Deer, coyotes, and weasels aren’t just pests, they can inflict a lot of damage to plants or livestock. This normally happens when they invade your yard or garden. One option is to keep the pests out with an electric fence.
Keeping Pests Out With Electric Fence: 8 Pros and Cons: An electric fence is a pretty effective barrier to keep pests out of your yard or garden. There are pros and cons to an electric fence. Here’s a quick look:
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Let’s take a more in-depth look at the pros and cons of keeping pests out with an electric fence.
How Does an Electric Fence Work?
The best place to start in our research is to explain how an electric fence works. Take a look at how an electric fence is effective:
- An energizer turns power from a main source or battery into a high voltage pulse.
- The energizer releases the pulse into the fence line.
- An animal touches the fence and feels the pulse or shock. The animal touching the fence gets shocked because it completes the electrical circuit.
In order for an electric fence to work, you need to make sure a few things are in place otherwise it probably won’t work or worse, you’ll hurt someone or get hurt yourself.
Required Equipment For Electric Fences
- Fence charger
- Fenceline
- Fence posts
- Insulators
- Ground rod
- Hookup wires
So, what exactly is each of these things? Here’s a brief description of each.
Electric Fence Controller and Charger
One of the most important parts of an electric fence is powering it. A controller provides power to an electric fence. There are three types of controllers available and each has its own purpose:
- AC Powered Controller
- DC Powered Controller
- Solar Powered Controller
When choosing a controller, there are several things to consider. You will want to decide how you are going to power the fence. Electric fences don’t take a lot of electricity to maintain, but the more regular your power, the more reliably they will work.
Let’s go over the differences between these. You can also see my recommended controllers on my Best Fences Resource page.
AC Powered Controller
An AC Powered Controller is the best option if you have electricity that is available near your fence. AC powered controllers will cover the most amount of land for the lowest price.
They will usually be less maintenance because you will not need to change batteries or worry about the weather affecting your fence.
DC Powered Controller
A DC Powered Controller is a battery-powered controller. There are many types of DC Controllers, but I would recommend purchasing one with a removable battery.
You will also want to get a battery charger to charge the battery away from the fence.
That will make it possible for you to charge the battery at home and change it out on your fence without much of an interruption in coverage.
Another option is to add a solar charger to your fence to recharge the battery.
- DC Powered Controller
- At least 2 batteries: One for use on the fence and one for recharging at home or work
- Battery charger at home or work
- Or Solar chargers on the fence
Solar Powered Controller
A Solar Powered Controller will recharge your batteries through the sunlight. Solar chargers can recharge fences in less than ideal sunlit conditions, but they aren’t as effective.
If you are considering a solar-powered charger, there are several factors to consider. The biggest factor is how many sunny days your area has.
Although cloudy days can provide some power, if you have poorer weather, it will make it harder to keep your fence charged.
Another factor to consider is how far north you live. Winter days mean drastically fewer hours of sunlight to charge your fence.
Yet, winter is often when predators get more desperate for food.
Another factor to consider is how often your fence is touched by animals. The more often it shocks an animal, the more power you will need.
- How many hours of sunlight do you have on average?
- Consider each season.
- How many days a season do you have direct sunlight?
- If winter is your darkest season, how many days are sunny on average?
- How many days of storms do you usually have in a row? Will there be weeks of storms that you will need to supplement your solar power supply to keep your fence functioning?
- How severe is your predator problems? The more frequently the fence is touched, the more power you will need.
- Colder and more barren seasons usually bring more predators looking for food.
I live in the Northern United States. In the winter, our daylight hours (at best) are only about 8-9 hours long. It will become light a little before 8 and be nearly dark by 5.
And that’s only if it’s sunny and not stormy or cloudy.
If you live in an area that gets less optimal sunlight in the winter, or other seasons, you will need to purchase more solar chargers than the packaging says to keep your fence charged.
Electric Fence Line
You’ll need a reel of fence line. Aluminum wire is the best choice because it’s easy to work with and highly conductive. In a pinch polytape, poly rope, or polywire can be used as well.
You’ll want to decide the layout of your electric fence before buying supplies so you have the correct amounts. A rectangle or square layout works best. Add up the lengths of the sides to find your initial amount, then multiply by the number of vertical rows you need.
You might think that if the perimeter of your property is 5 miles, you need 5 miles of coverage.
But, that’s only if you are running a single wire around your land.
