electric goat fencing shopping list? first time try?

littlequail · #1 03/13/14, 09:03 AM

ok so i pulled back my herd of Goat, now only having two i want to work on making up some grazing pens, which i ONLY trust cattle panel, you know the HEAVY stuff, that is 16 foot panels they cant sag, very awesome stuff but around 30 dollars a panel, i cant do my whole land in it....

so? electric fencing? Never tried it, scares the crap out of me, but i know anything else the goats will pull,push,jump,rub well you know goats right?! so i have been looking at "netting" this seems to lock them in, because if i did wire they could kinda "limbo" right under wire....

so netting? what kind of netting well i found a goat "netting" kit Made just for goats its called a Zareba Electric Netting Kit, my wallet jumped off the table when it saw the $300 price tag. for JUST the netting.

So...premier1supplies.com talk about way to much to look at, but i think i found it? "plus" stands for extra strong? double spike, i think am on the right track? 100 foot of fencing? i would beable to kinda loop this around make like a 30x30x30x30ish penish? lol right then as they eat move it around? ok. or buy 2 sets? larger pen?

http://www.premier1supplies.com/deta...2778&cat_id=53

Now how do we get power to it, this is out in the woods now, So i cant just "Plug it in" looking at solar, that way it recharges itself. i was told to get something with "low impedance energizer" in it? *gosh am so new at this* because of weeds or grass touching the fence is bad... so what about something like this?

http://www.premier1supplies.com/deta...617&cat_id=162

reading most sites say you cant just buy any Energizer and hook it up to any fence, you can burn even melt your fencing? or its not strong enough or its way to strong?! what do you use? dump it down for me lolas i have no clue what am doing. lol

Alice In TX/MO · #2 03/13/14, 10:31 AM

Buy several sets of the Premier1 fencing. The website says in red letters that PLUS means it has more posts.

You want a real fence charger, not solar, for goats.

Here's my favorite chart about chargers from Gallagher. Note the little icon for goats does not appear on the lesser models of chargers.
http://www.gallagherusa.com/electric...selection.aspx

I like this one:
http://www.gallagherusa.com/electric...mktprodid=4460

PricklyThistle · #3 03/13/14, 02:11 PM

I have yet to try it out but I purchased a battery operated charger from Zareba for my fence. It works on either d cells or a marine battery and is supposed to work for brushy areas but I have my suspicions about the monster sized brush I'm dealing with. Wish I could tell you how it worked for me but here's the site if you want to read up on it - http://www.zarebasystems.com/store/e...chargers/b10li

92utownxj · #4 03/13/14, 02:18 PM

I LOVE my electric fence for goats. I have a couple small pens that have 2x4" wire that's 4' tall for kids and new goats. There is one electric wire about 18" from the ground. It keeps the goats from rubbing the fence and trains the goats to my electric fence in the fields.

All of my perimeter fence is 5 strands of high tensile electric wire. I forget the spacing I used, but it's 4' high and the bottom 3 strands are closer together. I've had 2 goats in 5 years go through it one time each. That was near the barn and they saw me and wanted to come up to me. In the field I'm having great success with only 3 strands of poly twine with stainless conductors for cross fencing. I've never had a goat go through that or over it. With the poly twine I only use step in posts so it's easy to move and change. Plus it's so much cheaper. I love electric fence.

The charger. I think the key is a good charger. I have a Kencove 6 joule charger. I have at least 5,500 volts in the fence at all times. They respect it and don't ever challenge the fence. Sometimes I may have it off and they don't bother the fence.

Clovers_Clan · #5 03/13/14, 09:24 PM

I have a string of the Premier mesh. Works well for cross fencing except... can't use it around horses(that would be a $$$$ vet bill in the making if they ever got caught up in it), and its no match for a hairy insulated Nigerian Dwarf. Has worked well for my big goats though.

Unless your pasture is WAY OUT in the boonies, I would recommend using an electric charger rather than the solar. The price difference between the two would pay for several strands of perimeter fencing right up to your power source. Then you can just tie in your rotational fence where you need it. That also serves the purpose of keeping any predators at a greater distance, they don't become accustomed to wandering through your land.

Clovers_Clan · #6 03/13/14, 09:29 PM

Just noticed you are in Central FL. You'll need a good hefty charger to maintain good current on that sandy soil. The animals won't ground as well as on a good heavy moist soil.

littlequail · #7 03/14/14, 08:07 AM

how does it work with just the Battery? How do you guys shelter yours? How often does it need to be replaced/recharged?

Alice In TX/MO · #8 03/14/14, 08:12 AM

Here is from the Zareba website:
Note: Frequently check and recharge your batteries to maintain secure fence operation.

paintpony · #9 03/14/14, 11:51 AM

Littlequail,

If you do decide to use electric fencing, make sure to train the goats to it. Don't just turn the fence on and let the goats out. Take each goat to the hot fence on a leash that you won't get zapped with and let them touch the fence, pull them out of the fence once they get zapped. Their first instinct will be to charge forward INTO the fence.

Tango · #10 03/15/14, 10:23 AM

I tried electric netting after researchhing my options and after purchasing and setting it up the first time my cat got stuck in it. Luckily I was still stretching it and it was not charged. After that I read a few more reviews and found that tragically some animals have gotten stuck in the bottom squares and have endured repeated shocks. Some have died and some have never been normal again after the experience. You can't train all animals to the netting- many animals like wildlife cannot be trained. If a predator somehow enters, it can send your goats into a panic and they will run it even if they are trained to it. I'm just saying this because I'd like to share what I've learned. You have to make your own decisions and use your own judgement. For me, I rolled it right back up and am now selling it on cl and here on the barter board. I'm going with goat panels and goat fencing and it will take a lot longer to put up but I will feel better about my impact on all creatures.