- The best electric poultry netting setup for a first-timer is a complete kit: the Premier 1 PoultryNet Plus Solar Starter Kit (100 ft, SolarStop 80 energizer, ground rod and tester) or, near an outlet, the Premier 1 Plug-in Kit (48 in x 100 ft, Patriot P10).
- Need a bigger area off-grid? The Starkline 48 in x 164 ft Solar Kit encloses up to about 1,600 sq ft, per Starkline.
- Already have netting? Pair it with an energizer sized to the rolls: Gallagher S60 (0.6 J, up to 3 nets typical) or RentACoop RAC60 (0.6 J, up to 5 of its rolls).
- Netting is only as good as its ground: follow your energizer maker's grounding instructions. RentACoop advises at least 3 ft of ground rod per joule.
- Keep birds in a closed coop at night. Netting deters many ground predators; it does not stop hawks or owls.
The best electric poultry netting is a portable fence of plastic twine with steel conductors woven in, held up by built-in step-in posts and powered by a pulsed energizer. When a fox, dog or raccoon touches it, it gets a sharp, short shock and learns to stay away. Chickens learn it too, usually after one touch.
We compared nine nets, kits and energizers from five brands by listed height, length, posts, energizer output and what each kit includes. Specs are as listed. If you would rather stay inside a fixed run, see our best chicken runs; for the whole predator picture read how to protect chickens from predators.
Our picks
Premier 1 PoultryNet Plus Solar Starter Kit, 100'
- Size
- 100 ft
- Height
- 42 in
- Electric
- Yes, SolarStop 80 energizer included
- Includes
- 4 FiberTuff posts, ground rod, harness, digital tester
Premier 1's PoultryNet Plus Solar Starter Kit includes 100 ft of 42 in netting, a SolarStop 80 energizer, four extra FiberTuff posts, a ground rod, harness and a digital tester. Everything a first-time keeper needs arrives in one box, and the listing reminds you to keep grass trimmed under the net to limit power drain.
Best for: First netting setup away from an outlet
Skip if: You need more than 100 ft of fence
- Solar energizer included
- Tester and ground rod included
- Posts about every 6.8 ft
- 100 ft encloses a modest area
- 42 in height
Premier 1 PoultryNet Plus Plug-in Kit, 48" x 100'
- Size
- 100 ft
- Height
- 48 in
- Electric
- Yes, Patriot P10 plug-in energizer included
- Includes
- 4 posts, ground rod, 100 ft cable, digital tester
Premier 1's Plug-in Kit pairs 48 in x 100 ft PoultryNet Plus with a Patriot P10 plug-in energizer, a ground rod, 100 ft of insulated cable and a digital tester.
Best for: Netting within reach of an outlet
Skip if: There is no power near the paddock
- 48 in height
- 100 ft insulated cable to reach the outlet
- Digital tester
- Needs mains power
- 100 ft length
Starkline 48" x 164' Poultry Netting Solar Kit
- Size
- 164 ft (up to 1,600 sq ft enclosed)
- Height
- 48 in
- Electric
- Yes, S400 solar energizer included
- Includes
- Ground rod, tester, connectors
Starkline's 48 in x 164 ft Solar Kit includes an S400 solar energizer, ground rod, tester and connectors. Starkline lists it as enclosing up to about 1,600 sq ft.
Best for: Bigger free-range areas without power
Skip if: You want a smaller first setup
- 164 ft roll
- Solar energizer included
- Up to about 1,600 sq ft (maker)
- Energizer output not listed in our data
- More fence to keep clear of grass
Starkline 48" x 164' Poultry Netting AC Kit
- Size
- 164 ft (about 40 x 40 ft enclosure)
- Height
- 48 in
- Electric
- Yes, SL-8 0.8 J AC energizer included
- Posts
- 16 fiberglass, double-spike
Starkline's AC Kit pairs a 48 in x 164 ft net with an SL-8 0.8 J plug-in energizer, 16 double-spike fiberglass posts, a ground rod and a tester. Starkline says the energizer can run up to three nets, so you can add rolls later.
Best for: Large paddocks near power
Skip if: The paddock is far from an outlet
- 0.8 J energizer
- Room to add up to three nets (maker)
- About a 40 x 40 ft enclosure
- Mains power needed
- Heavier roll to move
Premier 1 PoultryNet 48" x 164' Electric Netting
- Size
- 164 ft
- Height
- 48 in
- Electric
- Yes, energizer sold separately
- Mesh
- 12 strands (11 conductive), 3 in verticals
Premier 1's PoultryNet 48 in x 164 ft has 12 strands (11 conductive), 3 in verticals and double-spike posts every 10 ft. Premier 1 recommends it for active, flighty birds. The energizer is sold separately.
