[North Devon Dumpling]

Ok, our fault, we lost a hen today.  They have always been very free range (tried to walk to the pub 2 miles away when we first got them!) and we have always loved it, but... we have always knows there was a risk and today it happened.  Mr Fox got our favourite hen (actaully I don't think she was terribly well which is maybe why he got her).  We really cannot be so reckless with our hens anymore and cannot be so selfish (we love them wandering about and helping us garden).  I am loath to up up a permenant structure mostly as we are likely to move house in the near future and it would be a pain, also we don't have much of an area we could fence off permenantly.  So I am quite keen on the electic netting idea, however we have two cats and I am not sure if having pets contraindicates having electric netting.  I am sure they after one jolt they won't go near it again but I don't want that one jolt to be harmful to them!

Any advice on electric poultry netting and cats very welcome please.

Thanks

[colliebird]

Ok, our fault, we lost a hen today.  They have always been very free range (tried to walk to the pub 2 miles away when we first got them!) and we have always loved it, but... we have always knows there was a risk and today it happened.  Mr Fox got our favourite hen (actaully I don't think she was terribly well which is maybe why he got her).  We really cannot be so reckless with our hens anymore and cannot be so selfish (we love them wandering about and helping us garden).  I am loath to up up a permenant structure mostly as we are likely to move house in the near future and it would be a pain, also we don't have much of an area we could fence off permenantly.  So I am quite keen on the electic netting idea, however we have two cats and I am not sure if having pets contraindicates having electric netting.  I am sure they after one jolt they won't go near it again but I don't want that one jolt to be harmful to them!

Any advice on electric poultry netting and cats very welcome please.

Thanks

It will certainly prevent them going near the netting again, but it won't harm them.  I used electric fencing for my sheep, and my dogs and cats only got a "buzz" once, and didn't go near it again.  I used the orange squared netting which gives a stronger jolt than the ones you buy for chickens. 
Just don't you try to straddle it to get over into the run when it's switched on!!!!!!!
Ouch!!!!

Valerie