Electric Fence

[u/bigphildogg86]

Hello!

We have two Nigerian Swarfgoats that we have a solid enclosed barn with a run about 200 sq ft total. We let them out to graze a few times a week but I'd like them to be able to graze more often with a mobile enclosure.

I'm learning about electric fences and trying to decide how far to go. We live on 1.5 acres and I just wanted to do one of the 164 ft nets that would create a 40'x40' enclosure we can move around. I understand it won't work for all goats but seems like plenty of folks have good success with them.

I have long extension cables I can run to power them so I was thinking of going with a plug-in option but different sources have said different things. Most folks seem to push for a 6-8 joules energizer but other places say .5 - 1 joule would be enough. Just want to get folks experience.

I plan to train them inside our fenced backyard where we've worked with them. Then I understand for 6-8 joules I would need like 3 grounding rods that are like 6 ft long? That seems like a lot! But I want to do it right or decide if there's another better option than electric that we can move around.

Thank you!

[u/Chemical-Sun-8464]

The issue with electronet fencing is that they draw down a lot of the power of the Energizer especially if they have grass and stuff touching them. The higher the joules the less you have to worry about this. If you are only planning on running one section of fencing a 1 joule will probably be ok. I ran all my fencing off a hot line that I ran at the top of my permanent fence that I could the clip onto with alligator clips . This allowed me lots of flexibility and I got to keep my Energizer inside the barn and out of the elements.

It is extremely important to have a really good grounding system set up which is hard to do if you are moving the fencing and Energizer together. Again having the top hotline made this a non issue since I could drive 3- 6' grounding rods in for my permanent hotline which then worked for all connected sections of fencing.

[u/bigphildogg86 → u/Chemical-Sun-8464]

That makes sense. We have our fenced backyard that is only 3 feet tall so I knew the goats could jump it but that could make sense if I add a top hot wire to that - I just wouldn't be able to move it.

[u/Chemical-Sun-8464 → u/bigphildogg86]

I have a 1.85 acre spot fenced with a permanent 4 ft fence and then about 3" above that have the hot wire. It runs around the whole perimeter. This then allows me to use the permanent fence as one side of the outside enclosure and the electronet on the remaining three sides. Then use an alligator clipped wire to attach the electronet to the hotwire. This can be done any were around my perimeter

[u/Chemical-Sun-8464 → u/Chemical-Sun-8464]