Umair Gaines
Training pigs to respect an electric fence is important to stop them from escaping and causing damage to important plantings or dams. It is also critical to maintaining good relationships with neighbours. Pigs are intelligent animals and can learn quickly to respect and avoid an electric fence, especially when they are young. The key to successful training is to allow the pigs to have contact with the hot wire but never allow them to get past it or go through the wire. This can be achieved through the use of a training pen with both a physical barrier and a hot wire, as well as proper wire spacing and placement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age to train | Young |
| Fence wire placement | Close to the ground, up to the height of the pig's nose |
| Number of wires | Minimum of 3 strands |
| Fence height | Minimum of 24 inches |
| Wire spacing | Evenly spaced at intervals |
| Fence charger | Low impedance |
| Fence voltage | Minimum of 2000 volts |
| Training technique | Use a pen with a hot wire and a physical barrier |
| Flagging | Tie flags on the wire to help pigs associate the flags with the shock |
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What You'll Learn
Start training when they're young
Training pigs to respect an electric fence at an early age is an effective technique to prevent them from running away. It is important to note that an electric fence is a mental barrier and not a physical one. Therefore, training them while they are young is crucial so they learn to respect the boundaries and stay within the designated area.
To begin the training process, set up a small triangular area with two sides that are pig-proof and the most accessible side electrified at the proper height, which is nose height for pigs. This setup ensures that the pigs can learn from their mistakes in a safe and controlled environment. The pigs will quickly understand that the electric fence is something to be avoided, and they will stay within the comfort and safety of the rest of the triangle.
It is recommended to use a pen made out of hog panels or woven wire fence with a couple of hot wires placed strategically inside. Make sure the pen is spacious enough for the pigs to move away from the electric wire. By doing so, you prevent the pigs from associating the electric fence with a physical barrier, which they could attempt to run through.
Additionally, you can tie flags on the wire every few feet. Pigs will learn to associate the flags with the shock and avoid them. When the pigs are eventually released into the pasture, use the same flags, and they will be less likely to test the fence. Surveyor's tape, which is brightly coloured and durable, is recommended for this purpose.
By starting the training early and utilizing effective techniques, you can successfully train pigs to respect electric fences and prevent them from escaping. This way, you can focus on other tasks while ensuring the pigs' well-being and happiness within their allotted space.
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Use a training pen
Using a training pen is a great way to teach your pigs about the electric fence in a controlled environment. It is important to start this training early, ideally when your pigs are young and weigh between 10-30 pounds.
Firstly, set up an electric training fence inside an existing pen. Cordon off a section of the pen with a live electrical wire at snout height, allowing enough space for the pigs to move away from the wire. It is important that the pen is big enough, as a small pen may encourage the pigs to try and escape. You can also use flags or surveyor's tape tied to the wire to make it more visible. Pigs will learn to associate the flags with the shock and will avoid them.
Once the pigs enter the pen, they will likely touch the wire and receive a shock. If your pigs escape at this stage, it is not a problem as they are already contained within their pen. The purpose of this exercise is for the pigs to learn to avoid the wire. Pigs are intelligent animals with excellent memories, so it won't take them long to make this connection.
It is important to ensure that your electric fence is hot and strong. A solid-state livestock energizer provides a constant electrical current, reducing the chance of your pigs escaping.
After the pigs have been shocked, they need to bounce off an impervious barrier so that they learn that running through the fence is futile. This can be a physical barrier like a hog panel or woven wire fence, or simply the walls of their pen.
Once the pigs have been trained in the pen, you can move them to an area contained by electric netting or fencing, confident that they will respect the fence and stay where you put them.
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Ensure the fence is hot enough
Training pigs to respect an electric fence is critical to keeping them from escaping. However, the effectiveness of the training depends on the fence's voltage. Here are some detailed steps to ensure the electric fence is hot enough:
First, it is important to understand that pigs have large, wet noses and little hair on their bodies. This makes them highly susceptible to electric shocks. To ensure the fence is hot enough, use a fence charger that maintains a minimum of 2,000 volts on the fence line. This voltage is sufficient to cause a slight shock that will deter the pigs from crossing the fence.
Additionally, when installing the fence wires, ensure they are close to the ground and spaced evenly at intervals that align with the pig's nose height. This way, the pigs will come into contact with the hot wire at their nose height, which will effectively deter them. For piglets, the wires should be spaced even closer together and lower to the ground.
