[SusieB]

I have just lost a chicken to the fox in the middle of the day.  I am very disappointed, I don't know if I want to keep chickens if they can't roam the garden.  Even if I'm in the garden , he could nab them, if they wander to the other end.  Two chickens left tho', so I am going to see how I get on with electric netting.

Can anybody tell me the pros and cons of battery/mains powering?  The fencing will go within 3 or 4 metres of the house (and a plug socket).

And do I have to buy the exact length.  I am not sure yet of the set up and would rather buy longer than I will probably need.

[bantam novice]

It is usually a good idea to plan on wanting to increase your flock.  You can buy extra lengths of electric netting quite easily in 25 m lengths so you can join them together. 

Mains power - gives more of a reliably strong kick but you are stuck with one area.

Battery power you need to check and re-charge the battery regularly but you have a great deal of flexibility about where you keep your hens as the netting and energiser are easy to move around.

[SusieB]

Thanks.  If I buy 50m and I only need 30m, can I leave the extra ravelled up , or do I have to cut it?
And is the charging a weekly or daily thing? (I suppose it depends on the battery)

[Goldfinger]

I'm no sparky, but if you go down the battery route, could these people help in some way to keep your battery topped up instead of keep removing it to be charged??

http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu0-display/splash.html

Our in-laws have something similar in their caravan window to keep their batteries topped when it's in storage / not used etc.

[bantam novice]

I am not an electrician either but I would think you could roll up surplus netting without cutting it.

[Sassy]

If you have the option I would go for mains. You get a constant reliable kick from it. Also it is less hassle and cheaper to run. You can still move a mains net around but obviously you have to consider the  electric cable. The netting comes in 25 or 50 meter lengths. You could keep any unused rolled up but it would need to be supported in such a way as to not be shorting on the ground or any herbage. There is only a small difference in cost between the two lengths. Good luck