Predators and 12/40/7 Electro-Net

[bubba1358]

Does anyone have experience with electric netting and predators? here's my scenario: I have a 1J charger with 4 netting sections. I have a donkey, 3 Katahdin sheep, and a bunch of chickens, all of whom stay inside the net. I move the net around my 5 acres once a week for fresh pasture.

My concern is if 40" of 12-strand electric net is enough to keep predators out. Donkey snorts and stamps at everything that comes close, including the wild turkeys and squirrels. That should be a deterrent, but I wonder if the fence can be jumped by a coyote or a fox. It sends out anywhere between 4k and 6k volts. Does this sound like enough to keep everyone safe?

 

[bubba1358]

No takers on whether a coyote or fox can and/or will jump a 40" electric net? Beuller?

 

[secuono]

Of course they ~can~, the better question is 'will they'. They should walk to it, thinking they can either dig under, climb or pop through it, then be shocked and know the fence 'bites'.
If they stand up and their nose is still getting shocked, I wouldn't think they would just jump in. Plus, if the donkey is stomping, he might charge at the animal as well and who wants to mess with a hard meal in a small pen?
I'm only guessing 'small', no idea how long one of these nets is.

 

[sprocket]

I think it's more likely that they'll go under the netting, as the bottom line isn't electrified and it allows some, though not much, space for sneaking under. I had two escape artist goat wethers who would seek out a point in the fence where the ground was slightly lower and the fence slightly higher, and then they'd lay on their sides and worm their way under. I'm going to assume that a determined, or just curious, dog, coyote or fox could also do the same.

 

[bubba1358]

Of course they ~can~, the better question is 'will they'.

Fair enough. The total size when set up will is ~100 x 200 ft. The net is pretty low to ground. One of my issues is having the lowest hot wire actually make contact with soil, so it's quite low. Also, it's moved weekly - does that throw off predators, or do they just happen by one night and go for it?

With your wethers, was that a permanent setup?

Thanks.