How to Install Electric Poultry Netting? | Step-By-Step Setup

Electric poultry netting keeps flocks safe from predators without a permanent fence, and the whole system can move to fresh grass whenever you need it. The setup follows one logical order—site prep, unrolling, posts, grounding, and the final voltage test—and getting that order right matters more than anything else. Here is the sequence that works, along with the power and grounding requirements that determine whether the fence actually holds.

How Do You Prepare The Fence Line Before Unrolling?

Clear the line before you open the net, because anything touching the mesh drains power straight into the ground. The Tractor Supply installation manual specifically says to remove tall grass, weeds, and tree limbs along the intended fence line.

The standard guidance is to keep a clear strip around the fence—roughly 12 inches wide—either by mowing or by treating the strip with weed killer and waiting the label’s listed period, often 7 to 21 days. Flat or gently sloping ground with access to power makes the job noticeably easier.

Unrolling, Posting, And Closing The Loop

Untie the green strings while holding the posts together, but do not remove those strings—they are reused for tying the fence during setup and storage. Unroll the net while gripping the posts together so the fence drops in pleats along your planned line.

Set the first/end post beside a stronger support post or existing fence and tie it off for stability. Then insert each line post into the ground at a 90° angle to the net, using only enough sideways tension to keep the fence upright. Over-tightening is the classic mistake: a rigidly pulled fence can’t conform to uneven terrain and is much harder to install.

Close the loop by connecting the first post to the last post with the supplied ties. A gap here—or mismatched net sections—leaves an opening a predator will find.

Grounding, Energizer Choice, And Safety

Grounding is the step people skip, and it is the most common reason a fence looks connected but doesn’t shock. Install a ground rod or earth spike near the energizer, connect the energizer’s ground terminal to it, then connect the hot/fence terminal to the net using jumper clips or the built-in connectors.

Energizer output matters. When in doubt, size up: dry grass, long net runs, and dry soil all eat voltage. Post warning signs anywhere visitors could touch the fence.

Turn on the energizer and test the fence with a fence tester before putting birds inside.

When you need to move the fence, the procedure reverses cleanly: disconnect the energizer first, pull the posts progressively, and fold the net into pleats as you roll it. Never move or remove the net while the energizer is still connected. If you are comparing systems before buying, our roundup of the best electric poultry netting options covers the models worth considering.

These instructions apply to portable electric poultry netting used for backyard and pasture poultry—not fixed woven-wire fence. The same setup steps appear in US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand retailer documentation, though energizer choice, plug types, and grounding practices vary by regional standards and by product.

How Do You Remove And Store The Netting?

Disconnect the energizer completely before touching the net. Pull each post from the ground in sequence while folding the net into pleats, keeping the posts together as you roll. Store it dry and off the ground if possible, with the green ties still attached so the next setup goes as fast as the first.