Garden Fence Question

[FarmerGreen]

Last year the raccoons decimated my corn. To keep them out this year I was thinking of a solar powered electric fence. Could something like chicken wire be electrified to dissuade them? What else would work? I hate to just trap and kill them, but, I gotta keep 'em out this year.

[Usingmyrights]

Good luck keeping the raccoons out. They are crafty creatures. I personally wouldn't set up a hotwire to chicken wire. I think thats an accident waiting to happen.

[Alice In TX/MO]

http://www.premier1supplies.com/fenc...il&fence_id=96

[FarmerGreen]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

http://www.premier1supplies.com/fenc...il&fence_id=96

Yeah, I like that!

[ninny]

Don't you have any dogs that could handle this chore? If not, maybe you should consider getting a couple.

.

[olivehill]

The problem with electrifying chicken wire -- or other fencing not meant to be electrified is that it's a LOT of fence to electrify. Remember fencer are rated for linear feet of wire. One foot of high tensile or rope is one foot, but one foot of chicken wire is probably more like 10 feet of actual wire to be electrified (random estimate on that figure to illustrate the point.)

Another issue is keeping it properly insulated. You have to have it off the ground far enough it doesn't ground out, but not too high so that varmint can get underneath. And then you have the issue of attaching it to poles. Step-ins are all plastic usually, but also not tall enough or sturdy enough to hold up chicken wire well unless you use a lot of them.

Why not just put up a regular fence of your choosing and put a hot wire around the bottom and top on the outside?

I have dogs, but those coons can be sneaky. One took a liking to my bush beans last year and seemed to figure out when the dogs would be looking and when they wouldn't. Lucky for me it was late in the year so it wasn't a huge problem for the harvest overall. This year the garden is getting a fence.

[Usingmyrights]

A coon will also tear a dog up if cornered. The dog may help keep them out by causing them to seek out easier food, but if your garden is the best spot and the dogs get them cornered, get ready for a vet bill

[foxtrapper]

I electrified the chicken wire on my aviary and it worked quite well for many years.

[FarmerGreen]

I have a dog, but I don't live at the property. I wouldn't want to leave him there all the time and I don't get there every day. I also wouldn't want him getting hurt.
Olivehill, I see what you mean about having more wire to electrify.

[goatlady]

coons have extremely sensitive feet and if you plant squash or pumpkin among your corn OR around the perimeter of your garden the coons will not step on/cross the sticky leaves.

[sammyd]

my dad always ran a single hot strand of wire about 9-12 inches high around the garden to ward off the coon. Seemed to work OK

[fishhead]

Woven fence with a single strand of hot wire about 4" over the top of the woven fencing will prevent them from climbing over.

A second strand kept away from the bottom about 1' and 6" above the ground on the outside will keep them out.

Instead of solar you can use deep cycle batteries that you charge at home with a regular charger.

[geo in mi]

Make it so you can also keep out the deer and woodchucks. They are just as pesky with sweet corn.

geo

[ksfarmer]

Originally Posted by sammyd

my dad always ran a single hot strand of wire about 9-12 inches high around the garden to ward off the coon. Seemed to work OK

I've done this for years and it does work. Although I usually put 2 wires, about 5 inches and 12 inches or so above ground. Low enough they can't crawl under and high enough they won't climb it. If you put it up early, before the corn is close , they will leave it alone. If they get into the corn before you put up the fence, they are harder to stop. I usually have about one acre of sweet corn and this is the only way I have found to save it. You do have to maintain the fence well and keep any weeds from shorting it out.

There is also what is known as a "Golden Maldrin cocktail" which will eliminate coons.

[motdaugrnds]

I am going to plant sweet corn with pole beans to run up their stalks and pumpkins to ward off the coons. (I have also saved milk jugs and may try those if the pumpkin doesn't work. I was told to string the milk jugs around the corn patch just a few inches off the ground & weight each with rocks. This is suppose to deter them too.)