Best for: Adding a roll to an existing energizer
Skip if: You do not own an energizer yet
- 48 in height
- 11 conductive strands
- Double-spike posts
- Energizer sold separately
- No tester included
Starkline Electric Netting 42" x 164'
- Size
- 164 ft
- Height
- 42 in
- Electric
- Yes, energizer sold separately
- Mesh
- 10 strands
Starkline's 42 in x 164 ft net has 10 strands and 14 fiberglass posts on 7 in double-spike stakes. A 42 in net suits heavy, non-flying breeds; the energizer is sold separately.
Best for: Heavy breeds such as Orpingtons and Brahmas
Skip if: Your birds fly well
- Fiberglass posts
- Double-spike stakes
- 164 ft roll
- 42 in height
- Energizer sold separately
Gallagher S60 Solar Fence Charger 0.6J
- Electric
- Energizer
- Output
- 0.6 J
- Range
- Up to 6 miles of fence; up to 3 net rolls (typical)
- Power
- Solar, lithium-iron-phosphate battery
Gallagher's S60 is a self-contained 0.6 J solar energizer with a lithium-iron-phosphate battery and a tempered-glass panel. Gallagher says it can run up to three full-length poultry nets under typical conditions.
Best for: Powering one to three nets off-grid
Skip if: You have power nearby and want the simplest setup
- 0.6 J output
- Lithium battery
- Up to 3 nets (maker, typical)
- Ground rod and tester bought separately
- Needs a sunny spot
RentACoop RAC60 Plug-In Fence Energizer 0.6J
- Electric
- Energizer
- Output
- 0.6 J
- Range
- Up to 840 ft (5 RentACoop rolls)
- Power
- Plug-in, GFCI outlet
RentACoop's RAC60 is a 0.6 J plug-in energizer rated by RentACoop for up to 840 ft, or five of its fence rolls, from a GFCI outlet. A tester, ground rod and insulated wire are needed separately.
Best for: Netting runs near the barn or garage
Skip if: You want a complete kit
- Up to 5 RentACoop rolls (maker)
- GFCI outlet use
- Video instructions
- Accessories sold separately
- Indoor or sheltered outdoor mounting
FenceMate AC Electric Fence Charger 0.25J
- Electric
- Energizer
- Output
- 0.25 J, up to 6 kV
- Range
- About 1 mile typical; up to 5 miles single wire
- Power
- AC plug-in
FenceMate's 0.25 J AC charger lists up to 6 kV, a pulse indicator and lightning protection. Its listing notes that heavy vegetation and poly netting reduce reach, so it suits a single short net.
Best for: One poultry net near an outlet
Skip if: You plan to run more than one net
- Pulse indicator light
- Lightning protection
- Compact
- 0.25 J is the lowest output here
- Reach falls with vegetation
Electric poultry netting and energizers compared
| Product | Size | Height | Electric | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier 1 PoultryNet Plus Solar Starter Kit, 100' | 100 ft | 42 in | Yes, SolarStop 80 energizer included | 4 FiberTuff posts, ground rod, harness, digital tester |
| Premier 1 PoultryNet Plus Plug-in Kit, 48" x 100' | 100 ft | 48 in | Yes, Patriot P10 plug-in energizer included | 4 posts, ground rod, 100 ft cable, digital tester |
| Starkline 48" x 164' Poultry Netting Solar Kit | 164 ft (up to 1,600 sq ft enclosed) | 48 in | Yes, S400 solar energizer included | Ground rod, tester, connectors |
| Starkline 48" x 164' Poultry Netting AC Kit | 164 ft (about 40 x 40 ft enclosure) | 48 in | Yes, SL-8 0.8 J AC energizer included | — |
| Premier 1 PoultryNet 48" x 164' Electric Netting | 164 ft | 48 in | Yes, energizer sold separately | — |
| Starkline Electric Netting 42" x 164' | 164 ft | 42 in | Yes, energizer sold separately | — |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
| Product | Output | Range | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallagher S60 Solar Fence Charger 0.6J | 0.6 J | Up to 6 miles of fence; up to 3 net rolls (typical) | Solar, lithium-iron-phosphate battery |
| RentACoop RAC60 Plug-In Fence Energizer 0.6J | 0.6 J | Up to 840 ft (5 RentACoop rolls) | Plug-in, GFCI outlet |
| FenceMate AC Electric Fence Charger 0.25J | 0.25 J, up to 6 kV | About 1 mile typical; up to 5 miles single wire | AC plug-in |
| Premier 1 Solar IntelliShock 30 Energizer 0.3J | 0.3 J | 1–2 netting rolls | 5 W solar panel, 12 V/15 Ah battery |
| Premier 1 PRS Pro 100 Solar Energizer 1.0J | 1.0 J | — | 15 W glass solar panel, two 12 V/15 Ah batteries |
| RentACoop RAC200 Plug-In Fence Energizer 2.0J | 2.0 J | Up to 2,700 ft (16 RentACoop rolls) | Plug-in, GFCI outlet |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Listed energizer output in joules
More joules power more netting and cope better with grass touching the fence
Want more output or an extra ground rod? These sit outside the ranking but work with the nets above:
RentACoop 3 ft Galvanized Ground Rod with Clamp
- Size
- 3 ft
- Electric
- Accessory (grounding)
- Material
- Galvanized steel
Best for Grounding an energizer
Premier 1 PoultryNet Electric Net Gate, 48" x 4'
- Size
- 4 ft
- Height
- 48 in
- Electric
- Yes, stays energized when opened
Best for Walk-through access to netting
Premier 1 Solar IntelliShock 30 Energizer 0.3J
- Electric
- Energizer
- Output
- 0.3 J
- Power
- 5 W solar panel, 12 V/15 Ah battery
Best for Powering one or two nets
Premier 1 PRS Pro 100 Solar Energizer 1.0J
- Electric
- Energizer
- Output
- 1.0 J
- Power
- 15 W glass solar panel, two 12 V/15 Ah batteries
Best for Larger netting setups off-grid
How we chose this electric netting
We compared listed height, roll length, strand count, post spacing and type, energizer output in joules, power source, maker range claims and what each kit includes. Range and area figures are the makers' claims, and real range drops with grass, wet weather and poor grounding. We did not set these fences up or measure voltage. Picks come from five brands; Premier 1 and Starkline each have three because they make the nets and the kits.