If you run 2 wires, then you will need 10 miles of coverage. If you run 3, you will need 15 miles.
At a minimum, most electric fences use at least 2 horizontal rows. If you have both small and large pests to keep out, you will probably need 3 rows.
This post will cover how to determine how many vertical rows you need.
Electric Fence Posts
You can pick whatever type of fence posts you want but these are what you’ll run your wire between. Some options are T-posts, round posts, fiberglass, wood, or plastic posts.
Some of these options are more permanent than others. A semi-permanent post means you can move it later if you decide to change the boundaries of your fence. You’ll want to put posts every 10 to 20-feet.
The type of post you choose can also make a difference in how stable it is and how easy it is to install.
Let’s cover a few examples.
T Posts are my favorite type of posts. They work well for almost any type of soil and conditions. They are also less expensive than most types of posts. In my area, a T Post costs between $4-6 a post.
A post setter pounds the post into the soil, and you are ready to run your wire.
Wooden Posts can be inexpensive if you already have them on your property or have access to wood. In other words, if you are able to salvage some or reuse them, then by all means use a wooden post.
Wooden posts usually need a hole dug to set the post. A 6 foot fence would need a 9 foot post that was set 3 feet into the ground for good stability.
It can be a little more of a pain to dig in rocky or compact soil, but a wooden post is usually stable once it’s set.
Fiberglass Posts are online type of post I’m not that familiar with. I would check the durability of a fiberglass post and make sure that it will withstand your weather conditions. Check the strength and price.
In some locations, fiberglass posts may be more readily available and maybe a cheaper and useful option to use.
Plastic or Vinyl Posts are something I sadly, have experience with.
I know that vinyl fences look adorable. They look like a cleaner, nicer version of that whole white picket fence idea that is in so many people’s ideal home dreams.
But, they are a nightmare if you have kids, animals, or any kind of wind in your area.
Vinyl fences break like crazy. A strong windstorm in my area will break several of my vinyl fence rails.
We already had the vinyl fence when we purchased the house. Someone before us had drilled electric fence insulators into the posts.
As a result, we now have huge cracks and holes in all of our vinyl fence posts.
Do not use vinyl fence posts for your electric fence unless you want a lot of continual repairs and expenses to maintain the appearance, and effectiveness of your fence.
It would be better to run a second set of posts next to your vinyl fence for the practical fencing to keep animals in or out of an area.
- T Posts: Metal posts with a small T to stabilize it when pounded into the ground. Stable, easy to install, and can be used for permanent use or temporary fences
- Wood Posts: Usually used for permanent fences. Need a hole dug to set the post in.
- Fiberglass Post: Will these crack or break if you set it with a post setter? I’m not sure.
- Plastic or Vinyl Post: One of the worst solutions for an electric fence due to their easy cracking and breaking with any amount of pressure.
Electric Fence Insulator
You’ll also need a fence insulator to prevent power loss. You need to make sure to match the insulator to the type of post and line you’re using. You can usually find what you need by typing in the type of post and wire in the search box.
There are specific insulators that slide or clip onto a T Post. These are easy to use. There are other fence insulators that can be nailed onto a wooden post.
Many of them can be dual purpose so if you have a variety of posts, you can still use the same insulators.
The insulator protects the fence from the current. It will usually be plastic since plastic won’t conduct electricity.
Wood posts won’t either, but nails used to tack the wire into place will and your fence won’t be as accurate or safe. It can be a fire hazard if the wood gets too hot.
Insulators keep the live wire from other parts of the fence so it stays safe and the current strong.
Electric Ground Rods
A ground rod helps the electricity complete the circuit from the charger, through the fence wire, into the ground, and back to the charger. If you don’t have a ground rod, you don’t have a working electrical fence.
You may need multiple rods if your fence is very large.
You’ll drive the ground rod into the ground and then attach wires from the rod to your charger.
Hookup Wire
Hookup wire is essential for safety. It allows you to connect one part of the fence to another without posing a risk of accidental shock. An insulated sleeve goes around the wire and makes it easy to attach to the ground rod, the charger, and the fence wire.
Pros of an Electric Fence
Now that you know how an electric fence work and what you need to put one together, let’s dive into the pros of having an electric fence. Here’s a look at those pros again:
- Effective
- Less impact visually
- Reasonable cost
- Works on different terrain
Electric Fences Are Very Effective
The first and probably most important pro of having an electric fence is that it’s pretty effective at keeping pests out. If that’s your main goal, an electric fence will accomplish it.
