Ewe lambs and electric fencing

Sandpit Farm · Oct 31, 2014

Does anyone else find that ewe lambs are harder to keep in with electric fencing? I have a 2J energiser packing 9000v into two wires but they still get out and travel to a grassy bank 2 fields away.

The biggest issue is that I'm working 2.5hrs away so my wife has to flock them back in.

Poorbuthappy · Oct 31, 2014

I'd put a 3rd wire up

Sandpit Farm · Oct 31, 2014

Thanks PBH, there is a third wire up but it's not electrified. I will ask Charlotte to connect it. Surely it must be possible to train these lambs!

neilo · Oct 31, 2014

Sandpit Farm said:
Thanks PBH, there is a third wire up but it's not electrified. I will ask Charlotte to connect it. Surely it must be possible to train these lambs!

Difficult once they have learnt that they can get through IME. Can you get a bigger fencer for a while? I had a Polish one that I used for just such a job, mains power from a battery fencer. Biggest new tractor batteries didn't last more than a week on it on full power, but handy for training.

It's one of the reasons we stopped using 2 & 3 strand fencing many years ago, and started using Livestok netting. Started using Rappa again now, just for speed of erection with the quad, but been very careful that none get to learn the escape methods like the did years ago.

Sandpit Farm · Oct 31, 2014

Oh bugger. I can't think who I could ask to get hold of a bigger fencer. May have to round them up and send them to market then - it's causing way too much stress at the moment. All the land is temporary and un fenced

farmerclare · Oct 31, 2014

I bought a 12 volt fencer and make sure the battery doesn't run down the lambs won't graze within a foot of the fence never had a problem.

Sandpit Farm · Oct 31, 2014

farmerclare said:
I bought a 12 volt fencer and make sure the battery doesn't run down the lambs won't graze within a foot of the fence never had a problem.

I'm really struggling Clare. There are 2 orphan lambs that lead the others astray. I measured the voltage at 9000v. I could maybe pen them up tomorrow and hold each one against the fence!

farmerclare · Oct 31, 2014

Sandpit Farm said:
I'm really struggling Clare. There are 2 orphan lambs that lead the others astray. I measured the voltage at 9000v. I could maybe pen them up tomorrow and hold each one against the fence!

LOL
Once they get used to escaping it is very difficult to stop them. I did start with three strands of wire but now just have two. As suggested above see if you can borrow a stronger fencer. Mine is 3.5 joules.

Woolless · Oct 31, 2014

Sandpit Farm said:
I'm really struggling Clare. There are 2 orphan lambs that lead the others astray. I measured the voltage at 9000v. I could maybe pen them up tomorrow and hold each one against the fence!

Take the pet lambs out. I took the two pets back out of my mob of ewe lambs. They weren't afraid of the dog and made it difficult to shift the rest.

cotswoldcs · Oct 31, 2014

Have you another unit? One unit and battery per strand? Solar panel helps keep the battery charged and going well.

Keepers · Oct 31, 2014

Wehavnt had a bother with ewe lambs, use either two strand or three,
just take the pet lambs out maybe, or hold the two pet lambs and make sure they get a shock on the nose

andybk · Oct 31, 2014

we run 2 x 3j fencers for the first week and split the fence in half for first timers , will weld their feet to the floor if they touch it (its important the first touch they get a damn good belt) they wont even cross the line when the fence is gone most times , dont forget a good earth
any stragglers we will run a mains fence diagonally out from a corner of the shed 30m or so (so they can walk around it ) and leave them in the paddock till they realise not to touch the fence .

Poorbuthappy · Oct 31, 2014

Does anyone connect the middle of 3 strands to earth so they get a belt by touching 2 strands across the nose?
Heard it done but don't know how effective it is.

exmoor dave · Oct 31, 2014

Poorbuthappy said:
Does anyone connect the middle of 3 strands to earth so they get a belt by touching 2 strands across the nose?
Heard it done but don't know how effective it is.

i think that was in the instructions that came with the rappa fence i bought a month ago, I imagine it would give them a fair crack?

sheep dog getting out of the river then touching the fence was fair funny

neilo · Oct 31, 2014

Poorbuthappy said:
Does anyone connect the middle of 3 strands to earth so they get a belt by touching 2 strands across the nose?
Heard it done but don't know how effective it is.

I always thought that was for when it's so dry that you can't get a decent earth connection (through the sheep's feet). If you have a decent earth (& the grounds damp) then better to give a good shock through every line IMO.

I'd suggest that by the time a sheep is touching 2 wires at once, they're almost through already and usually carry on. Wool is a good insulator. If they sniff the earth wire alone, that's not going to induce any respect for the fence either.

Post Driver · Nov 1, 2014

Poorbuthappy said:
Does anyone connect the middle of 3 strands to earth so they get a belt by touching 2 strands across the nose?
Heard it done but don't know how effective it is.

Think you need an extra earth stake or 2 along the line connected to it to get shorter distance back to earth and a better zap

JD-Kid · Nov 1, 2014

ummmm 9 KV out of a battery unit ?? maybe too low in J to give them a good whack we had a unit used to put out 9.9 kv but low in J's gave yer a fright but not a good hit other unit about 6 kv and 9 J that hurt a lot

where did you test the fence at the unit or end of the line there could be a huge diffrence if running away pull 5 wires 3 live and 2 return to earth at the unit + earth peg

mate i know for training sheep had a 14 wire fence every 2nd wire return to earth system off the mains it realy trained them up to be fair polywire not the best for training and not all polywire the same for sheep something like turbo tape works better something they can see as well

chris elk · Nov 1, 2014

I use Rappa poly wire all the time , middle strand is white so they can see it, but what I've found is once they go through it they always will , I've even held there noses on to it and gave them a good whack like that , next day the sods were out again ! Never really have problems with the ewes, any lambs that do it are took in to market ASAP .

cattleman123 · Nov 1, 2014

I know how you feel when they escape its a pain,but in sincere honesty all i ever use is one stand of wire,make sure the wire is tight so it doest move away when they touch it ...and very important at all times,try to train where you have a hedge behind...and make sure the fencer is turned on before you put the sheep in the field...its that first shock that is so important.
As to your problem best to try and start again in a fresh field ..following as above...and also make sure you pour a cple of buckets of water around the earth stake as the ground is still fairly dry...yes you always get the odd one ..but the above works for me.....and i put up miles of the stuff....yes and the wire is rappa red poly wire not steel ..and hold on to the fence line to ensure their is a good shock or in my case i get my mate or lad to do it....so many fence lines get earthed out by a stupid piece of wire sticking up somewhere

Sandpit Farm · Nov 2, 2014

A quick update.

I changed the fencer to a Patriot P10, which I know gives a whack but not sure what the Joules were. I straightened out a tangle, I put more stakes in to keep it tight and to accommodate land undulations. So far, they have stayed in since yesterday morning.

I am away working tomorrow so I guess they will choose then to get out! If that happens, I will gather the orphans and send them to market.

Also ram goes in today so maybe they will hang around for him.

Ewe lambs and electric fencing

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