Deep snow with electric fencing- not sure what to do.

[Dirtslinger]

We generally have deep snow- anywhere from 2-4'at any time for months of the year.

How do you northern people do it? Looking at keeping dexters in there. Do you need to shovel around the edges? I assume not... but I just can't figure it out.

I have the step-in movable posts. So I'm hoping that braced well they should at least stay up. My only experience is with electric mesh- and it always collapses when big snow falls hit- even when braced tight.

Thanks!

[Jay]

We kept our herd in a big corral with an open faced shed in the winter when there was snow on the ground.
You can't always depend on electric in the winter, sometimes the snow gets so deep the critters can just walk over it in places.

[wr]

I don't use electric in the winter. I have found that it isn't the drifts that cause the problem but the ground is so frozen that your ground rod isn't effective. With the extreme cold, I keep mine in corrals in the winter too because we're set up with appropriate wind break, the closer quarters offer additional warmth and it is far easier to feed.

[JeffNY]

I use it year round, but ours respect fence that isn't even plugged in .. In the winter, raise the line so it is above the snow level. Also use line that is visible (yellow nylon electric fence). I've had them go through it when they went running out back, and plowed through it. During any ice event, it will bring it lower. So what I did this winter, was disconnect the lower line, and used the top. It stayed above the ground nicely.. I use t-posts.


Jeff

[Tiffin]

We keep them in a large corrall/barnyarn when snow gets deep. The little short legs of Dexters have a hard time anyway out there in 2' + snow. They have a large barn to stay in also when weather gets nasty.