The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Young Ed on October 15, 2014, 08:47:19 pm
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just thinking about electric fence at the mo' as i've got some to set up soon and a random though popped into the head!
are young lambs that are anywhere from say a day or two upwards ok with electric fence? three strands with bottom one quite low so they won't slip out but i mean as in could a jolt mess up heart rhythm and give them cardiac arrest/heart attack? could it even burn them?
rather silly questions i know but i do want to protect my wee lambs when they pop out next year
Cheers Ed
P.S: this energiser if it helps
http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/gallagher-powerplus-fencer-m300s-31j (http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/gallagher-powerplus-fencer-m300s-31j)
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they will be fine, most of mine are born behind electric fences
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Mine are born behind electric fences, they usually go up and get a good belting by putting nose/mouth on the wire, but then they learn quick and are usually fence trained for life pretty young!
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Mine take no notice of it at all. They just go straight through, whereas their mums won't go near it
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As long as it is not your proper perimeter fence you are probably fine with electric tape (I would use tape like the one used for horse grazing rather than just wire), they will learn. Electric netting not ok for youngsters, they can easily get trapped in it.
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We have Greyface Dartmoor Lambs behind an electric fence. We thought the wool might insulate them but I guess not since none of them will go anywhere near it now! Never seen one touch it (one of our big rams did and he jerked back very quickly). Now our problem is getting them out of the field! If the fence is there, even lying flat on the ground they will not go anywhere near it - you need to roll the darned thing way back. The only alternative is to pick them up and throw them over (not literally!) or if they are larger we have to cover their eyes and reverse them over it so they simply don't see it!
Having said all that, I wouldn't trust it to keep a ram from ewes - lust conquers all!!