Erm really stupid question but electrified fencing and small children...

[littleredsquirrel]

Presumably not a good idea? Or is it only a very low current?

Really want my hens to have a large area in the woods but also have a two year old!

We used to dare each other to touch the electric fence on my uncle's farm when I was a small child. Older than two though, probably six or seven, so old enough to understand the consequences. I recall that the shock was quite mild though.

Hmm. worried that in his enthusiasm he'll forget..although I guess if its mild that's not too much of a problem - and he'll only do it once!!

yeah we used to dare each other too

funnily enough, my smallest cousin (would've been about 3) would be the one to touch it the most! made her giggle

i wouldn't worry

I have electric fencing for my ponies. Battery run fencing is not that powerful, mains is better but quite powerful. Personally though, I'm a firm believer in 'of they get one shock they won't do it again'! Obviously I would never put a child in danger, but they have to learn, I don't wrap them in cotton wool. I'd have the fencing. My dcs are 14 & 11 they aren't dead yet!

I'm with SOCCP! I've 2 two year olds, a 6 yr old and an 8 yr old and we plan to put electric netting up for the chickens (at the moment it's lying in the garage ) ... if they touch it once, they won't again. Although, if the little ones are in the garden it would be with an adult and in that case, I'd turn the netting off until they're safely back indoors.

I have a 6 year old and a baby and electrified fencing. My 6yo has been fine with it since we put it in (when he was 4)and doesn't touch it. I take the view that it doesn't electrocute the chickens so it's unlikely to harm a small child if they accidentally touch it. But oh how we larfed, when Daddy accidentally electrocuted his bollocks on it when athletically leaping over.

HAHAHAHA!

This is interesting, we are considering it too - I'm wondering how you electrify the actual gate, though? I mean where you go in. Also is it possible to short the fence if a branch or something touches against it?

and LOL at Porridge's DH! Oooowwwww

Depends what sort of gate you have, if you only want a single strand across the opening, any cwg/tackshop/eBay will sell you a gate handle for a couple of quid. You attach it to the end of the wire and put an insulated hook in to hook it into. Fences will short if touched, but if you are having mains electric it shouldn't matter too much. It is best to keep fence wires free of stuff touching, grass and nettles need strimming back.

LOL Porridge at your DH!!

DS touched an electric fence when he was quite young. He said that it made his bones jump. He seems to have survived it, though.

Everytime I see an electric fence I think about the following incident which I'm embarrassed to say made me ROFL at the time.

I once saw a group of boys aged about 7-8 on a school farm trip who were standing by an electric fence whilst listening to the teacher.

Teacher had obviously told them not to touch the fence and why etc but you could see this one boy had 'that look' in his eye that suggested that either he didn't believe her or that it would give him the perfect opportunity to impress/entertain his mates.

Anyway I watched this boy subtly edging closer to the fence and gradually touching it with his wellington boot. Of course, he didn't get the electric shock the teacher had spoken about so cue him gathering together his mates to demonstrate his 'superhero' powers....only he touched it with his hand and did of course get a shock!

He just couldn't understand what had gone wrong. All his mate thought it was hilarious though and needless to say that nobody else touched it.

We've had an electric fence opposite our front door ever since we lived in this house DS1 has never touched it on purpose he's 8 now. DS2(5) has checked it every year since he was 14 months old despite being repeatedly told not to touch it. It doesn't even make him cry and he only does it the once (till next year). DS1 did accidentally brush it with his head this year trying to get a ball out of the cow field, he said it made his teeth chatter but he was laughing about it so I don't think it hurt that much.

It is not lethal or even dangerous. Just a sharp tingle and a mild shock that makes the heart race a bit.

The children will suffer no harm but will learn in the same way as the chickens not to touch the fence.

As long as the child is walking well and understands instructions it is fine.

Anyone wanting electric fencing supplies, I can recommend Farmcare uk website. Very reasonable and good service. I get all of mine from there.

our hens have electric netting and the children soon sussed out that touching it was a bad idea - like the other posters said it is just a tingle but not a nice one! I remember climbing over the fence once when I forgot it was turned on...OUCH!
We have electric strip fencing to seperate goats from sheep and orchard (and garden!!) and this is far more of an ouch than the netting (the goats only try to get over it once!!)

main thing is to make sure guests and children of guests know you have electric fencing..

I remember as kids finding it hilarious to 'tag shock' people. We'd have wellies on and stand in a line with the last person holding the fence, the person of the other end would then tap someone not wearing wellies who thought they were a safe distance from the fence. The other one was to stand on some hold ceiling tiles we had and touch the fence showing howw it wasn't turned on, and convince others to touch it too (who weren't on the tiles).

how long before my 4 dd's suss this game out ?!

Get mains electric fencing. It's a bigger jolt, the game won't last very long! I walked into a strand a while back and got stung in the head! Very interesting sensation!