Electric fence voltage to keep out a bear?

[mountainchickens]

So, last night we had a bear come to our coop. Presumably it was the same one that got 5 of our chickens in September, or it could've been a different one, we have quite a few predators around here...
Anyways, no chickens were killed - the bear ripped some of the door off but our neighbor came out and scared it away before it could do any more. We went out to get an electric fence this morning and bought a 5000 volt continuous live one to go around the coop and run. We have two small (approx. 6 lbs) mostly outdoor cats who like hanging out near the coop. Will 5000 volts kill them/seriously injure them?
The second-largest voltage they carried was 500 volts. Is that too little?
Thanks!

 

[The Phantom]

I run 13,000 volts on my coops. I also have cats that go outside. They have been fine. Idk if they have ever touched the wire. But I only run the wire at night.

 

[DobieLover]

I run a pulsing 10,000 volt charger. I have had bear on my property but never had a problem with her getting at the coop. I run the charger 24/7. My chickens have gotten zapped and were fine.

 

[Helloworld]

For bears, you need high tensile wire. Same for buffalos

 

[The Phantom]

I run a pulsing 10,000 volt charger. I have had bear on my property but never had a problem with her getting at the coop. I run the charger 24/7. My chickens have gotten zapped and were fine.

What did they do when they got zapped? I’m running 13,000 volts and have been very worried about them getting zapped with so much power.

 

[The Phantom]

For bears, you need high tensile wire. Same for buffalos

I have the thick aluminum horse wire. It’s very thick but sill flexible enough.

 

[DobieLover]

What did they do when they got zapped? I’m running 13,000 volts and have been very worried about them getting zapped with so much power.

They squawked loud, got the rest of the flock in an uproar then sulked in the run for about 30 minutes before venturing back out.

 

[The Phantom]

They squawked loud, got the rest of the flock in an uproar then sulked in the run for about 30 minutes before venturing back out.

Ok. I’m guessing 13,000 volts would do the same to mine

 

[Sea Wolf]

I have a 16,000 volt livestock charger. Get one for livestock/horses. Do NOT get the weed burning type. Volts will not kill you, amps will. Chickens and even the bear will be fine .. as well as you ..the day you forget about it and back into it while raking. Get the metal fence poles and the clips that go onto them for running an electric wire. Run the wire around the coop and fencing but about 3 or four feet away. I would run 3 strands, top bottom and middle with the top strand 4 feet off the ground. You want Mr Bear to leave before he actually gets to the coop. I have touched my own fence more than once. I can't say that it hurts but it really rearranges your neurons for a while and it is not something you really want to do twice. I would also tie little yellow or white, short ribbons on the wires every 3 feet or so on all three wires. A visual clue for everyone that the wires are there. Running one of these fences is easy. Get the heavy duty aluminum livestock wire too. That way the bear won't break them on his first (and probably last) visit. You will need a charger, 5 foot metal posts and some way to bang them into the ground, wire, insulators and there is a gate handle/clip/spring thing you use to hook the charger wire to the metal fencing wire that allows you to simply disconnect the power to the wire to allow you access without getting zapped. There are some kits I have seen with a lot of parts included but I would avoid those as the parts are lightweight and flimsy and would not stand up to a bear.

 

[mountainchickens]

Thanks everyone!

I have a 16,000 volt livestock charger. Get one for livestock/horses. Do NOT get the weed burning type. Volts will not kill you, amps will. Chickens and even the bear will be fine .. as well as you ..the day you forget about it and back into it while raking. Get the metal fence poles and the clips that go onto them for running an electric wire. Run the wire around the coop and fencing but about 3 or four feet away. I would run 3 strands, top bottom and middle with the top strand 4 feet off the ground. You want Mr Bear to leave before he actually gets to the coop. I have touched my own fence more than once. I can't say that it hurts but it really rearranges your neurons for a while and it is not something you really want to do twice. I would also tie little yellow or white, short ribbons on the wires every 3 feet or so on all three wires. A visual clue for everyone that the wires are there. Running one of these fences is easy. Get the heavy duty aluminum livestock wire too. That way the bear won't break them on his first (and probably last) visit. You will need a charger, 5 foot metal posts and some way to bang them into the ground, wire, insulators and there is a gate handle/clip/spring thing you use to hook the charger wire to the metal fencing wire that allows you to simply disconnect the power to the wire to allow you access without getting zapped. There are some kits I have seen with a lot of parts included but I would avoid those as the parts are lightweight and flimsy and would not stand up to a bear.

We're going to set it up today... have a 0.5 output, 0.85 stored joules energizer for the fence. We have poliwire and the aluminum wire, might do the aluminum now. We have the posts and the clip/handle thing. Little ribbons are good ideas - if we have any, we'll put them on! Thanks again