How to Install Electric Wire for Chickens
Protect your chickens from predators by installing an electric fence around the outside of your chicken coop. Rather than installing a large fence around your coop, placing the electric fence around the coop's perimeter will keep predators at bay and your chickens safe. The benefit of making your own electric fence is that you can adjust the height of the electric perimeter depending on the predators in your area. Before beginning, research which animals may threaten your chickens. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Steel hot-wire rods
- Hammer
- Plastic rod insulators
- High-tensile wire
- Wire cutters
- Short-pulse fence charger
Instructions
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1
Place a steel hot-wire rod post 3 feet away from each corner of the chicken coop. Hammer each post 6 inches into the ground.
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2
Place plastic insulators over the steel hot-wire rod posts, following the manufacturer's instructions. Adjust the wire height so that it is 4 to 8 inches off the ground.
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3
Wrap the end of the electric wire around the steel hot-wire post's insulator hooks several times until the wire is securely attached to the hooks. Span the wire to the next steel hot-wire. Pull the wire tight between the two posts and wrap it around the second post's insulator hook until the wire is secure.
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4
Repeat step 3 until the wire is connected to every post. On the final post, cut the wire 3 inches longer than the distance between the final posts, using a wire cutter. Securely wrap the wire to the insulator hooks on the first post.
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5
Select the perimeter post that is closest to a power outlet. Hammer a grounding rod into the ground beside the chosen post. Attach the fence charger's ground wire to the grounding rod. Wrap the fence charger's hot wire around the perimeter wire to electronically charge the wire.
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6
Turn on the fence charger.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Electric fences can be hazardous to humans. Educate children about the dangers of electric fences.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
