[MR C CHICKS]

Hello all. New to pig keeping and could do with some helpfull advise please . With a couple of friends from work we have rented a piece of land to keep some pigs on .The land is fenced on all sides with sheep fencing,but not suitable for pigs ,as they will easily dig under the fence. Can anybody recommend a electric fencing kit that is suitable for pigs and a supplier they use. We have done all our research and bought a couple of books , we have our holding number,arch, etc , so its just the fencing to sort out and we can get our first pigs . 

[Hilarysmum]

Cant help as we live in France, but congratulations on the beginning of a  new  and very  interesting,    life.

[dixie]

Have a look at mole valley, www.molevalleyfarmers.com we have bought both mains and battery energisers along with polywire, and stakes.

[Farmer]

You will need a good 12v battery - Leisure type if possible - and can buy the rest of the kit, Unit, wire, fence posts and connectors from your nearest Country Store...alternatively, look on Ebay.

Good luck with your pigs...let us know how you get on

Regards, Farmer,  

[oaklandspigs]

Rappa Fencing

www.rappa.co.uk 

has a good guide

http://www.rappa.co.uk/fencing-guide.cfm

We use horse tape, as the pigs see this more easily than wire.

If you are putting this inside the existing sheep net, then a single strand 5 inches above the ground will work.

If you are going to use it on it's own - eg make a smaller part of a larger field, then the pigs need to be "trained" to the electric fence, as the first time they touch it they are as likely to run forward as reverse back off it, so learn to escape rather than be contained.

With weaners we have a small area 10ft * 20 ft which is sheep netted with electric fence inside.  2 days in this area and they quickly learn that when they touch they cannot go forward so reverese.  Then you can put them in an area with just an electric fence.



 

[dixie]

Sorry, didnt think! doh!  we use the polywire for the sheep and tape for the pigs!

[Elissian]

funny i'm the other way round, tape 4 sheep wire 4 pigs, they only go there once. I agree if theres no fence behind it then they jump forward and through it but as you're stock fenced that wont be a problem. I start with mine very low and raise it as they grow. I buy mine from scats which is owned by mole valley and we have an extra battery so one can be on charge while the other is in use as they seem to know when the line is off, i think they listen to it. when they're little they seem to be more inquisitive about what is beyond the fence whereas  once a bit older they dont seem bothered as long as there's plenty of forraging.

[rogermunro]

try rutland fencing

[Malc]

Your local agricultural merchant is often the best bet for stuff like that - you may pay a little more than on-line, but you can see what you're getting and there's useful advice (if the merchant is a good one, that is).
And it's galvanised wire for me every time. My Saddlebacks just walk through tape or cord.

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

For ALL our pigs we use either polywite or tape - mainly because it is easier to handle and more portable than netting, and not as permanent as galvanised wire.

The important thing is to use an energiser that will give enough power over the total length of line you intend using, or they will walk right through.

Like an earlier post said, you have to train them otherwise they can bolt through. We stand around with pig boards at the ready until they have had a couple of zaps - they learn very quick!

We have used this for all sizes of pigs - even used just 2 electric strands between a full grown saddleback boar and a sow - he paced a lot but didn't cross the line.

Shop around for your energiser - buy a known make, and good luck!

I won't tell you that we also sell them - as that would be advertising :-)

Gareth
www.suppliesforsmallholders.co.uk

[MR C CHICKS]

Cheers .Thanks for the sound advise, i will be contacting those suppliers . The tricky part is noing what strength energiser to buy .The area we were looking at was 30mtrs x 30mtrs approx. There is so many to choose from ,we dont want to buy something that is to weak or something that is over the top for what we need. Once we sort the fencing we are ready for the pigs. At last

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi

Will you ever want to expand from one 30m x 30m pen?

If not then your total line run will be in the region of 240m (assuming you use 2 lines)

So most energisers will fill that need easily. I would Reccoment the PEL 102B Battery energiser, which gives lots of options and can use either 9V or 12 V batteries.

Remember - you only want to buy an energiser once.

Thanks

Gareth
www.suppliesforsmallholders.co.uk