6 Best Electric Netting Fences for Poultry Protection
Choosing the right electric netting is key for poultry safety. We analyze the 6 best fences designed to effectively deter and outsmart predators.
There’s no worse feeling than heading out to the coop at dawn and seeing the tell-tale signs of a predator visit. We’ve all been there, and it’s a hard lesson in the realities of raising poultry. The good news is that you can dramatically shift the odds in your favor with the right tool: electric netting.
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Why Electric Netting Beats Traditional Fencing
Traditional chicken wire is really only good for keeping chickens in, not for keeping predators out. A raccoon can reach through it, a fox can dig under it, and a determined coyote can simply tear it down. Hardware cloth is a big step up for permanent coops and runs, but it’s completely impractical for pasturing birds.
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This is where electric netting changes the game entirely. It’s a psychological barrier, not just a physical one. A predator’s first encounter with a hot fence is usually its last; the sharp, surprising shock teaches them to stay far away. Because the threat comes from touching the fence anywhere, it effectively deters climbers like raccoons and diggers like foxes without needing to be buried or six feet tall.
The single greatest advantage, however, is portability. Electric netting allows you to move your flock to fresh pasture in minutes, a core principle of regenerative grazing that improves your soil and your birds’ health. You simply can’t achieve that level of flexibility with permanent fencing. The main tradeoff is maintenance—you must keep the bottom line clear of tall grass and weeds, or it will short out the fence and render it useless.
Premier 1 PoultryNet Plus: The All-Around Choice
If you’re looking for the industry standard, this is it. Premier 1 has been in the netting game for a long time, and their PoultryNet Plus is a reliable workhorse that balances all the key features you need. It’s the fence I see most often on other small farms, and for good reason.
The build quality is solid, with good conductivity and durable poly-wire. What really sets it apart for most users are the double-spiked posts. On soft or uneven ground, that second spike provides a huge amount of stability and prevents the frustrating sagging you can get with single-spike posts. This makes setup quicker and keeps the fence tensioned properly, which is critical for its effectiveness.
Think of this as the perfect all-around option for someone rotating chickens through varied pasture every week or two. It’s not the cheapest nor the most specialized, but it does everything well. If you’re overwhelmed by choices and just want a fence that works without any fuss, you won’t go wrong here.
Starkline 48" Netting: Best for Flighty Breeds
Most standard poultry netting stands about 42 inches tall, which is plenty for heavy-bodied breeds like Buff Orpingtons or Wyandottes. But if you raise flighty breeds like Leghorns or have birds that are prone to testing boundaries, that extra six inches on the Starkline 48" net makes a world of difference. It’s a visual and physical deterrent that can stop a potential escapee in its tracks.
The extra height is also a significant advantage in areas with high deer pressure. While a deer can easily clear the fence, they are more likely to try and push through it, potentially knocking it down. A taller, more visible fence is one they are more likely to see and avoid. This saves you the headache of constantly repairing a fence that’s been trampled.
Of course, there’s a tradeoff. The taller fence is slightly heavier and a bit more cumbersome to move and set up compared to shorter options. But if you’ve ever spent an afternoon chasing escaped hens, you’ll probably agree that the extra effort is well worth it for the peace of mind.
Gallagher SmartFence 2: Ultimate Portability
The Gallagher SmartFence isn’t a true netting, but it serves a similar purpose with a radically different design. It’s an all-in-one system with four strands of poly-wire, posts, and a geared reel integrated into a single, brilliant unit. For anyone who needs to move their flock daily, this system is an absolute game-changer.
Setup and takedown are incredibly fast. You can literally walk the perimeter, stepping in posts as you go, and have a 330-foot enclosure up in under ten minutes. Reeling it back in is just as quick. This makes it the ideal choice for day-ranging systems where birds are moved frequently to fresh grass.
