids to feed them.

It might also have helped that the two older kids saw me get zapped. I figured if I was going to bring an electric fence onto my property with kids, I'd better know what it felt like. So I set up the worst case scenario. I poured water on the ground, stood in the puddle with bare feet, and touched the fence. It hurt and the kids saw it, so they might have learned that way too :)

***Edit - This was with me moving it around the yard/field. So I didn't have a good way to add a second fence barrier. My wife was nervous about it at first, but even she got used to it, once we knew we could trust them to shut it off before doing anything with the chickens.

Jay Halbin

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posted 2 years ago

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And then I found this on Amazon. 1.35 joule, but I can't imagine where the battery is...

https://www.amazon.com/Red-Sizzle-Powered-Electric-Energizer/dp/B095XBDPVY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Matt McSpadden

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Apparently they keep the battery on a different shelf. This is a quote from the description.

Can be used with external 12V battery (sold separately). Ground & Fence Leadset required (sold separately)

Jay Halbin

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Matt McSpadden wrote:Apparently they keep the battery on a different shelf. This is a quote from the description.

Can be used with external 12V battery (sold separately). Ground & Fence Leadset required (sold separately)

I read that too, and then I read the customer questions (briefly) and someone asked about this.

The answer giver indicated that what they meant was that an additional 12v battery could be used to charge the internal battery, but that the solar panel would not charge that additional 12 volt battery. That made no sense to me and I had to live on to another task. The company has no website either, so this must be a straight from China thing.

Marc Dube

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Location: Saskatchewan

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I just use a roll of electric wire 14g to run out to paddocks, just keep it elevated and insulated. 14g insulated wire would also work for this.

Your concerns about your children touching the fence. Imo do your best to tell them it will hurt if they touch it, and if they do it will hurt but also is harmless and they won't touch it a second time.

That 12v charger you showed I'm pretty sure does not have a battery and uses an external deep cycle that you charge yourself with a plug in charger or solar.

Jay Halbin

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posted 2 years ago

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Someone correct me if I am wrong here...

Couldn't I not simply use a 20 watt solar kit such as this

https://www.amazon.com/TP-solar-Monocrystalline-Controller-Extension-Terminal/dp/B07RZBVTGR/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=ASC-30W-12V&qid=1685548788&sr=8-4&th=1

2 x 12v 12 ah batteries like this

https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Sealed-DEEP-Cycle-Rechargeable-Battery/dp/B07M7L2HZN/ref=sr_1_13?crid=JUH48ABJWRH9&keywords=12volt+12+ah+batteries&qid=1685549548&sprefix=1%2Caps%2C3264&sr=8-13&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc

plus a battery box like this

https://www.amazon.com/attwood-9067-1-Power-Vented-Battery/dp/B001O0D6QK/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=marine+battery+box&qid=1685549601&sr=8-5

and a DC operated energizer like this

https://patriotelectricfencing.com/products/tt-818351

plus a grounding rod...

that all adds up to just over $200.

Matt McSpadden

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posted 2 years ago

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Hi Jay,
While I'm not a solar expert, it appears that you could absolutely do that. You are paying the extra $85 for the smaller package, already assembled, already tested. If you want something ready to go... I think its worth the extra. If the chicken budget is tight or if you just want to learn more about solar... I think it would be good to get all the pieces and assemble it yourself.

Jay Halbin

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posted 2 years ago

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I suppose we compare the IShock 120 with the 10 watt panel at $369 then that's one thing.

If we move to the 20watt panel, and the fence tester it is $427

And while I'm very frugal, and I love DIY stuff, the price difference isn't that great really. I sort of AM looking for an excuse to play with some solar stuff, but I'm on a time crunch right now.

Jay Halbin

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I decided to build this myself.

Here's the run down

20 Watt Amazon Solar Kit = $37
Battery Box = $14
2 x Batteries, same spec = $53 (for both)

Premier 1 IntelliShock 10 (Battery) Energizer Kit $162.00

Plus a little tax.

The only think I need to add is some sort of water proof cut off switch, and I'll need a piggy back blade for the batteries.

All in with tax, about $280. And I'll need to craft a bracket for the solar panel, and a stand for the energizer. I have plenty of spare wood on hand for that. I'll post some update photos as I go. I might even make a YouTube video to go with.

Marc Dube

pollinator

Posts: 248

Location: Saskatchewan

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Awesome I look forward to seeing the completed project.

This is the direction I would have gone too if I needed a solar charger.

Jay Halbin

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Well, I got everything all rigged up. Works fine. Fence measures 5.7. -6.4

I let my chickies out inside the fence and it didn’t take them but 5 minutes to simply charge the fence and got right through it. All of them.

They clucked a lot, but they made it.

Also, I hear some “popping”, 1 every second with the pulse here and there. And I have to wonder, what’s popping and why?

Matt McSpadden

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I don't have much experience with anything other than the electro netting, but I always thought electric fences made a small click/pop as they were running?

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