Diagram of the live lines in side a extra tall poutry net

Poultry nets , Sheep Nets , Goat Nets , Rabbit Nets

All Electric fencing nets are very similar in there construction; the primary difference is there height and the number of lines of fencing.

The following comment apply to all types of net

All nets take a lot of power, 50m of poultry net represents 450 meters of single strand fencing ! To make matters worse the bottom live line is only 5cm off the ground. This means that some grass is bound to touch the first live wire , this grass will allow some of the available power to leak to earth .

With this in mind it a recommended to allow between 0.2J and 0.3J per net

I have used poultry net in this example as it is the most demanding but it is still worth working to the rule of thumb above for other types of net, it is a lot better to have a little too much power than not enough

Only the horizontal lines are live , the very bottom line is not live .

All nets have their posts built in they are attached to the net by small plastic insulators

All nets want to sag and have to be held taught by the use of guy lines ( This is subject to how firm the ground is ) . The corner posts will need to be held back by the use of guy lines this in turn will pull the sides taught and neat. It is important at this point to look at the bottom line , if the ground is undulating it may be necessary to peg the bottom wire down to ensure there are no gaps that anything could escape out of ( or get in !)

How to roll up nets for storage ( so they can be used again without turning in to a knot )  

Remove any twigs that have got caught in the net

Look for any damage and repair

Get hold of the first post ,  do not roll the net but then get hold of the second post  so the net forms a loop beneath the two posts.

Whilst continuing to hold the first two posts get hold of the third post with the net again making a loop

Repeat until all the net is collected, then walk back wards whilst lowering the posts to the ground so that the posts are all together and all the loops of net are out to one side .

Now roll the posts in two the centre of the netting

Tie the bundle very tight top and bottom with a couple of pieces of string .

FAQ

Can I install nets up a steep hill ?

Yes but it is not easy extra posts are required to support the slack created by the hill

Can a fox climb over my poultry netting

Netting is a flexible product and if any animal tried to climb over the net would a) collapse on the animal and b)  give a shock . Most animals are sensible enough to investigate any obstacle blocking their path, whilst making this investigation the net will give them a shock and this pain will cause the animal to run away and associate the net with pain.

Can a fox jump over my poultry net

Whilst yes it is possible , a) as per above, Most animals are sensible enough to investigate any obstacle blocking their path , whilst making this investigation the net will give them a shock and this pain will cause the animal to run away and associate the net with pain

b) Most animals do not jump clear they bounce off the top or scramble over in both cases the net found collapse trapping the animal whilst giving it a shock.

Will the net give a shock to my poultry ?

Yes but it will not harm them and they will soon learn to stay clear. Plus the birds feathers do act as a very effective insulator to the fence .

My netting has been chewed what has happened?

This is most often seen I rabbit netting but can be seen on all types

For whatever reason the netting has not been live. This will allow rabbits to chew the fence and cause a lot of damage.

Solution : check and test the nets and energizer regularly.

Can I connect nets together?

Yes they are designed with this in mind, just ensure the two net ends are tied together so there is no gap and that the two metal clips for the live wires are securely together

Do the ends of the nets have to come together to form a circuit?

No , Electric fencing works on what is called a earth return circuit so the nets can be in a straight line if required . For more information on this see the general electric fencing information section.

Can I use netting with my horned goats ( sheep )

Yes and No , Animals that are trained to netting before they grow horns yes ie ewes in lambing areas but if horned adult animals are introduced t live netting it can be a nightmare . They catch they netting on their horns , get a shock, run , pull the net with them , get a shock  , I am sure you get the picture .

What do you mean by the grass will allow power to leak ?

There is a more detail explanation in the main electric fencing FAQ

Basically Electricity wants to escape to earth and we want to keep as much of it in the fence so it is available to shock.

Grass or any vegetation acts as a conduit for the power to pass through to get to earth. If too much power is lost the fence will be ineffective.

How do I stop the grass from touching the fence ?

Mow it, strim it , with permanent fences weed killer is highly effective but not very pretty.

An alternative suggestion that comes from commercial organic layers, is to use Damp proof Membrane from a builders merchant. It is tough cheap and comes in convenient long thin strips on a roll just the right width for a electric fence. Place it under the bottom line and no grass will be touching, sometimes it is necessary to hold the DPM with small tent pegs.