temporary electric fence how-to??

[greenhorn]

Hello everyone,
I posted this topic originally in the pigs section as that is what I'm trying to contain for about 6-8 weeks. I have 2 feeders, about #100 each, that are currently in the dairy cow pasture/barn area as my cow is dry right now. Next week I'm getting a Jersey in milk and will begin milking again, so I want to move the pigs to the spent garden and have them live out their remaining weeks there. The garden area is about 50'X100' and they will have a little hut for shade and to get out of the rain.

I received some good advice about what to use for a short-term fencing solution and have decided to go with a 2mile AC charger, 2 strands of polywire at 8" and 14" and fiberglass step in posts. But I need help/ advice about the actual assembly part of this.

Here are my main questions:
1. It's about 50' from the nearest outlet to the nearest corner of the area to be fenced. Would it be better to plug the charger into the barn outlet and run a well-marked fence wire out to the fence, or have the charger out at the fence area and use an extension cord to get power to the charger? Can you even use an extension cord with a charger?

2. How and where do I ground for something like this? I saw grounding rods at TSC, but am not sure how to use them.

3. What material do you use to connect the charger to the polywire? And does polywire splice like regular wire or do you have to cut the coating?

Any other general advice would be great. Eventually I want to experiment with a DC/solar charger, but time and money are of the essence here! Luckily these piggies HATE hot wire (don't we all) and I've already figured out how to get them from the dairy pasture to the garden. I'm building a chute with my 4' round bales from "door to door" and will leave a trail of expired Hostess cupcakes to inspire them to go! And luckily there is a pump right there in the barn so I'll only have to haul the buckets a little bit.

It's all worked out but for the building of the fence. Can't wait to hear the how-to's from everyone!!

Thanks,

greenhorn

[Bearfootfarm]

The charger needs to be kept dry, so near the barn would be best.
You can use the polywire to connnect to the charger. It just becomes part of the fence.

No special tools are required, since polywire behaves like nylon rope, although it's easier to cut with pliers than with a knife.
There is no "coating" It has braided metal wire woven into the nylon

The ground rod should be near the charger, and since it's only a temp fence, you may be able to get by using only one, although 3 is best.

If you have some galvanized pipe, you could use a piece of that instead of buying a rod.

It should be deep enough to always be in moist soil

I'm building a chute with my 4' round bales from "door to door"

I've done something similar with my sheep just using rope or twine.

They don't know it's not electric

[greenhorn]

Thanks, Bearfoot. I may try that with the rope or twine fake out....I just don't relish the idea of chasing pigs around if they challenge it and win! It's hard enough to catch them in the barn

How would I connect the two stands, or would you recommend just wrapping the perimeter twice and continuosly, but in two levels of hooks, and just "dealing" with the one section that would angle from low to high?

[agmantoo]

Originally Posted by greenhorn

I just don't relish the idea of chasing pigs around if they challenge it and win! It's hard enough to catch them in the barn

If you do not want to chase pigs you need to get a much higher output charger. The shock from the charger must imprint on the brain of the animal being confined. Once the animal learns that a minor shock from a too small output charger can be tolerated you will not be able to confine the animal.

[greenhorn]

They are in a pasture with a 10mile charger that's also charging about 5 acres of fencing. It really gives a shock and they hate it, probably because they always touch it with their wet noses!!

Maybe a 10 mile charger for my small pig area will work...it's only going to be charging about 500' of wire, oh actually 1000' since there will be 2 strands. And it's totally clear as far as weeds go. Any conventional stats on Joules for certain animals?

This is really fun for me, I love learning all this stuff!! Thanks so far

[oneokie]

Originally Posted by greenhorn

They are in a pasture with a 10mile charger that's also charging about 5 acres of fencing. It really gives a shock and they hate it, probably because they always touch it with their wet noses!!

How much distance is between the pasture and the garden? If 100' or so, use PVC pipe to run a conductor overhead between the two. Just get enough height to clear any machinery you may have.

Maybe a 10 mile charger for my small pig area will work...it's only going to be charging about 500' of wire, oh actually 1000' since there will be 2strands.

If you can fence both areas and tie them together, the 10 mile charger will work for both areas.
To connect the two strands of polywire around the garden area, just use a jumper of more polywire.

[Bearfootfarm]

How would I connect the two stands

I just cut short pieces to use as "jumpers"
I wrap a few turns around the wire and then tie a couple of half hitches

If you need to splice a piece of the fence itself, use a square knot

[Beeman]

This sounds like the next post will be how do I get my pigs to come home.

Pigs don't like electric fence, but they also don't know which way to run when they get zapped, if they run through it they will be on the run. Possibly string up electric fence that is visible inside the stall of the barn to train them to it.

[greenhorn]

Actually they have it now in the pasture/barn area. And they hate, hate, hate it!! They won't even come near it now, even when they see I have a treat for them. Thanks though

[Caitedid]

Greenhorn- We use this set-up to keep hogs on pasture now, also sheep and calves. When we splice pieces of polywire I always tie one to the other, leaving a few inches, then wrap the tail around the wire a few times and tie it off as well. Because the metal is braided in you want to be absolutely sure it's hitting wire on the other side. We run from the first post down to the end, make a horseshoe down to the next clip, and then run back. We always use a t-post about every 2 fiberglass posts, as the step-ins will bend if you put enough weight on them. For sheep we have a post about every 10 feet, less for hogs. Be aware that if they do get in the fence they can/will snap those step-ins, so be sure to have extras. We ground our fence to a piece of steel rod pounded in, but we're using a battery to run our charger.

May have to try using cupcakes, I know they work well for motivating my business partner, would be afraid he'd try to fight the hogs for them!

Let me know if you have any other questions, and I'll try to be helpful. Caite

[luvrulz]

HAHAHAHAHA! Any fence you put pigs in is temporary! You will figure this out....