(My last article in this series covered the use of pallets to build a quick and affordable fence for a chicken yard. Today's article is more of a "best bang for your buck" than a "cheap as possible" solution.)
Our property, now known as The Garden of the Goats is about 9 acres (or 3-4 hectares, I believe) with one half being native timber (which is what we call a forest around these parts). The timber is thick with undergrowth comprising of poison ivy, poison oak, wild blackberries, wild gooseberries and saplings of every kind. This undergrowth can be miserable to navigate and sometimes I would like to go for a walk and appreciate the beauty of the land without suffering a poison ivy rash for the next several days. Enter a few goats and electric net fence from Premier1supplies.com (Disclaimer: I am not being compensated by Premier1 or any other company for that matter. They have a great product, so I am telling people about it.)
As far as homestead equipment goes, electric net fence is probably the best investment I've made thus far. It is lightweight, low cost and can easily be set up, taken down and moved by one person in a matter of a few minutes.
(On person can carry a 164' fence. While a little cumbersome at first, it is quickly mastered and worth the effort.)
These features make it ideal for many applications such as moving through the woods to clear undergrowth, implementing a mob grazing routine or taking to another location for the clearing of unwanted brush or vegetation for a friend, a neighbor or for profit. An electric net fence energizer can be powered by 110v, 12v battery or a solar charger depending on your specific needs. The fencing comes in many different configurations with options for height, wire spacing, animal type (horses, pigs, poultry and just about everything else), and it comes in different lengths as well.
(Here is my energizer with a 12v deep cycle battery. I chose the battery over the solar option because my goats will spend a lot of time in a heavily wooded area without the exposure to direct sunlight needed for a solar panel. Notice I mounted it to a low cost dolly for easy transport.)
After making the decision to get goats, I knew we didn't want to keep them confined in a small space. 70% of a goat's diet comes from above it's shoulders, if available. Goats are browsers and prefer brush over grass any day of the week. With a property like ours there is no reason to let all that goatness go to waste. Our goats are more than happy to clear unwanted vegetation, but without electric net fence it wouldn't be possible. I currently have two nets connected, making two separate paddocks. This keeps the breeding pair separate until it is time to multiply and start making milk. The battery and energizer are rated for far more fence than I will ever need, so there is no reason to buy another energizer setup as long as I keep the two paddocks together.
(Here are the two paddocks with the energizer dolly in the middle, connecting the two.)
Cost
The ability to move the fence anywhere on the property has made this option the most sensible one for us at this time. In the short time we have had it we have moved it several times, including my wife moving it by herself while I was at work. If you haven't already clicked on the link to Premier1supplies.com, you should do so. The cost will vary depending on your needs, but just to give you an idea, a 164 ft fence with the intellishock charger kit and extra posts will cost less than $300 at current prices. You will still need to purchase a battery locally, but then you are in business!
How About You?
- Do you have any experience with electric net fence?
- If so, what pros or cons can you share?
Please comment, upvote and follow and maybe we can learn something together!