Keeping Rabbits Out

The purpose of rabbit fences is quite the opposite. For those who have a dog as a pet understand the value of a secure fence to keep their dog from leaving their yard (constructing a fence for the purpose of creating a visual and physical barrier to keep your pets from becoming stray is a concept that many of us fully understand.) Rabbit fences are often used to keep feral rabbits from entering your property as opposed to keeping pet rabbits confined to the property. Feral rabbits can be a nuisance for property owners, especially those who grow fruits or vegetables on their property.

Rabbits that enter your property can be quite destructive to the plant life on your property. For this reason many people who live in an area where there is a large population of feral rabbits will construct rabbit fences surrounding their property to keep rabbits from entering their property and destroying the plant life.

There are several types of rabbit fences that are effective including overhang fences, floppy top fences and capped fences. Each of these fences was designed for keeping small wildlife such as rabbits from crossing the barrier. These fences were designed for a variety of wildlife so they may be more complex than necessary to simply keep rabbits out. If you don't have other types of wildlife to contend with you might consider rabbit fences that are designed to keep rabbits out but not necessarily other types of wildlife.

Simple rabbit fences can be constructed out of chicken wire and stakes. This is a very cost effective rabbit fence for a small garden. Purchase 36" wide chicken and 2" stakes. The number in the measurement will refer to the height of the chicken wire as you construct your fence. Next dig a small trench around your garden that is 6" deep and 8 inches wide. After the trench is completed, it is time to pound the 2" stakes into the ground.

The stakes can be spaced as close or as far as you would like but the closer they are the more stability they will give to the structure. After putting in the stakes, it is time to bend the bottom 6" of the chicken wire so that it forms and L shape and place the chicken wire in the trench with the bent portion of the chicken wire facing away from your garden. This portion of rabbit fences helps to prevent rabbits from tunneling under the fence and into your garden. As you place the chicken wire in the trench, staple or tie the chicken wire to the stakes. Once all of the chicken wire has been attached to the stakes, you can fill in the trench so that the bottom six inches of the chicken wire is covered.

Rabbit fences can also be electric. These electric fences can act as deterrents in keeping rabbits off of your property. There is no need to dig a trench when you are constructing electric rabbit fences. These fences consist of stakes, insulators and wires. The stakes are pounded into the ground at a pre-determined interval. Insulators are attached to the stakes and the wires will be run through these insulators. The bottom wire of the rabbit fence should run along the outside of the stakes and should be approximately 2" from the ground. The top wire should run along the inside of the stakes and should be approximately 4" from the ground. An electric fencing charger is then used to create the charge in the wires that will help to deter rabbits.