Poultry Fence: Safely fenced in against foxes, martens and escapees

Poultry Fence: Free range with a secure boundary

A poultry fence gives your chickens, ducks and geese room to scratch and graze while protecting them from foxes and martens. Most keepers rely on mobile poultry netting that can be put up and moved without tools. With us you will find netting with and without electricity in various heights, complete sets with an energiser, netting to keep out birds of prey, and spare posts, gates and repair kits.

Electric or non-electric?

Electrifiable netting is the safest protection against predators. A fox that has had one shock keeps its distance. For this you need a suitable energiser powered by mains, battery or solar. Non-electric netting is fine for keeping hens off your vegetable beds or for limiting the run during the day when someone is nearby. In areas where foxes are common, an electric fence is almost always worth it. Keep the grass under the netting short so the fence does not lose voltage.

The right height

Light chicken breeds like to fly over low fences. Netting with a height of 112 to 122 cm is enough for most chickens, and for breeds that love to fly there is netting up to 170 cm. Ducks and geese hardly fly, so lower netting is often enough for them. Posts with a double spike stand firm even in hard ground, and with a gate in the netting you can walk into the run with ease. Plan the length of your fence so the run is big enough for your flock and you can move it to fresh ground now and then.

Frequently asked questions

How high does a chicken fence need to be?
For most chicken breeds, a fence height of around 110 to 125 cm is enough. Light breeds that like to fly can manage more, so taller netting or a bird of prey net as a cover over smaller areas helps.

Does poultry netting keep the fox out?
Electrified netting is very effective protection, because the fox gets a clear shock on first contact. Without electricity, it can climb over netting or push its way underneath.

How often should I move poultry netting?
That depends on how quickly your birds graze the area. Many keepers move their netting every few weeks so the ground can recover and the run does not turn bare and muddy.