Some time ago, an article was published in Countryside that had to do with an electrically charged entrance to a hen house. The birds could use it without being shocked but predators would get a jolt. I have looked and looked thru my mags and can't find it....does anyone know what issue it is in? Thanks for any/all help! B. Miller

-- Barb Miller (barbmill@penn.com), April 09, 2002

Answers

I thought it was a ramp that raised up of the ground at dark ? Try 1998 last issue ? Somewhere in there.

-- Joel Rosen (JoelnBecky@webtv.net), April 10, 2002.

No - it's not the automatic door (I found that one). Someone used several strands of wire hooked up to a charger to form a sorta ramp but that's all I remember. My DH and I were both pretty impressed with the idea at the time and now that we're going to get layers we'd like to employ it. Thanks for the answer!

-- Barb Miller (barbmill@penn.com), April 10, 2002.

Try this guy's site - look under the free range presentation link.

http://www.plamondon.com/

Robert Plamondon's page

-- Steve - TX (steve.beckman@compaq.com), April 10, 2002.

Hi Barb. Such a scheme appears practical because predators generally have a longer 'wheel base' than the chooks! So here is my idea on the subject..

The ramp would have to be made of insulated material, the first part of the ramp would have a conductive area connected to one pole of something supplying an electric charge, then there would be a insulated part of ramp followed by another conductive area connected to the other pole of the charge supply.

The chooks have only two feet and never put feet on each plate at the same time, predators slinking in however 'bridge' the gap and get what they deserve!

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), April 11, 2002.

Ok, well here's my idea. Make the bottom of the ramp about 10 inches off the ground, maybe 12. A chicken cant stretch its legs 12 inches, but a fox can. The chicken has to hop onto the ramp, thus making it resistant to shock (you have to be touching ground or a conductive surface that is attached to the ground in order to be shocked). You might keep the wires attached to the board pulled in 6 inches or so from the bottom of the ramp so wings cant accidentally get shocked if they flap the wrong way.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), April 11, 2002.

Well thats obvious Kevin, why didn't I think of that! :-)

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), April 11, 2002.