Electric fence

PittyLova

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Dec 4, 2017
Messages
7
Reaction score
3
Points
11
I have a pair of guinea hogs who are about a year old now. I ran electric fence over a 1 and an a half acre area for them to have for grazing, etc. They stayed put for about a month then began breaking out by ducking and running (why they'd break out when they have all of the pasture amd acorns they could want I have no idea). So, I put them into a small pen and ran electric to train them to it better. They never tried to break out. I put them back into just electric (half has a fence to block them from the chickens). As soon as I go inside they're out of it. I'm not sure what else to do.

I plan on putting up a wooden perimeter fence come spring but can't really afford to do that right now or get a bunch of hog panels. Any suggestions to be able to let them out until then? Would the electric tape be better? The fence is consistently reading at 7k so I'm thinking its hot enough and if they happen to test it with a nose or ear they jump away.
 

Latestarter

Novice; "Practicing" Animal Husbandry
Golden Herd Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
11,384
Reaction score
17,481
Points
623
Location
NE Texas
The grass is always greener. Check the fence where they are going under to make sure it isn't grounded out, causing less/no shock. Run multiple strands at varying heights horizontally so they can't duck under at a run and will get zapped at multiple touch points should they try. Make sure the elect wire is tight, not sloppy loose. Barring all that, I guess you'll just have to confine them to a holding pen area until you're able to get adequate fencing to contain them. BTW, if they're smart enough to duck and run under a hot wire, and hogs are very intelligent, they'll soon learn how to climb over a hog panel as well. I'd suggest actual cattle panels or added levels of hot wire with the hog panels.

BTW, I don't own hogs (yet)... Good luck.
 

High Desert Cowboy

True BYH Addict
Joined
Sep 25, 2017
Messages
431
Reaction score
2,043
Points
273
Location
Utah
It’s been my experience with pigs that they will try to go where they will, like it or not. I don’t believe electric fencing is the way to go, they are smart and can figure out that once they’ve passed it the pains gone. They need a sturdy solid fence to keep them contained.
 

Wispy55

Ridin' The Range
Joined
May 9, 2015
Messages
26
Reaction score
13
Points
56
Location
New brunswick, canada
The best thing is to train the pigs BEFORE allowing them into a large space. Set up your two strands in a triangle across one corner of a small pen. The top wire should be snout height. Put food, treats on the other side of the wire. They will walk forward then jump back if the wire hits in front of their ears but will jump forward if the wire hits behind the ears, therefore it is important that the first time they hit it is in front. By setting up the wire with food on the other side, they learn very quickly. Once they have tested the wire a couple of times, move it further away and allow them to get the food. Repeat a couple of days later but I assure you they won't go back again.
 

Nao57

Loving the herd life
Joined
Aug 26, 2020
Messages
401
Reaction score
199
Points
138
Does this mean that the budget electric fence kits aren't powerful enough for larger animals? And does that mean other large animal predators will also go right through them?

(Asked in response to pigs being able to go right through them.)
 

Latest posts

Top