Electric fencing?

[SniperGoose]

Yeah, we've seen some near the stream that feeds into the creek that wraps around our property. Just to clarify, we live on ~550acres, and the stream that feeds into the creek that I just mentioned is a good distance from our actual house and the fence itself. I haven't have a weasel or mink problem in a good many years now thankfully. But that's not to say it can't happen again, since they are around. I'll be taking some precautions against them when setting up the fence in the spring, as 123RedBeard mentioned earlier.

 

[harveyhorses]

Hi there, I have been using electric fence for many many , well a long time. I would give the charger your father has a try, i was using one about that old until a couple of years ago when lightning got it. The design has not really changed much. I'm using the set up for snow that was suggested. Good luck!

 

[EastmanEggs]

Volts are not dangerous.
Friends, please note that it's important to recognize how many of us are inclined to be afraid of electricity, and how an even greater majority do not understand how it works, its calculation, and the application of what those numbers mean.

HERE IS THE SCIENCE LESSON:
Ampere, or amp (A), is the unit that measures electrical load or strength. Amps can be deadly.

Voltage is the measurement for 'potential difference' inl electrical circuits, thus the intensity Voltages can be very high and still very safe.

Knowing that you can have high voltage with low amperage, you can create intense 'zaps' of electricity that are nearly harmless.

5,000 Volts of electricity sounds scary, but if it doesn't carry a "load" then it can't do much, if any, damage.

HERE IS THE FENCE ENERGIZER BUYING GUIDE:
A small note on distance rating. Energizers limit their effective amount of fencing they can supply to, usually between 1-100 miles. If you have a fence 1,000ft long, with 5 lines, it uses 1-mile (5,000ft) worth of energizer rating in ideal conditions. Always buy more than you need by a factor of at least 2x.

Fencers / energizers are rated in Joules (J), to determine the amount of energy they give off during a "zap."

I've seen energizers with itsy-bitsy ratings of 0.05 Joules, medium ratings of 1 Joule and more instense ratings of 15+ Joules. (Keep in mind that 15 Joules is 300x more intense than 0.05 Joules.)

This leaves a lot of room for variance. Most dog 'shock collars' are less than 0.05 J and have a similar intensity as a static shock from a doorknob in winter. This is pathetic for a containment electric fence. Meanwhile a 15 Joule system can be used as a bear deterrent and usually isn't appropriate for training a dog to stay out of the garden.

0.5 to 2.0 Joules is effective at containment for less-than-stubborn dogs / livestock. Its beneficial for animals willing to obey the boundary in ordinary conditions. Some dogs will still 'run through' this fence to chase rabbit. The zap is uncomfortable, but DOES NOT HARM. I don't personally suggest this for goats as they most certainly fit into a stubborn category. Pigs do fine because of their bare skin and good ground contact.

2- 6 Joules is where you enter the "big boy" league of energizers. These are what deliver a serious zap, that's safe, and keep even the farmer weary of the fence. This is enough to scare off coyotes, raccoon, dogs, and other animals from entering my coop. It's also sufficient for containment of most stubborn dogs and even goats.

8-15 Joules energizers are the top of the line for cattle, deer, elk, and goat containment and work well as bear, coyote, and predator deterrents. These are "arm benders" in the world of electric fencing. Again, low load but very high voltage. Any animal willing to challenge a 12+ Joule system will have a VERY convincing reason to do so.

WHAT TO BUY:

To keep the dog out of the garden: 0.07 Joule system rated for Chicken, Rabbit, and Dog. *Note the decimal placement making this LESS than 1/10 of a Joule* Ineffective when the animal has any desire stronger than the avoidance of a door handle shock. Ineffective as a comtainment fence. Best used to keep animals out of an area WITHIN a different containment system. Available at most local stores and online for $30.

To keep the dog in the yard while supervised, to deter curious animals from your chicken coop: 0.5 Joule. *Note the decimal placement making this 1/2 Joule* Ineffective against animals with strong predatory drive attacking the coop. Best used for supervised dog containment, lvestock interior fencing within a larger containment fence, or spooking off curious coop visitors. Available for less than $90.

To Protect, Contain, or Control:
6+ Joules will create a serious zap of safe high voltage electricity that scares off predators and is startling each and every time your dog or livestock 'checks' the fence. It works well as a containment fence, as it takes a very highly motivated animal to willingly take the zap. If you're shopping for a fence to only come in contact with predators, buy a 12+ joule rating to deter attacks.

Remember, a good electric fence is comparable to a fire alarm; it's intended to be rarely activated, but really overwhelmingly intense when it does its job.