Fencing Questions

[mousebandit]

Hi all.

I've come across an electric fence controller (Red Snap'r 33, 1 mile range, 110 volt, 60 hz), so it looks like my dreams of an electric fence for the goat pasture might come true.

Now, please don't laugh, as I am a TOTAL newbie to electric fences, but what else do I need, and will this controller even work for a small goat pasture?

I'm thinking about 1 acre (more or less?) for the goats, directly off the barn. Flat pasture, I can get wooden and/or T-posts. I've seen brightly colored ribbon that I assumed to be somehow electrified in fences before - how does that work?

Does one controller charge all the lines of the fence? How many lines do you all use and at what heights?

Will this controller be powerful enough (or too powerful) for about an acre of pasture?

Thanks!

Tracey Mouse

[vallyfarm]

The ribbon is for visibality. If the animals can see the fence they are less likley to run through it. You will also need grounding rods. Go to a Farm and Family, or what ever they call themselves this week, and get a catalouge. Most fencing info is in the book, and it is free. A 1 mi. fencer means it can charge 1 mi. of fence. if you have four strands that means 1/4 mi. of fencing. I have NEVER had a goat stay in with electric fence...not even 8, yes 8 wires with a 50 mi. charger in a 1/3 acre paddock! But I do know a guy who keeps 100 goats in with 1 wire 18 inches of the ground - and powered up only at night!!! Good luck, but keep field fencing in the back of your head. Nothing in, nothing out for 20+ years is a lot of pease of mind. Mike

[thaiblue12]

My friend has had zero luck containing her goats with electric fence.
I have taught mine where to go and not to go during the day. So they aren't fenced in. I leave their pen open so they can get into their house if they want. At night though I shut them in the pen. I have I guess they are called stockade panels out here. They come in 4 or 5ft high and 16 feet long. They have not escaped from this.
They did however get out of field fencing which comes on a roll and it is too flexible. They just ran right over it and bend to to heck.
Maybe you will have better luck with it.

[DQ]

In my experience electric is good for keeping animals away from fences so they think twice about climbing or walking them down, but they still need that physical barrier. depends on the particicular animals but many I've had seem to be able to tell when its down, I have a dog particularly that can apparently hear something when its working. the sound must be out of human range. Falling branches, blowing leaves, stout weeds growing into it, an animal spooking into it, digging holes near it and piling dirt up onto lower strands, are all ways that mine has grounded out and I have had animals escape. I did see a small light at the feed store that you could hook to the fence that would light up when it wasn't working. it seemed like a great idea. I think most trouble I've had came when I didn't faithfully walk the fence and check for problems before the critters figured it out. Also wire with small peices of white trash bag tied to it is what I use now. I've broken the filaments many times in the tapes and white nylon wire, by stretching it too much, or, having a horse stretch it when it was down, and it doesn't look like anything is wrong with it it till you get your tester out and find out half your pasture isn't electrified. the larger the area the less likely the animals will even test it twice (less accidental "testing"). Also I'm right beside a busy road with housing developments going up everywhere, the occasional escape could be a real disaster for me so I just can't tolerate it. in a very rural area with lots of land, and little predator problem, the occasional escape probably wouldn't be that big of a deal and it might work for you.

[topside1]

I hate to counter anyone’s negativity regarding electric fencing systems. However, I for one love um, with twenty goats I have never had an adult goat escape. The only escapees are the newborns and they usually learn a valuable lesson in the process. Even most of them really don't escape; they just experiment by touching the wire, resulting in a high pitched unforgettable scream. I only run four strands of 14 gauge wire and have had excellent results. If I was to fence a small area I wouldn’t use electric. I would buckle down; spend the money and hang field fencing around anything smaller than an acre. Why?
1. It wouldn’t cost that much..
2. Very permanent
3. In small pasture goats get bored quickly (escapes)
4. Long lasting
5. More of a predator deterrent
6. If you were fencing 3 or more acres then go electric

Tracy I know this isn't what you want to hear, but can the charger...and that's coming from an electric fence lover.....John

[Rowdy]

Personally, I would go with a bigger charger. It will handle the weed/grass load better, give a better jolt, and leave you room to expand in the future. If you energize only four wires around just an acre you'll have over half a mile of wire. Shop around and you can find a 50 mile charger or better for less than $200, closer to $100.

I have never had a goat get out from behind my electric fence. My escapes have happend at the nonelectric gates. To keep goats with electric:

1. Train the animals to the fence. Build a smaller corral that is extra strong (bigger wire, cow panel, whatever you want) and let the goats test the fence there. It is not uncommon for animals to go through an electric fence on their first contact with it. Also, if they get shocked behind their eyes, they'll likely jump forward, not back.

2. Spacing/grounding. If electric is going to be your only fence, don't try to skimp by with only a couple of wires. Personally, I use six, some people use more. If your soil is dry, only energize some of the wires, ground the others. This will allow the animal to be shocked if they touch two wires, even if their hooves are insulating them from the dry ground. Personally my fence runs like this:

------Hot------
-----ground----
-----hot-----
-----ground----
-----hot----
-----hot-----

Use plenty of ground rods, at least two, though more could be better. If possible sink your ground rods somewhere low lying, that will stay moist.


If you are new to fence building, or at least electric fence there are a few how to's on the net, or if you have a Tractor Supply in your area, they stock a free video. It is geared towards hi-tensile fence, but it is helpful. Actually, check out: Electric fence construction



As for ribbon... There are several types of supplies out there today. Poly-rope, tape (ribbon), AL wire, steel wire, etc. Personally I use steel wire. It is cheaper than the rope and tape, is still pretty easy to put up. Tape and rope would be more visable though I guess. The plain old steel wire probably delivers a better shock, but I have only put up a very limited amound of tape and rope, so I could be wrong. I only use 14ga wire or bigger, though I have used some tiny 17ga wire for temp fencing. 17ga kept the goats in, but felt flimsy to me. It was really easy to work with though.

[topside1]

If you charger doesn't have the necessary muscle then you will quickly become discouraged. Yes I firmly believe the goats can sense the electric pulses in the wiring, in fact I haven't seen a whitetail deer on my property for nearly two years now, wonder why???? Just kidding

[stanb999]

I love electric. But with a small area you would do better with a solid barrier (wood or goat/cattle panels). They will continually test the fence as was said above. As for the small charger I'd go with a bigger one as you will be trimming all the weeds that come up otherwise.

If you wish to do electric anyway. Do it like this to avoid escapes. I use barb for the grounded wires. To deter if the power is out for some reason.

[Dale in Ar]

I use both type of fencing,panels and electric.I had to learn the hard and expenive way on electric fence.I started out with 5 mile charger and my does got out.I then bought a 50 mile charger that was rated at 11000 volts,they still got out but I only had 4 hot wires stung up and not enough ground to cause a shock.I then put one ground wire 4 inches above the ground(earth) then a hot wire at about 8 inches or 4 inches above the first ground wire,then another ground wire 4 inches above the first hot wire,then another hot wire again 4 inches above that ground and then hot wires ever 8 inches for a total of 6 wires.Now they stay in.When I move the electric fence,I have to call my goats and tempt them to go beyond the where the fence was before.