Electric fencing, whats needed?

distantmemory

I want to fence in a goat. in an area of rough ground i have. I will only be fencing in small areas at a time 30m x 30m and moving the fence around. what equipment would be needed. I will be geting a portable fencing unit battery but am uncertain of how to go about setting up fencing or operating the battery. help appreciated.

Ayla

Having had a couple of goats, I really would question the possibility of having a goat contained by a non-permanent electric fence. They really are masters of escape and any portable fencing I can think of won't be sturdy/high/strong enough.

We tethered ours using a heavy rubber tyre and a long chain. Sure, we had to move them around daily on rough ground, but it was much easier and fool proof then moving electric fencing.

Also, if your goat is used to being alone maybe it's ok, but when we lost one of ours the surviver was absolutely disraught. We had to find him a new home with other goats b/c he was really stressed being by himself.

distantmemory

Ayla wrote: »

Having had a couple of goats, I really would question the possibility of having a goat contained by a non-permanent electric fence. They really are masters of escape and any portable fencing I can think of won't be sturdy/high/strong enough.

We tethered ours using a heavy rubber tyre and a long chain. Sure, we had to move them around daily on rough ground, but it was much easier and fool proof then moving electric fencing.

Also, if your goat is used to being alone maybe it's ok, but when we lost one of ours the surviver was absolutely disraught. We had to find him a new home with other goats b/c he was really stressed being by himself.

thanks for the quick reply. yes my goat is used to being on her own and to be honest i wouldnt even consider portable electric fencing only that she is a very quiet goat. I have even left her in an area only fenced by chicken wire and she made no attempt to escape. i was thinking of having 4 wooden corner posts per paddock and then have the white tempory posts in between with either normal wire or that white horse wire. what ye think. p.s i will train her to the fence inside the chicken wire area so there is a back ground behind the fence.

Ayla

Honestly, I personally wouldn't chance it even with a quiet goat. The set up & training you're suggesting is possible - and maybe it would work - but have you ever tried to catch a loose goat? :eek:

The chix wire probably would be a safer bet - at least then she can't go through it, but the electric fencing is easy to go through, and if she grounds the wires through digging/scraping anything on top of the bottom wire (or indeed if the rough ground proves to be difficult to keep clean enough under the wires) it won't take her long to figure out that she's not going to get zapped.

distantmemory

Ayla wrote: »

Honestly, I personally wouldn't chance it even with a quiet goat. The set up & training you're suggesting is possible - and maybe it would work - but have you ever tried to catch a loose goat? :eek:

The chix wire probably would be a safer bet - at least then she can't go through it, but the electric fencing is easy to go through, and if she grounds the wires through digging/scraping anything on top of the bottom wire (or indeed if the rough ground proves to be difficult to keep clean enough under the wires) it won't take her long to figure out that she's not going to get zapped.

maybe i should just continue to teather her so. but i would like to reinforce her pen area (chicken wire) with a couple of strands of electric fence as this is where her shed is and eventhough it has little grazing. id like to use it as an area to give the goat a break from her chain. also in winter i want to let her loose in this pen to go in and out of her shed as she pleases.what would i need with the battery unit?

Askim

you would need a very good earth rod maybe 2 or more, alternate the live & ground wires. this will give a better bang from it.

also make sure the battery has a good charge.

A

Ayla

In discussing this query, my husband brought up another good point - if your goat has horns it will take nothing for her to get caught & pull down whatever electric fencing you have (even by accident!). Your only hope is really strong posts with firm bull wire, which - really - I wouldn't think worth the expense & effort of putting up & maintaining.

I know you want to give her some freedom & access to the shed which is great. Our goats seemed to revel in the worst weather imaginable - we gave them shelter & they consistently flaunted it by standing on its roof in the worst storms of the season. I just don't think electric is the way to go. Pen around the shed with strong, permanent non-electric fencing within which she's free to roam, then tether her when around the site.

distantmemory

Ayla wrote: »

In discussing this query, my husband brought up another good point - if your goat has horns it will take nothing for her to get caught & pull down whatever electric fencing you have (even by accident!). Your only hope is really strong posts with firm bull wire, which - really - I wouldn't think worth the expense & effort of putting up & maintaining.

I know you want to give her some freedom & access to the shed which is great. Our goats seemed to revel in the worst weather imaginable - we gave them shelter & they consistently flaunted it by standing on its roof in the worst storms of the season. I just don't think electric is the way to go. Pen around the shed with strong, permanent non-electric fencing within which she's free to roam, then tether her when around the site.

she has no horns and hates bad weather. i had goats before and they wer exactly like you would expect goats to be. constantly trying to break out e.t.c. I am luck with this goat she is so layed back and i can see why they call sannens living marsh mallows. even my friend who has a goat cant understand how she never breaks out of her shed in winter. i am going to try the electric fence in the pen and see how it goes. there ard apple trees in one corner of the pen and the wire will be the only thing separating them from the goat so i wil know how successful the electric fence is fairly lively. going to be interesting.

lanod2407

distantmemory wrote: »

she is a very quiet goat. I have even left her in an area only fenced by chicken wire and she made no attempt to escape.

.......... Are you sure she's a goat???

distantmemory

lanod2407 wrote: »

distantmemory wrote: »

she is a very quiet goat. I have even left her in an area only fenced by chicken wire and she made no attempt to escape.

.......... Are you sure she's a goat???

ha ha ya! but she must like her sedatives

seanacai

Hey Distantmemory, how did you get on with the electric fence? Im in the exact same position as you were in now.

seanacai

I put up a single row of sheep wire and three lines of electric fence on the other side of the posts, works like a dream. thanks to all for the advice

EP90

Everything you need to know.... http://www.rappa.co.uk/advice-centre