Internal Wiring
This is a slightly grey area, a bit like insurance. If you dont have it you cant use it !! Done properly internal wiring is usually OK. However it does have to be managed for welfare reasons.
Commercial Sheds
Internal wiring is mostly used in larger commercial sheds, it prevents the birds smothering and cuts down the amount of floor eggs (nobody has told you about these !!) - This type of wiring has to be installed before the hens are in. It is very difficult to do after hens are in.
Internal Wiring should only be used until the hens are freely using the popholes.
NB - ONCE HENS GET T0 LAYING AGE, THEY ONLY FEEL THE SHOCK ON THEIR LEGS & BEAKS! Their bodies are insulated and will not react
.
Scratch Area
The way I do it, is to drill metal round bar into the three corners onto which I attach a tensioner and insulators. Along the three sides I then drill lighter round bar at about 4m intervals onto which I put nut & bolt insulators which support a live wire around the area.
If the base of the pophole is quite high from floor area this needs to be wired to stop hens tucking up against this wall. This line can be scrapped before they go
outside.
Using this method enables the user to adjust the height of wire depending what he uses on scratch area this can be lifted if necesary on clean out.
If you have ramp slats, I take a live wire along the outer wall at shoulder height and then drop it down into the wired corners. These are at each end of the building and on each side of any divisions.
Slatted Area
The hens will not be earthing because they are standing on heavy duty plastic slats. They have to earth to get the shock! Two lines have to be used - Live & Earth.
Once again, the problem areas are the corners formed by any divisions and where the nest box openings finish before the end walls.
Some people put mesh down, but hens can get claws stuck between mesh & slat.
If you are going to wire slats then you need to take an earth wire on the same stakes as the live wire or on the side wall to tap off for the slatted area.
Earth wires must be ground earthed, not to steel in house as this will live the steel/building if it is shorted out!
If your hens are going out from one side only the back wall is to be wired as it has less light and tends to be a bad area.
Good discounts given on all Rappa fencing products