Electric Fence Novice

[Tdog]

I need to pur up an electric fence to keep rabbits, coons, & their cousins out of my veggie garden. 110v will not be the best for the area I need protection. Are there solar powered electric fence kits that you recommend. I have never done this before - - hope it is not too difficult to understand & set up.

I have two areas I want to protect, about 50-75 ft. apart - - one is approximately 50 x 15, & the other is about 30 x 30. Will I need separate sources for each?

I do not have a Tractor Supply Co. w/i driving distance. I plan to stop at the local feed/farm supply store to see what they have. What about Home Depot?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Jack

 

[Luremaker]

Here is an informative youtube video about planning and installing and electric fence. There are 2 or 3 videos you have to watch to get all the details. I actually purchased a few things from these guys last spring and was happy with the service.

YouTube - ELECTRIC FENCE INSTALLATION PART 1

I have no idea how their prices compare with other fencing suppliers but everything I purchased was cheaper than buying it locally.

 

[Jimbrown]

You must understand that electric fences are designed primarily for large livestock. They do not work reall well for small animals. You are going to have to put the wire close to the ground and probably run multiple wires at say 6 inches and 10 inches and maybe one higher. All of the manufactures make solar powered ones. Any half decent feed store and also home depot carry them. I like the large aluminum wire or even large wire rope best for my applications as opposed to the small steel wire.

One unit would power both of your plots you would just need to connect them together with a wire.

Your problem will be keeping the grass and weeds from shorting out the fence.

You would probably be better off with some nice field fence with 4 inch sguares or smaller or chicken wire.

 

[nate_m]

I need to pur up an electric fence to keep rabbits, coons, & their cousins out of my veggie garden. 110v will not be the best for the area I need protection. Are there solar powered electric fence kits that you recommend. I have never done this before - - hope it is not too difficult to understand & set up.

I have two areas I want to protect, about 50-75 ft. apart - - one is approximately 50 x 15, & the other is about 30 x 30. Will I need separate sources for each?

I do not have a Tractor Supply Co. w/i driving distance. I plan to stop at the local feed/farm supply store to see what they have. What about Home Depot?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Jack

I put up an electric fence around my garden this year. Runs off D-Cell batteries. Worked great for keeping the deer and my dogs out. Didn't do squat to keep the smaller vermin out. Coons, rabbits, opossum, squirrels come and go as they please even with 3 strands close to the bottom.

Since I realized this, I've started trapping and shooting what I catch. (except for the neighbors cats).

I'd like to put up a permanent fence suitable to keep the critters out when budget allows. That is probably your best bet also.

 

[vicar]

Fencing - Premier1Supplies

This company, Premier, has a great catalog. It taught me everything I needed to put up electric fence for my wife's sheep. They have an electro-net solution for your garden. They are great to work with on the phone too.
John

 

[randy41]

I agree with John about Premier Fence. They sell fencing that would be suitable for what you want and their catalog is very informative.

 

[DocHeb]

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Jack

I have bought from Kencove Fence and have had good success with their products. They also have some educational articles in their paper catalog that is downloadable as a .pdf.

The whole concept of electric fences is a hot wire with a return ground wire somewhere, and the circuit must be completed by the shockee. Small animal protection will require small spacing between the wires and this ground (and the grounding source does not have to be the ground but can be a wire.) Kencove has products that will do that.

 

[Tdog]

Thanks vicar & randy. I just place an order with Premier [Doc, Kencove's website said netting was out of stock]. It should be here early next week. I figure this fence will run the cost of my green beans up to about $15/lb. & next year's tomatoes to $8 each, but having a veggie garden never was about saving money!

Jack

 

[DocHeb]

I figure this fence will run the cost of my green beans up to about $15/lb. & next year's tomatoes to $8 each, but having a veggie garden never was about saving money!

Jack

You have to read the book entitled "The 64 Dollar Tomato" by William Alexander. It is painfully funny and painfully true.