Fence work

[moonhare]

Other than a few odds and ends, the garden fence project has been completed. This should secure the area from the rabbits, woodchucks, and deer. Other smaller rodents, and birds, haven’t been as destructive.





Added were an electrified wire above the existing fence, and a mesh barrier behind the electrified wires at the fence base. The top wire is to deter deer; the mesh is to discourage other pests. I also replaced some insulators and tightened up the lower wires where necessary. What is left is to trim back any vegetation and to staple the mesh as needed.


From the Peter Rabbit movie. I used a similar pic in 2019, when I first considered adding the electrified fence.

My first postings about the fence were in August, 2019.
https://gardening.dreamwidth.org/2019/08/06/

Comments

[timespirt]

Does anything get hurt by the fence?

[moonhare]

I’m guessing that is relative. Zareba claims the shock is a mild deterrent to reinforce a critter’s “I should avoid this” response. The charger pulses the electricity so that there is only a momentary shock and not continuous one should the animal get temporarily trapped behind the wires. I test the fence by hand, occasionally- you know when it zaps you!

This is a video clip from a while back when a fox touched the wire. It didn’t load properly, so I made it a link-

https://player.vimeo.com/video/599853115

[timespirt]

Guess that works and it doesn't seem to hurt much just sends them off so they stay away. Thank you for showing the animals don't get hurt.

[moonhare]

I would not want to harm the critters for the sake of a few vegetables.

[timespirt]

"HUGS"

[brightly_lit]

I, too, have spent a great deal of time on fencing this spring. That's a nice-looking fence you've got! Keep the varmints out.

[moonhare]

Best wishes with your fence!

This is actually three layers, now: four including the electric wires. I had a 4’, 2x4” mesh fence, originally. When the rabbits got through I wrapped the exterior with a 2’, 2” poultry wire layer, overlapping the first mesh. The poultry wire was too malleable, though, unlike the fence I remembered. Hence the electric fence addition, which was working nicely.

Last year, though, the young rabbits breached this and ate all the peas and green beans we had wanted to can. I’m hoping the 1/4” mesh causes them to contact the electric wires when trying to climb around it. So far, at least, the woodchucks have kept out…