Is electric poultry netting safe? Grounding and charger rules
Electric netting is designed to give a short, sharp pulse, not a continuous current. Set it up only as your energizer's manual describes; every brand has its own grounding and wiring instructions, and they are not interchangeable.
- Use only a pulsed fence energizer. Premier 1's listing warns never to use a continuous-current one on PoultryNet.
- Ground it as the maker says. RentACoop advises at least 3 ft of galvanized ground rod per joule of output. Dry or sandy soil may need more rods; check your energizer manual.
- Plug-in units go on a GFCI outlet, mounted where the maker allows (RentACoop lists indoor or sheltered outdoor).
- Keep vegetation down. Grass touching the bottom strands drains power; Premier 1 and FenceMate both note it.
- Test the fence with a fence tester after setup and after storms.
- Turn it off before handling the net, and show children where the energizer switch is. Supervise kids near any electric fence.
- Post warning signs where the public could touch it, and check local rules on electric fencing.
How to set up electric poultry netting
- Mow the line
Cut a strip a little wider than the net. Short grass keeps the bottom strands from shorting out.
- Unroll and step in the posts
Lay the net out along the line, then push each built-in post into the ground. Pull corners tight with extra posts if the kit includes them.
- Drive the ground rod
Drive the rod near the energizer to the depth your manual gives, and connect the ground lead.
- Connect and power the energizer
Clip the fence lead to the net, then switch on. Plug-in units go on a GFCI outlet; solar units face the sun.
- Test along the fence
Check voltage at several points with a tester, especially the far end.
- Add a gate
An electrified net gate lets you walk through without switching off the fence.
- Move it on schedule
Rotate the netted area to fresh ground, and lock hens in the coop every night.
Electric netting mistakes to avoid
- Undersized energizer. A 0.25 J unit on three long nets in tall grass will not deliver a useful shock.
- One short ground rod in dry soil. Poor grounding is the usual reason a fence feels weak.
- Leaving it off. Unpowered netting is just a tangle hazard for birds and wildlife.
- Expecting it to stop hawks. Netting has no roof. Hawks and owls need a covered run; see predator protection for chickens.
- Using it with very small chicks. Young birds can slip through or tangle in the mesh. Keep chicks in a brooder or secure pen until they are bigger.
- Skipping the coop at night. Most predator losses happen after dark.
Who should choose which netting?
- First electric fence, no power nearby: Premier 1 PoultryNet Plus Solar Starter Kit.
- First fence near an outlet: Premier 1 Plug-in Kit.
- Larger free-range area: Starkline solar or AC kit (164 ft).
- Flighty breeds: a 48 in net such as Premier 1 PoultryNet 48 in.
- Heavy breeds: Starkline 42 in netting.
- Adding nets to an existing energizer: Gallagher S60 off-grid, RentACoop RAC60 on mains.
- Ducks and geese: netting works for waterfowl too; more in ducks, quail and turkeys and runs and fencing.
For most first-time keepers, a complete kit beats buying parts: the Premier 1 PoultryNet Plus Solar Starter Kit off-grid, or the Premier 1 Plug-in Kit near an outlet. For bigger areas, the Starkline 164 ft kits add length. Whatever you choose, ground it exactly as the energizer maker says, keep grass trimmed and lock the flock in the coop at night.
We compare manufacturer specs and listing data (egg capacity by egg size, forced or still air, humidity control, turner type and auto-stop, alarms; coop floor area against the claimed number of hens, wood or plastic, nest boxes, latches; door lift capacity, power and sensor; feeder and waterer capacity and heater wattage; feed protein and form) and what the maker says each product is for, alongside extension, CDC, USDA and FDA guidance. Coop capacity is recounted from the listed floor area with published space norms. We did not hatch eggs in, house birds in, install or lab-test these products, and we never show invented scores, ratings or prices.