Electric Fence for Chickens, Turkeys, Poultry etc.

Electric fencing is an affordable and easy option to contain free-range poultry and pastured broilers. It also protects poultry from wild predators like coyotes, foxes, bobcats, weasels, birds of prey, raccoons, rodents and more.

When setting up an electric fence for your poultry, make sure that your enclosure has all the components that animals need. They need a large space with grass, gravel, and insects. When providing fencing for these animals, it’s important to note all the specifics that should go into setting your fence up.

Fence Wire

Several variations of electric fencing can be used for poultry including:

• Two-wire system – This system uses a single wire 4-6 inches off the ground and a second wire 10 inches off the ground. Aluminum wire works well. A two-wire system is ideal for chickens that are kept on large areas, not tightly fenced runs. Despite their ability to fly, poultry – chickens and turkeys, in particular – can be contained with a relatively short fence.
• Electrified mesh netting – This option can be an effective means to deter predators and keep chickens, especially broilers, inside when they must be fenced tightly. Drawbacks are it is more expensive, and the grass must be trimmed regularly along the fence line to prevent the current from shorting out. Electrified netting comes in rolls in a range of heights. Mesh netting is compatible with our Zareba® Chargers.
• Combination – Add electric wire to existing fences. The most important wire will be the ground wire which is place 4-6 inches off the ground with single-strand fences. Another wire on the top of the fence can help to deter climbing predators. Plastic insulators on wooden posts or clip-on insulators for T-posts will do the job. Galvanized steel wire is recommended, especially for the bottom wire.

Fence Chargers and More

An AC-powered low impedance fence charger is recommended for poultry. Zareba's AC-Powered 2 Mile AC Charger is designed specifically for containing large chickens and large poultry species. It has a 2 mile range under ideal conditions. A charger that generates at least 5,000 volts is sufficient to simultaneously contain poultry and deter predators.

Having a strong AC unit will allow electric flow to push past barriers and fight grass, weeds, and other vegetation as the fence will only be about 6 inches off the ground.

To ensure that your poultry is adequately contained you may need additional supplies including: fence posts, insulators, ground supplies, fence energizers, fence tools, and fence tests.

You can learn more about fencing specifically for free-range poultry here.