Electric fence?

[ThePigeonKid]

Is this energizer http://www.pbsanimalhealth.com/detai...er/5-3000.html a good one?

Do you think Baygard Aluminium utility wire http://www.pbsanimalhealth.com/detai...Wire/47-2.html would be good for goats?

Is this step in - fence post http://www.pbsanimalhealth.com/detai...tml#fragment-1 everything i need or is there more accesories I need?

Thanks in advance!

[Minelson]

Don't forget a gate
I'm not familiar with that charger....but I have had great luck with Gallager brand chargers with my horses. http://www.gallagherusa.com/electric...px?mktcatid=52
That website might have info to help you figure out everything you need too...

[Alice In TX/MO]

I think you need a more powerful charger.

Are you using this in conjunction with net wire fencing? Most of us have NOT had much success with strands of electric wire containing goats at all.

Those posts are what I use to supplement the built in posts for my electric net fencing.

[ThePigeonKid]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I think you need a more powerful charger.

Are you using this in conjunction with net wire fencing? Most of us have NOT had much success with strands of electric wire containing goats at all.

Those posts are what I use to supplement the built in posts for my electric net fencing.

http://www.pbsanimalhealth.com/detai...er/5-6000.html ?

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/fencing.html

[Alice In TX/MO]

Better charger

I can only tell you that strands did not work for me and my goats. We went from three strands to seven and then gave up.

Fiasco farm no longer exists, either.

Do what you want.

[suzyhomemaker09]

I 2nd Alice's comment about needing a more powerful charger....we started off ( foolishly hindsight being 20/20 and all ) with a solar charger.....WOW the goats got out constantly....the output on my current charger is more along the range of 7 joules....I've still had animals that challenged it...belioeve me when I say it will make your arm numb when you touch the hot wire.
Step ins are ok...wire...perhaps...but I honestly think you need a more powerful charger.

[ThePigeonKid]

Another goat person said that this is a good one http://www.gallagherusa.com/electric...mktprodid=5943 What do you think? Okay, so the wire, posts and the charger box is that everything that I will need? Thanks. Just trying to weigh everything before I go to my parents with what I need. Trying to keep the cost down, but do it right the first time.

[Bearfootfarm]

The first charger is marginal, and the wire is too small

Use 12 1/2 Ga Aluminum and you won't have to redo it later on, plus it will carry much more voltage

The second charger is only 1/3 as powerful as your first example.

I'd suggest one of these:

http://www.baygard.com/Fencers/110.htm

No one EVER wishes they had bought a LESS powerful charger

[Alice In TX/MO]

If your parents are paying for this, and you want to do it right the first time, you may want to consider NOT using electric wire. That's a lot of money to spend to have to re-fence with net wire or field fencing.

How much acreage are you fencing?

Do you know about grounding rods? What kind of soil do you have?

What kind of terrain?

[FunnyRiverFarm]

I use 4 strand electric and it works just fine. You do want to put the wires pretty close together...fence does not need to be very tall (I don't use the top slot on the step-in posts) but you don't want big gaps between the wires or they will be tempted to sneak through. Also, be sure to use t-posts or wooden posts for the corners.

[Catalytic]

I have a combination of poultry netting and 4 strands, top strand is at the top of the step in posts, and my goats will jump it with no problem. Fortunately, my girls only do that if one gets left behind when we are putting them to bed, but I'm now convinced the fence is there for *my* benefit, not theirs...

I run http://www.jefferslivestock.com/prod...d=LIV&pn=P2-PA or http://www.jefferslivestock.com/prod...d=LIV&pn=P2-P2 on mine, but I doubt I have even an acre fenced. (We move our fencing around in the woods)

Definitely get the strongest charger you can, because if they dont respect the fence's bite, they will be out and about. (My meat-mix buckling goes in and out all the time. He's destined for the freezer now that I have a dairy buck if he doesn't straighten up REAL quick!)

[Alice In TX/MO]

One other factor that will affect your success is the goats' personalities. Ditzy, determined goats will never stay in a strand electric fence. Are you getting goats that come from a place that uses this kind of fence? If they are already trained to electric strands, that would help.

If you are getting kids, you can train them. Put each kid on a leash and walk the inside perimeter with each one, letting each goat get zapped, but keeping them from the instinctive run THROUGH the fence when shocked.