The electric fence works best when a pest knows it’s there. Since they can’t see it, it might take a couple shocks to get your point across.
The best way to do this is to put peanut butter or some other appealing treat on the fence as soon as you set it up. The animal will come over, lick it, and get shocked. Now, the pest knows it’s there.
You’ll soon be able to embrace a yard free of waste and a garden that can flourish.
Electric Fences Are Impact Visually Intrusive
Electric fences are sometimes called invisible fences for the obvious reason that you can’t see them. Obviously, if a pest can’t see the electric fence then people can’t either. This means it’s not an eyesore in your yard and has much less impact visually than a tall, wood fence or even a wrought iron fence.
If those outside your yard can’t see an electric fence, it also means it doesn’t impact your view. Imagine sitting in your backyard trying to enjoy a beautiful sunset with an 8-foot tall fence right smack in the middle of your view. An electric fence solves that problem.
An electric fence may also help you get around some local ordinances against large fences. There’s also the plus that you don’t have to worry about opening or shutting a gate.
Electric Fences Are One Of The Lowest Cost Fences
An electric fence is also very reasonably priced. There are certainly less expensive fencing options but those might be a no-go for you for a couple reasons.
First, depending on what type of neighborhood you live in, you might be required to use certain materials on your fence, not just the cheapest options.
But, if you are living in a neighborhood with an HOA, an electric fence is probably not needed or a great option. Residential areas aren’t usually the best areas for electrical fences because of the higher number of kids around.
Electric fences are usually used in more rural areas.
Some people believe that an electric fence will cost them too much in electricity but this isn’t the case. You’ll only use a few cents worth of electricity a day, at worst four to five dollars a month.
Electric fences are also pretty low maintenance, which means over time, you’ll save money in that department as well.
Electric Fences Are One Of The Most Adaptable Fences For Different Terrain
An electric fence also gives you a lot more freedom on where you set up your boundaries. While many wood or iron fences only work on flat or gently sloping yards, an electric fence works on just about any terrain.
You can cross hilly spots, heavily treed areas, and even water. You can also set up the fence in any design you choose to make sure your coverage is the best possible for you.
Cons of an Electric Fence
As with anything in this world, along with the pros of an electric fence come some cons. Here’s a look at some of the cons that might come up when it comes to keeping pests out with an electric fence:
- Learning period
- Not foolproof
- Causes discomfort
- Maintenance required
Learning Period
As we mentioned before, unlike a physical fence that a pest can see, the little critters have to learn the electric fence is there since they can’t actually see it.
If you want a fix and you want it now, an electric fence may not be for you. It might take critters a few times of getting shocked to finally stay out. Of course, they might also turn and run as soon as they get shocked.
Requires Electricity To Work
It seems like a no-brainer, but if you lose power to your fence, it won’t work. That could happen in a variety of ways.
If you are using solar-powered controllers, then poor weather could disable your fence.
Additionally, winds, storms, or other adverse weather could knock your fence down or blow a tree or other obstacle against the fence.
If the fence circuit is broken, it will disable the current until the circuit is completed.
Not Foolproof
Unfortunately, an electric fence is not foolproof. While it almost always does its job, there may be times when the power supply is interrupted for some reason. If the fence doesn’t have power, it doesn’t have electricity.
Also, while most animals are deterred by the shock, it wouldn’t be unheard of to get some wild animals that for whatever reason isn’t phased by the shock and just goes barging through the wires anyways. It’s not likely, but it could happen.
Causes Discomfort
Some people don’t like the idea of “hurting” an animal, even a pest. The truth is the jolt doesn’t usually last for more than 0.0003 seconds. That is very, very quick. There are a couple reasons for the very short jolt.
First, no one wants to seriously injure an animal even if they are a pest. The shock is simply to send a warning and make the area unattractive. Second, the short jolt keeps heat and sparks from building up and becoming a fire hazard. A hot wire also wears out more quickly, so this way, your equipment lasts longer.
Most fences also include an audible warning, like a beep, before sending the jolt. So, if the pest is smart enough, it can turn and run before getting shocked.
Maintenance Required
While an electric fence is relatively low maintenance, it’s not maintenance-free. The effectiveness of your electric fence depends on some routine maintenance on your part.