The major consideration is that it’s less of a visual barrier than a full net, and the spacing between the wires is wider at the top. This makes it less suitable for containing very young chicks or for areas with intense pressure from small, agile predators like weasels. But for speed and ease of use in a managed grazing system, its portability is simply unmatched.
Kencove Poultry Netting Kit for Easy Setup
Getting started with electric fencing can feel intimidating. You need the net, an energizer, a ground rod, and a tester—and you need them all to be compatible. Kencove simplifies this entire process by bundling everything you need into one convenient kit, taking the guesswork out of your first purchase.
This is the perfect on-ramp for a beginner. Instead of spending hours researching joule ratings and ground rod types, you can get a complete, functional system delivered in one box. The components are solid and well-matched for the included length of netting, ensuring you have enough power to keep predators at bay from day one.
While you might eventually upgrade individual components as you gain experience, the value of a kit is in its simplicity. It lowers the barrier to entry and gets you up and running quickly and safely. For a hobby farmer with limited time for research, that convenience is a massive benefit.
Farm-Tek PermaNet: A More Durable Option
While most netting is designed for frequent moves, sometimes you need a fence to stay put for an entire season. This is where Farm-Tek’s PermaNet shines. It features more rigid vertical plastic struts in place of the flexible poly-string used in other nets.
This seemingly small change has a big impact. The rigid struts drastically reduce sagging between posts, helping the fence stand tall and tight even on hilly or uneven terrain. This makes it an excellent choice for a semi-permanent paddock you might use for a whole summer, as it requires less frequent re-tensioning. It stands up better to wind and weather over the long haul.
The downside is that it’s heavier and bulkier, making it less ideal for daily or even weekly moves. But if your goal is to set up a secure pasture for a few months at a time, the enhanced durability and stability of the PermaNet are major advantages.
Fi-Shock Netting: A Solid Budget-Friendly Pick
Let’s be realistic: setting up a new poultry pasture can be expensive. If you need to protect your flock without breaking the bank, Fi-Shock offers a functional and affordable entry point into electric netting. It gets the job done at a fraction of the cost of some premium brands.
To reach that lower price point, there are compromises. The posts are often single-spiked, the poly-wire might have fewer conductive filaments, and the overall construction may be less robust. This means it might not last as many seasons or stand up as well on challenging terrain.
However, for someone with a small, protected area on relatively flat ground, it’s a perfectly viable option. A working budget fence is infinitely better than no fence at all. It provides a real, effective shock that will deter predators, and it makes the benefits of rotational grazing accessible to farmers on a tighter budget.
Choosing Your Energizer and Key Setup Tips
A fence is only as good as the shock it delivers, and that comes down to your energizer and your setup. Don’t skimp here. The fence is just the container; the energizer is the engine.
First, pick your power source.
- AC (Plug-in): If you’re within reach of an outlet, this is your best bet. It’s the most reliable and cost-effective power source.
- Solar: The ultimate in portability. Perfect for remote pastures, but it’s the most expensive option and performance can dip during long stretches of cloudy weather.
- DC (Battery): A good compromise. A deep-cycle marine battery can power a fence for weeks and is more portable than AC, but requires periodic recharging.
Next, match the energizer’s power—measured in joules—to your needs. A 0.5 joule charger is fine for a single net in clean conditions, but for multiple nets or weedy areas, you’ll want 1.0 joules or more. More power allows the shock to push through some contact with vegetation without losing its bite.
Finally, remember two non-negotiable rules. First, your ground rod is critical. A weak ground means a weak shock, period. Use at least one 3-foot galvanized steel rod, and add more in dry, rocky soil. Second, buy a fence tester. It’s the only way to know for sure that your fence is hot. Aim for at least 4,000-5,000 volts on your line to effectively deter predators.
Ultimately, the best electric netting is the one that fits your land, your birds, and your management style. By understanding the tradeoffs between portability, durability, and cost, you can choose a system that not only contains your flock but actively defends it. A well-managed electric net is more than a fence; it’s peace of mind in a roll.
