Electric Fencing

mikefoxo

Anyone here have any experience with controlling sheep with an electric fence, i.e. splitting up fields into paddocks. How many strands would you use? Would different breeds be worse than others? And what about using electric netting (like sheep wire but made of electric wire)?
Trying to get the old man to consider splitting up fields. Seems to think that sheep would just walk through the stuff (that their wool would insulate them from the shock)

Username John

Have a look at this thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=84700033

AnFeirmeoir

I use 5 strands and it works . Probably overkill. I keep the strands tight so it won't just roll over a Sheeps back if she decides to push through first time. I have sheep either side and they don't go through. I think most use less strands but when setting it up It always looks to me that 5 woiuld be needed

rangler1

AnFeirmeoir wrote: »

I use 5 strands and it works . Probably overkill. I keep the strands tight so it won't just roll over a Sheeps back if she decides to push through first time. I have sheep either side and they don't go through. I think most use less strands but when setting it up It always looks to me that 5 woiuld be needed

I agree with five, always used four here and it was never enough...only got the last of the electric fence replaced with sheep wire here last year

ganmo

With 5 how many are live?

rangler1

ganmo wrote: »

With 5 how many are live?

I think the best way is when grass is low and lambs are small, use the five, when the lambs and grass grow a bit turn off the bottom one. No matter where I put the bottom one when using only four strands, the lambs were either going under or over the bottom strands

ihatewinter

I use three strands here, all live and never had a problem with escapees. Once they get a good bang/shock, normally is enough to deter them. Plus don't leave them bare, as hungry sheep are more likely to break for greener grass.

ganmo

there is reasong to earth one/two of the wires to give an bigger bang, something with or something like it. dont really understand it myself
http://security.speedrite.com/installation_2_new.asp

Feckthis

What would you's think of 3 strands of electric on boundary fences ??

Username John

Feckthis wrote: »

What would you's think of 3 strands of electric on boundary fences ??

Wouldn't chance it myself.

Too easy to short by a briar or something, and then no shock, and then Feckthis will be getting fit running around after his ewes in the neighbours

Nekarsulm

Split a field in half with permanent el. fence. 4 strands, all live. Kept the bottom strand low, about 6 or 7 inches, and its a right pain. Grass earthing it, and spraying strangely ineffective. End up strimming twice a year, and would need more often, ideally. Turn off fencer before strimming!
Top strand is about 48 inches. Nothing has got through it yet, in two years. have a 5 inch approx. post every 20 foot.