Beginner here! Electric fencing.

[Salli]

 

[Salli]

After a lot of research I'm a little closer to find out what we need to temporary fence up to a mere 5 Soay/crosses. I reckon the meadow has a 500m perimeter so am aiming for about 50x1m posts, 3 rows of 6mm Turbo max rope (0.17ohms I think) on reels, dual purpose energiser (mains/battery) that will a) provide a sharp reminder to the naughty Soay that they should avoid the fencing, and b) deal with vegetation as the cut grass is still 6-9" high due to uneven ground. I am now just very confused about which energisers will do the job without burning the system out or letting the sheep explore the gardens and roads thereabouts! I've looked at Rappa, Voss, Hotline, Defender, Farmsomething, Trapper and so on. I was all set on the Voss and then discovered Rappa and then another make, and then another. Now I've lost the plot with voltages, ohms, conductivity, watts, etc.

 

[spin cycle]

voss best value /quality IME

 

[som farmer]

basically, the higher the joule out put, the better the fencer, earth is extremely important, and if you use a mains fencer, put in as instructed. battery fencers are ok, as long as you keep checking the battery, leisure battery better than the ones you put inside the unit.
I have known some people run an earth line with 2 live lines, saying you get a better shock that way. the ultimate test is can you hold it when its on ? if you can, it's not good enough !!!!

 

[bluepower]

After a lot of research I'm a little closer to find out what we need to temporary fence up to a mere 5 Soay/crosses. I reckon the meadow has a 500m perimeter so am aiming for about 50x1m posts, 3 rows of 6mm Turbo max rope (0.17ohms I think) on reels, dual purpose energiser (mains/battery) that will a) provide a sharp reminder to the naughty Soay that they should avoid the fencing, and b) deal with vegetation as the cut grass is still 6-9" high due to uneven ground. I am now just very confused about which energisers will do the job without burning the system out or letting the sheep explore the gardens and roads thereabouts! I've looked at Rappa, Voss, Hotline, Defender, Farmsomething, Trapper and so on. I was all set on the Voss and then discovered Rappa and then another make, and then another. Now I've lost the plot with voltages, ohms, conductivity, watts, etc.

From what I have seen of soays lead shot is about the only thing to keep them in! Joking apart When it is dry like this make sure you have a really goo earth on the fencer and don't be afraid to water it at this time of year.

 

[Estate fencing.]

Im a big fan of mole valley energisers. 3500 ones I have mange to keep some very badly behaved welsh ewes in. Make sure you strim under the fence regularly to stop it shorting out. Also buy a couple of big leisure battery’s off eBay. Just never let it be low power because once they get used to running at the fence fast and getting out they are sods to retrain!

 

[Al R]

Electric shepherd 325’s here for training lambs and 275’s when trained. I’ve seen “good” mains before and been able to tie steel wire back together when it’s working - the earth was a pond so wet enough! I wouldn’t touch my 325’s unless serious money was involved. Normal poly wire should be plenty and no need for rope, if your not moving it don’t bother with reels unless you plan on moving it.

The best mains i’ve seen was a blue “Elephant” fencer on steel wire (the older version of the 15Joule 115 they now make) that was dangerous mind so I wouldn’t recommend 1 that high - it was keeping bulls and cows away from each other in a shed with a single wire.

 

[som farmer]

got a mains fencer from ael, called the big boy, everyone here is scared of it, local keeper will not even undo a wire gate, he only had 2 shocks. but the cattle don't get out, and, at the moment, its 1 strand between them and the maize.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

got a mains fencer from ael, called the big boy, everyone here is scared of it, local keeper will not even undo a wire gate, he only had 2 shocks. but the cattle don't get out, and, at the moment, its 1 strand between them and the maize.

To be fair, I find cattle are a doddle to keep in compared to sheep (and that's beef cattle), and soays have a reputation!

As above joules output (Not input) is the figure to compare.
The mvf one mentioned above ( http://m.molevalleyfarmers.com/h5/r...2v-230v-dual-power-electric-fencing-energiser ) is ok, I have 2, but would consider it's 2.5J output a minimum for your requirements. Keep it well earthed and strim under the wire and it should suffice but if you can afford a bigger one it will future proof you and cope with some vegetation.

 

[delilah]

5 soay ? unfenced field ?
I would consider folding them. Couple of rolls of chestnut snow fencing; one to hold them in their current area and another to set up adjacent ready for the move.
Will hold its value better than a big outlay on electric fencing, you can flog it on ebay when you lose your patience and put the soay in the freezer.