You have to keep the weeds or other nature from touching the fence. If too many weeds touch the fence it may lower the voltage produced from the fence.
You also have to keep an eye out for broken insulators or other issues that may affect the voltage traveling through the fence. The shock is relatively minor as it is, so if it loses any power, it simply may not be strong enough to deter a pest.
So, a quick look every week or so is necessary to keep your electric fence running smoothly.
How Much Electric Fence Do I Need?
If you decide to use an electric fence to keep pests out, you want to set your fence up correctly to stop the pests. That depends on which pests are invading your yard. Here’s a look at some of the most common pests:
- Raccoons
- Opossums
- Rabbits
- Groundhogs
- Squirrels
- Cats
- Deer
Check out this table for the best wire set up to prevent these pests from getting into your yard:
| Animal | Wire Setup |
| Raccoons and opossums | One wire placed 4 to 6 inches above ground level |
| Rabbits | Three to five wires placed four inches apart with the first wire placed at four inches |
| Groundhogs | One wire placed at four-inches |
| Squirrels | Three to five wires placed four inches apart with the first wire placed at four inches. Must take into account overhanging tree limbs or other climbing options |
| Cats | Two wires spaced six-inches apart with the first one placed at six-inches |
| Deer | Seven to nine wires spaced 10-inches apart with the top wire at least 70-inches above ground |
How Much Voltage Do I Need For My Electric Fence?
The amount of voltage that you use in your fence will depend primarily on the size of the animal you are trying to contain or keep out.
Larger animals need between 2-4,000 volts to keep out of an area. Bulls and bison are more aggressive and more likely to continue to push against the fence. You will need 3-4 thousand volts to control them. You may need extra shock to control a particularly determined bull.
Cows will test the fence, but if they have enough pasture and plenty of room, they will need 2-3 thousand volts. Cows can be controlled with as little as 1 strand if they have enough space, but up to 3 might be needed, depending on the number of cows in the pasture. Horses also only need 2-3 thousand volts, but you should use 2” poly tape or high tensile wire. Horses need 3-5 strands.
In general, medium animals require at least 4-5 thousand volts to keep out. This includes deer, sheep, and goats. Predators such as foxes, wolves, bears, coyotes and others are usually kept out with 4-5,000 volts. This is a higher amount so that it is a stronger deterrent against the hunger of the predator.
Pigs need 3-4 wires that are closer to the ground. The lowest wire should be about 6 inches above the ground. The voltage for pigs should be about 2,000 volts.
Small pests such as rabbits, skunks, weasels, coyotes, and small foxes will need between 1-2,000 volts. The spacing of the wire should be closer together as little as 6 inches apart.
If you are looking to keep out the neighbor’s pets or keep yours inside, then you should use 3-4 wires that are charged between 700 and 1,000 volts. This will keep from hurting the pets but will shock them enough to keep them away.
Birds, such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks can be contained with 500-900 volts.
- Bulls and Bison: 3,000-4,000 volts. 4 strands minimum.
- Cows: 2,000-3,000 volts. 1-3 strands if they have plenty of pasture.
- Deer: 4,000-5,000 volts. 7+ strands
- Sheep/Goats: 4,000-5,000 volts. 4-6 strands
- Predators: 4,000-5,000. Multiple strands, spaced 6-8 inches apart.
- Horses: 2,000-3,000 volts. Use 3-5 strands of Poly Tape.
- Pigs: 2,000 volts. 3-4 wires starting at 6 inches above the ground.
- Rabbits, foxes, skunks, weasels, and other small pests: 1,000-2,000 volts. 3-4 wires starting close to the ground.
- Cats and Dogs: 700-1,000 volts. 3-4 wires 6 inches from the ground.
- Poultry: 500-900 volts.
Why Do Horses Need Poly Tape Fences?
Horses have worse depth perception than other animals. Poly Tape is thicker and easier for horses to see the fence line. This helps them to avoid the electric fence and to stay safe.
Poly Tape fencing wire was created specifically for horses. It breaks apart if hit by a panicked animal and won’t cut or splice their skin. It also helps to prevent the chewing that horses love to do to fences.
Conclusion
Electric fencing can sound scary to some people, especially if you don’t have any experience with it. But, if done right, it is a safe, effective, and affordable alternative to other fencing options. It is usually used in more rural settings unless used for a specific area such as to protect a garden from specific pests. To see my recommendations for the best supplies, check out my Best Fences Resource Page.
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