To overcome the insulating effect of mud, which can prevent electric shocks, use a low-impedance fence charger. This type of charger is designed to penetrate the mud and deliver a shock despite the insulating layer.
It is also recommended to tie flags on the wire every few feet. Pigs will associate the flags with the shock and learn to avoid them. When using flags for training, ensure you use a material that is bright and easily visible, such as surveyor's tape, which comes in bright colors like orange or pink.
By following these steps, you can ensure that the electric fence is hot enough to effectively train the pigs to respect the boundary and stay within the designated area.
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Use flags on the wire
Training pigs to respect an electric fence is critical. Without training, they will constantly escape and cause trouble. The key to successfully containing a pig is to train them properly when they are young, ideally when they are 10-30 pounds.
One way to train pigs to respect an electric fence is to use flags on the wire. This method involves tying flags on the electric wire every three feet or so. The pigs will learn to associate the flags with the shock and will avoid them. When the pigs are eventually put out to pasture, use the same flags, and they won't even test the fence because they will think they can't get past it. Surveyor's tape is a good material to use for the flags as it is bright orange or pink, durable, and easily visible.
The number of wires used in an electric fence depends on the size and aggressiveness of the pigs. For smaller pigs, two strands of wire at snout and ear-tipped height may be sufficient, while bigger or more aggressive breeds may require three or more strands. The lowest wire should be placed 6 inches or less from the ground, with the next wires closely spaced at even intervals up to the height of the pig's nose. For example, 8 inches, 10 inches, and so on. It is important to ensure that the wires are properly spaced to avoid pigs getting their heads between the wires and receiving a shock behind their eyes, which can cause them to push into the fence rather than pull out.
It is also important to ensure that the electric fence is properly charged to provide an effective shock. A low-impedance charger is recommended to overcome any vegetation or mud that may insulate the pigs from the shock. Additionally, a charger with a digital output can help monitor the voltage and identify any issues with the fence.
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Make sure the fence is visible
When installing an electric fence, it is important to ensure that the fence is easy to see. This can be achieved by using electric fence tape, which is designed to enhance the visibility of the fence. Additionally, you can install coated wire, braid, or rope along the perimeter to clearly indicate the location of the electric fencing. This is particularly important to prevent accidental contact with the fence by both people and animals.
To further increase the visibility of the fence, consider the following:
- Use brightly coloured materials: Opt for electric fence tape or rope in bright colours such as white or neon shades. This makes the fence more noticeable and reduces the risk of accidental contact.
- Maintain the area around the fence: Regularly walk along the perimeter of the fence to check for any interfering grass, shrubs, or tall weeds that may be growing close to the wires. These can obstruct the view of the fence and make it less visible.
- Install warning signs: Post visible warning signs on the fence to alert people to the presence of electric fencing. This is especially important if there is a risk of accidental contact by passers-by or if people may need to access the fenced-off area.
- Utilise reflective materials: If the electric fence is in an area with good sunlight exposure, consider using reflective materials or coatings. This will make the fence more visible, especially during the evening or at night.
- Combine with physical barriers: By combining the electric fence with traditional physical fencing or barriers, you can create a more visible and obvious boundary. This can be particularly useful for containing larger animals or in areas with high foot traffic.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively increase the visibility of your electric fence, making it a clear and obvious boundary for both people and animals. This not only enhances the functionality of the fence but also improves safety by reducing the risk of accidental shocks.
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Frequently asked questions
The critical part of the training is to allow the pig to have contact with the hot wire but never be able to get past it or go through the wire. A good way to do this is to put the pig in a training pen with a hot wire and a physical barrier. The pig will quickly learn to get away from the hot wire and not to lounge through it.
An electric fence is a mental barrier, not a physical one. Two little wires would never keep a pig in, but once you train them that they can't get through it, they'll respect the boundaries. To safely contain pigs, you need a fence charger that maintains a minimum of 2,000 volts on the fence line. A low-impedance fence charger is recommended to overcome weeds and to penetrate the mud, which can insulate pigs from electric shock.
For piglets, you'll need wires spaced closer together and lower to the ground than for adult pigs. We recommend a minimum of three strands of wire for adult pigs and a fence height of at least 24 inches. The lowest fence wire should start 6 inches or less from the ground, with the next wires closely spaced at even intervals up to the height of the pig's nose.
