Electric Poultry Netting Advice
Electric Poultry Netting
Electric poultry netting is the ideal option for those keeping a small amount of birds in a domestic setting, preferring a solution which can be moved and stored easily and has a low visual impact. Available in dark green to be unobtrusive, a 50m poultry net has 14 integral posts and one gate post allowing a small section of net to be hinged out for access.
A Netting pack includes:
15 Posts (9 posts in a 25m net)
13 Galvanised Ground Pegs
4 Corner Guy Pegs
Small Repair Kit
You just need to add an energiser, a battery if battery powered and HT cable if mains powered, and an earth stake.
How electric poultry netting it works
The net is manufactured from polyurethane with metal filaments running through the horizontal strands (apart from the bottom base line) and this is mounted on PVC posts. To electrify the poultry net an electric fence energiser is connected to the net and to the ground via an earth stake. This forms an open circuit. When an animal comes into contact with the net and ground together it completes the circuit and gets a shock. This is why the net itself does not need to be erected in a loop and can be erected in a straight line if required. The electric fence energiser produces a high voltage pulse approximately once every second. Foxes, like most animals, investigate unfamiliar additions to their environment and it is at this point the shock is delivered. Although the net is not of insurmountable height (it is highly unlikely that a fox will attempt to jump that high), once the animal has been shocked, the net will be a psychological barrier and the animal will be unlikely to attempt to go further.
Considerations for using poultry netting effectively
As the live lines of poultry netting are very close to the ground they are susceptible to 'leakage'. This is where undergrowth could complete the loop and draws power from the fence to ground. We recommend a minimum of 3,000v on your fence to provide an effective deterrent. The higher the joule rating on your energiser the greater level of 'leakage' your system will cope with and maintain an effective voltage. This bottom line is not live but all other horizontal lines are. The key is trying to keep the live ones clear of external contacts e.g. grass, twigs, stones, wooden posts. This can be difficult, especially on undulating ground as your bottom line is effectively covering a shorter linear distance to the top line which causes the net to sag. You may need to add extra posts and/or corner posts to achieve better tension. In some cases keeping the lowest line free from vegetation is impossible so a more powerful energiser (more joules) may be needed, or, you may need to cut the lowest live line at the first and last post. You can reconnect if needed by using the metal ferrules in the supplied kit.
The increasing popularity of electric poultry netting in domestic settings has highlighted potential dangers for some small animals. Amphibians and small mammals have been known to get trapped while attempting to navigate through the lowest section of net and in some cases have died as a result of receiving consistent multiple shocks. This problem can be resolved by erecting a low barrier in front of the net that they cannot navigate or by disconnecting the lowest line as outlined above.
Main points
* Ensure you have the correct energiser for the amount of poultry netting.
* Keep the live wires free from anything not insulated from the ground (this includes wooden posts). Plastic is the only thing that will not create a short in the fence.
* Use at least one independent earth stake.
* If running from mains power use the correct HT electric fence lead-out cable.
For a wide selection of complete Electric Poultry Netting Kits CLICK ON THIS LINK
