Electric Fencing

courtesy of F& E Fencing

            The long winter of Alaska is coming to an end. Are you starting to think about the fencing that needs to be done this season around the ranch? Whether you're improving upon an existing fence or planning to build new fencing there are some things you should keep in mind. The type of fencing used, the purpose of the fence, the level of security needed, the attractiveness, amount of maintenance, and the cost, should all be considered.

            Wood fencing may be attractive but has many disadvantages for keeping horses in. Mainly the problem of rubbing and wood chewing. A horse can go for years without having so much as a nibble on the fence. Then overnight, one or more of the animals decides to chew the place down, and it looks as though a herd of beavers have attacked. Boards may become splintered when a horse runs into it or attempts to jump the fence. Nails or other fasteners often protrude or work out, thus offering still another hazard. Wooden fences should be inspected frequently and maintained regularly. Wood fencing is beautiful, but costly.

            Electrical fencing has become more popular in recent years. It can be the most economical means of keeping your horses fenced in. Horses will stay away from electric fence without any problems if it is installed properly. Advantages of electric fencing are many; no more rubbing or chewing on the fence means less maintenance. Most problems occur when people fail to leave the chargers on all the time or don't have the system grounded properly. In Alaska grounding the fence can present problems, snow can drift over the lower wires and cause a ground fault. The best way to ground the fence when installing it is to have three good grounding rods placed five feet deep in series. Also using a negative wire between your hot wires will increase the performance of the system. (see illustration) It's a good idea to talk to someone who can help you determine your needs and properly install the system.

One of the most popular type is the wide ribbon fencing. The ribbon is made of many small wires meshed with a durable plastic in sizes from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches wide and comes in dark brown or white. The ribbon works the same as regular wire and is very strong and durable. When used with sleeves to cover the T-posts or wood posts it looks very attractive. Another advantage to Alaskans is that the ribbon is more visible (verses regular wire) and moose tend to go around it, or jump it, rather than run through it.

            There is a big selection in the type of chargers available on the market today and the type you need depends on many factors such as the length of fencing needed and the fencing professionals at F & E Fence Co. can help you determine what your needs are.

Next month: Pipe fencing, how to compare, things to consider and how to judge quality.