 

[Salli]

basically, the higher the joule out put, the better the fencer, earth is extremely important, and if you use a mains fencer, put in as instructed. battery fencers are ok, as long as you keep checking the battery, leisure battery better than the ones you put inside the unit.
I have known some people run an earth line with 2 live lines, saying you get a better shock that way. the ultimate test is can you hold it when its on ? if you can, it's not good enough !!!!

We'll use a tester, I'm frightened of the solar powered chicken netting let alone this!

 

[Salli]

The battery is backup in the event of a power cut. I'll get from scrappy!

 

[Salli]

From what I have seen of soays lead shot is about the only thing to keep them in! Joking apart When it is dry like this make sure you have a really goo earth on the fencer and don't be afraid to water it at this time of year.

I thing we might have to sink a barrel of water underground, filled with sand. We're on greensand and the meadow is at the top of a slope! I'll have to think about this one.

 

[Salli]

Im a big fan of mole valley energisers. 3500 ones I have mange to keep some very badly behaved welsh ewes in. Make sure you strim under the fence regularly to stop it shorting out. Also buy a couple of big leisure battery’s off eBay. Just never let it be low power because once they get used to running at the fence fast and getting out they are sods to retrain!

Can't stein easily. Apart from not living there in not strong enough to carry the petrol strimmer, and anyway its always breaking down! Hence the need for an energiser to handle vegetation. We have a power scythe but it's too heavy for me. I don't do the rough heavy stuff but I'm the only one there every day.

 

[Salli]

Can't stein easily. Apart from not living there in not strong enough to carry the petrol strimmer, and anyway its always breaking down! Hence the need for an energiser to handle vegetation. We have a power scythe but it's too heavy for me. I don't do the rough heavy stuff but I'm the only one there every day.

Can't strim easily

 

[Salli]

To be fair, I find cattle are a doddle to keep in compared to sheep (and that's beef cattle), and soays have a reputation!

As above joules output (Not input) is the figure to compare.
The mvf one mentioned above ( http://m.molevalleyfarmers.com/h5/r...2v-230v-dual-power-electric-fencing-energiser ) is ok, I have 2, but would consider it's 2.5J output a minimum for your requirements. Keep it well earthed and strim under the wire and it should suffice but if you can afford a bigger one it will future proof you and cope with some vegetation.

The Voss Helos has similar specs, and cheaper. Also made in Germany. 3.2j shock power I take to mean output not stored? https://www.electric-fence.co.uk/voss-farming-helos-4-12-v-battery-mains-energiser-dual-power.html

 

[Salli]

5 soay ? unfenced field ?
I would consider folding them. Couple of rolls of chestnut snow fencing; one to hold them in their current area and another to set up adjacent ready for the move.
Will hold its value better than a big outlay on electric fencing, you can flog it on ebay when you lose your patience and put the soay in the freezer.

It's 3 acres with paddock (securely fenced), orchard, young woodland, vegetables and fruit, bees, and a meadow that we take hay off each summer. From July until mid spring the sheep can graze this meadow but as woodland, fruit and vegetables are around the edges the sheep must be contained in either the paddock or temporary fencing which we can move about. Destination is freezer anyway when old enough, and have lambs to replace them. Or we get some of those Black Nose Valais instead!

 

[yellowbelly]

. Or we get some of those Black Nose Valais instead!

Buy the fencing stuff first then - you'll have no money left when you've bought a trailer load of them

 

[Poorbuthappy]

The Voss Helos has similar specs, and cheaper. Also made in Germany. 3.2j shock power I take to mean output not stored? https://www.electric-fence.co.uk/voss-farming-helos-4-12-v-battery-mains-energiser-dual-power.html

If you scroll down that 1 is only 2.2J output.
I also have 1 of these -

Electric Fencing | High Quality | electric-fence.co.uk

Professional electric fencing equipment with high quality. A large product range and save £££. Save even more on bundles and B-stock. Over 1500 electric f…

www.electric-fence.co.uk

It is 3.5J output, though I'm doubtful about the "double the shock" claim, but still bigger, and cheaper, than the mvf 1.

 

[SteveHants]

Doesn't matter what fencer you use, if you are going to let it short, sheep will get out.

I can't see strands keeping soays in for long, I'd fence it if I were you.