Electric Fence and Ewes

[Percy Veer]

I've a problem with a few ewes pushing through a 3 wire electric fence on a pasture they like. Yesterday I set it up with standards every 2 or 3 metres. I used 2 earth stakes and poured plenty of water on them. The energiser is working and the fence is testing OK. The reel clutches were tight, but this morning the standards were as before but the middle wire was loose and about a dozen were through again.

Apart from getting rid of the troublemaker(s) has anyone any ideas on how to stop this?

 

[Bob c]

have you got a shed ? bring them in no food for a day
then set up a electric fence in the shed with hay the other side

 

[Wooly]

Get yourself some Romney's !!

You won't need three strands then.

 

[yellowbelly]

Once they get the knack they are bast@rds. The longer you leave them there, the more they will show others how to do it. Persistent fence breakers here have a big red stripe sprayed down the back of their neck and stay in fields behind permanent fencing if they are too good to cull, otherwise it's "goodnight Vienna".

 

[andybk]

neighbour told me once "stand the other side of fence with a 12 bore and shoot the first @@@$£ through , " I caught the first one instead and nothing more got out , I bet its only one causing issue , left to long the rest soon lose the fear of the fence , then your in trouble .

 

[yellowbelly]

"stand the other side of fence with a 12 bore and shoot the first @@@$£ through ,

If you have to shoot a few it'll just create an "ovine ramp" and the other fudgers will just walk over 'em to get out too

 

[Paddington]

You must keep Wiltshire Horns.

 

[Tim W]

You must keep Wiltshire Horns.

It's less to do with breed and more to do with training ----- next doors Romney are always getting out despite having 3 strands of electric & I didn't have any problem with wilts and electric (I maintain a good fence )

 

[Tonym]

Make sure the energiser is well earthed with a metre long metal rod and watered. I used to put a permanent earth in each field and if you have a ditch or wet spot put it there to keep it watered.
Also try energising the top and bottom strands and earthing the middle one. When they try to push through the will get a better shock.
Another trick I used on a persistent tup was to hang an old cow tie chain round his neck to make sure he got a good contact as it stops the wool acting as an insulator.

 

[Grassman]

As @Tonym says.
Where I had a particular problem I erected a single electric wire about a foot high a couple of feet in front of the fence. That makes it very awkward for them.

 

[Percy Veer]

Thanks guys.

I'll try some of these ideas when they go back in this field.

 

[neilo]

It's less to do with breed and more to do with training ----- next doors Romney are always getting out despite having 3 strands of electric & I didn't have any problem with wilts and electric (I maintain a good fence )

Was discussing this with someone this afternoon. I said I was off to put a fence up next to some freshly weaned lambs. The hedge was a bit iffy into the neighbour's and I wanted to train them anyway, so was going to stick a fence down that hedge line. He asked what I was going to use, as he reckoned on 6 strands to train ewe lambs (hill sheep & homebred Mules). He couldn't believe I'd never used more than 2, but with a good fencer.