6 Best Electric Netting Connectors For Poultry Fencing For a Secure Flock
Keep your flock safe. Our review of the top 6 electric netting connectors ensures a reliable connection and consistent shock to deter predators.
There’s nothing more frustrating than finding your electric poultry netting cold, especially when you know the energizer is humming away perfectly. You walk the line, checking for stray branches or sagging posts, only to find the culprit is a corroded, loose clip barely making contact. The fence is only as strong as its weakest link, and for electric netting, that weak link is almost always the connector.
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Why Good Connectors Matter for Your Flock’s Safety
A connector’s only job is to move electricity from one place to another with as little resistance as possible. When a connector is weak, corroded, or improperly installed, it acts like a bottleneck. The voltage drops, and the pulse of electricity that deters a predator becomes a mild, ineffective tickle.
This isn’t just an equipment problem; it’s a security failure. A fox or raccoon testing a "cold" fence learns quickly that the barrier is a bluff. A poor connection effectively hangs a "welcome" sign for predators, turning your expensive fencing into a useless visual deterrent.
Furthermore, bad connections create work. Arcing can occur, where the electricity jumps the gap, creating a clicking sound and burning out the delicate conductive wires over time. This leads to dead sections and hours spent troubleshooting with a fence tester, time that could be better spent on other farm chores. A solid connection is the foundation of a reliable, low-maintenance electric fence.
Premier 1 Supplies L-Clips: Easiest Connection
When it comes to speed, nothing beats the simple L-clip. These are small, conductive metal plates bent into a shape that allows you to quickly link two nets or attach a lead-out wire. You just pinch the netting’s metal ends together and slide the clip over them.
Their primary advantage is convenience, making them ideal for rotational grazing systems where you move the flock and their paddock frequently. Setting up and taking down a fence with L-clips takes seconds, not minutes. They provide a surprisingly decent electrical connection as long as they are kept clean and tight.
The tradeoff for that speed is robustness. L-clips can sometimes work themselves loose if the fence isn’t kept taut, or if a chicken repeatedly flies into that section of the net. They also offer a relatively small surface area for contact, which can become a point of failure if corrosion sets in. They are a fantastic choice for temporary setups and frequent moves, but might not be the best for a season-long, semi-permanent installation.
Gallagher G65110 Netting Power Connector Set
If you want a more "set it and forget it" connection, especially for linking your energizer’s lead-out wire to the start of your net, a purpose-built connector set is the way to go. The Gallagher set is a great example of this, typically featuring a wing-nut or bolt-down clamp that provides excellent physical and electrical security.
These connectors are designed to bite down hard on the conductive strands. You gather the metal filaments at the end of the net, place them in the clamp, and tighten it down. The result is a large, secure contact patch that minimizes voltage loss and is highly resistant to being knocked loose. This is the kind of connection that gives you peace of mind through stormy weather and curious livestock.
The installation is more deliberate than with a simple clip. You’ll need a moment to gather the wires and tighten the nut, which can be a minor hassle in the cold or rain. Because of this, they are less suited for connections you need to undo frequently, like at a gate. Use them for your most critical junctions that will stay put for weeks or months at a time.
Zareba EAC50N-Z Split-Bolt Netting Connector
For a truly bomb-proof connection, look no further than the humble split-bolt. This isn’t a fancy fencing gadget; it’s a standard electrical component that is perfect for joining wires permanently. It consists of a threaded bolt with a channel cut through it and a nut that tightens down to clamp whatever is inside.
A split-bolt provides an unparalleled electrical connection. By twisting the fine conductive strands of the netting together with your main lead-out wire and clamping them tightly inside the bolt, you create a seamless, low-resistance junction. This is the ideal solution for the main connection from your energizer or for making a permanent, mid-fence splice if you have to join two custom-cut pieces of netting.
This is not a tool for temporary links. A split-bolt requires a wrench to tighten properly and is meant to be left in place. It’s the connector you use when you want to eliminate a variable and be absolutely certain that a connection point will not be a future point of failure. It’s overkill for a temporary paddock, but perfect for a semi-permanent chicken run.
Powerfields P-NNC Net-to-Net Power Connector
Connecting one roll of netting to the next presents a unique challenge. You need to ensure that all the horizontal hot lines from the first net are reliably connected to their counterparts on the second net. The Powerfields Net-to-Net connector is designed specifically for this task.
This type of connector usually features a plastic housing with internal metal plates. You lay the ends of both nets into the connector and clamp it shut, and the plates bridge the electrical gap across all the conductive strands simultaneously. This is far more reliable than using a single clip to connect only the top or bottom wire.
While it excels at its intended job, it’s a specialized piece of equipment. It’s bulkier and less versatile than a simple clip or split-bolt for connecting to a single lead wire or creating a gate. But for joining two 164-foot rolls of netting to create a larger enclosure, it is absolutely the right tool for the job, ensuring consistent power across the entire fence line.
Fi-Shock FW-00021T Alligator Clip Connectors
Every farmer should have a handful of heavy-duty alligator clips in their fencing toolkit. Their spring-loaded jaws make them incredibly useful for quick, temporary connections. They are the perfect tool for diagnosing problems—you can use one to bypass a suspected bad connector or to quickly hook up a fence tester.
Alligator clips are also the go-to for creating temporary gates in a line of netting. By clipping a lead from one side of the gate opening to the other, you can maintain a hot fence while still allowing easy access. When you open the "gate," you just unclip it.
However, alligator clips should never be used for permanent connections. Their spring-loaded jaws provide a relatively weak connection point that can be easily dislodged by wind, animals, or encroaching vegetation. They are also prone to corrosion, which will quickly degrade the connection and create a fault in your fence. Think of them as a diagnostic tool and a temporary patch, not a long-term solution.
Starkline Netting Repair and Splicing Buckles
Sooner or later, a conductive strand in your netting will break. It might get snagged on a branch, chewed by a rodent, or simply wear out. A single break in a horizontal line creates a dead section from that point forward. Splicing buckles are the specific solution for this problem.
These small, metal connectors work like a tiny clamp. You thread the two broken ends of the conductive wire into the buckle and crimp it shut with a pair of pliers. This restores both the physical and electrical integrity of the line, ensuring the pulse can travel the full length of the fence.
Trying to fix a broken line by simply twisting the wires together is a recipe for failure. The connection will be weak, prone to corrosion, and will eventually fail. Using a proper splicing buckle is a quick, permanent repair that ensures the entire net remains energized and effective. It’s about maintaining the system, not just connecting it.
Installing Connectors for a Consistent Hot Fence
No matter which connector you choose, proper installation is what separates a hot fence from a headache. First and foremost, always turn the energizer off before working on the fence. It’s a simple step that prevents a nasty surprise.
For poultry netting, the key is to gather all the tiny metal filaments together. The plastic or nylon twines they are woven with are insulators; you must ensure your connector makes solid contact with the metal wires themselves. Strip back the non-conductive material if necessary to expose the wires for a clean connection.
Once installed, tighten the connector securely. A loose connection can arc, which creates heat and damages the wires over time. For permanent connections like split-bolts, a dab of dielectric grease can help prevent moisture from causing corrosion. Finally, turn the energizer back on and walk the line with a fence tester. Check the voltage near the energizer, after the connector, and at the far end of the fence. A significant drop in voltage points to a problem you need to fix.
Ultimately, the "best" connector is the one that’s right for the specific job at hand. Using a robust split-bolt for your main lead, a specialized net-to-net clamp for long runs, and simple clips for temporary paddocks creates a system that is both secure and flexible. A reliable fence isn’t bought, it’s built, one solid connection at a time.