Keep in mind that this is NOT an easy and care free fence solution. You will have to monitor the charger daily to be sure it's working. Lightening can kill your charger, and you will have the expense to replace it QUICKLY! You will have to walk the perimeter every couple of days to be sure the posts haven't been knocked down. If the soil is wet, a strong thunderstorm wind can blow them over. Deer can knock them over. If you are building in a forested area, you must check for branches that fall on the fence.

You will have to monitor and control weed/grass growth under the fence during spring, summer, and fall. Too much grass, especially grass wet from rain, will reduce the effectiveness of the fence.

If you live in a very dry area, you may have to water the soil around the ground rod so that it maintains effectiveness.

Here is an excellent page that shows how the ground rods must be installed. http://www.afence.com/Electric_Fence...lecinstall.htm

[BarbadosSheep]

The only kind of electric fence I'd keep goats (or sheep) in is High Tensile. When I had high tensile in the past, I used a powerful Parmac charger. Now I have sheep/goat field fence and use a single strand of hot to keep them from rubbing on the fence, plus a strand on top and outside for predators. I use hot wire to separate pastures within my fenced area, but always have one or two animals that manages to get through the wire. They are sneaky critters!

[FunnyRiverFarm]

Alice is right about the personality thing...I know my electric fence would NEVER have kept in my Alpines but my Lamanchas are good about staying put even if they want something really bad--they will scream and yell but won't even consider touching the fence. The fence is only about 2 1/2 feet tall in a couple spots but they have never tried to jump over it even though they easily could.

I also think training is important. You will want to walk them around the perimeter of the fence and allow them to touch it with their nose a couple times (sometimes it only takes one zap and they won't touch it again) so they bolt AWAY from the fence. If they start to put their head through the fence and then get shocked on the neck or shoulders they will almost always go through the fence instead of backing off. So yeah, make sure they get shocked on the nose a time or two when you first set up the fence and they will be less likely to get into the habit of going through.

[edmonds]

I have good success with electric fencing for my goats. It really depends on the goats and if you can "train" them to it. The only goats that go thru the electric are the small kids, but then they would rather stay with their mother. The exception of course is for fencing between bucks and does. Electric is not sufficient there.

I use a 12V solar charger from Parmack with about 5 wires for 5 acres. I have a second charger for another 5 acre pasture, even though the charger is "rated" for 30 miles. Parmack does not rate their charger by joules, but by voltage at given resistances (which depends on length of fencing). For a given $, you can get a more powerful charger in AC than in solar/battery. I also like to use small gauge (16?) wire. The aluminum wire is supposed to transmit the current better than steel but costs more and breaks easier. If you want it to last awhile, you may want to use t-posts and maybe a few wooden posts at corners.

[Hollowdweller]

I've used the Parmak SE energizer and I love it but had to have it worked on 4 or 5 times over the years.

I'm using one of these and I think it's the best one I've ever owned.

http://www.zarebasystems.com/store/e...hargers/a100li

[eclipchic]

I'm so sick of electric for our goats. Only 2 goats but as soon as any weed or branch lands on it...it becomes completely non functional. It doesn't take them long to figure it out either and then they are getting out. Now the charger is bad ( I think) We put this together in April this year and already we've had so much trouble. When it works its great but we can't seem to keep it working well

[Creamers]

http://www.amazon.com/Zareba-A100LI-...6232369&sr=8-1

I have a herd of Saanens, Nubians, Mini Nubians, Nigerians and have had, in the past, Pygmy goats, too - and all stay beind well grounded 6 joule chargers like the one I use above - I've not had a single escape in 2 years when I went to the above charge as long as nothing was grounding it out - but this is a fenced area of 10 acres. . .if it were an acre or less, maybe they would try harder. I use only 3 strands - the key is a 6 joule charger - nothing less

[Minelson]

Originally Posted by eclipchic

I'm so sick of electric for our goats. Only 2 goats but as soon as any weed or branch lands on it...it becomes completely non functional. It doesn't take them long to figure it out either and then they are getting out. Now the charger is bad ( I think) We put this together in April this year and already we've had so much trouble. When it works its great but we can't seem to keep it working well

My goats are not fenced in but my horses are. When weeds touch my fence they fry so the fence doesn't get grounded by them. I wonder if your charger is strong enough. I use Gallagher products and I get them here...
http://www.ruralmfg.com/