Pig ignoring the electric fence

We have 2 Feeder IPPs they are 6 months old and one of them (the bigger of the 2) has been busting through our electric fence. We have both a Chicken netting and an interior metal line that goes around on stakes. Right now there are 2 levels 1 is about ground to snout high and the second is  close to shoulder high and the shock is currently showing as 6000 KV. Our energizer can bring 9000 KV and I have seen it on the grounding cable, but the positive charge cable is not bring that into the metal line. I obviously do not want keep the shock that hot for long, but she obviously forgot to respect the fence and I need her to get back in line. We got 4 months left before butcher and I need help getting her to stay in her space and any all help/suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Hi Ryan,

Welcome to Permies.    I don’t use electric fence, but I am sure others here will have ideas to help.

Do you feel the pig has figured out how to jump the electric wire?  If so maybe raise the wires to a different level.

Or maybe you have grass or weeds that are interfering with the current?

Some drastic measures that I have heard of are to string aluminum cans along the wire.  Or put peanut butter on the wire to teach the animal it is there.

Anne Miller wrote:Do you feel the pig has figured out how to jump the electric wire?  If so maybe raise the wires to a different level.

Or maybe you have grass or weeds that are interfering with the current?

Some drastic measures that I have heard of are to string aluminum cans along the wire.  Or put peanut butter on the wire to teach the animal it is there.

Thanks, We weed wack and move them every few weeks to make sure the grass and weeds are not interfering. I am definitely playing with the wire height, but she is also for sure going under the chicken fence by moving it up with her snout. The wire line doesnt give much room and yet somehow she seems to go through the zap. I will try the wire cans see if that helps as wlel.

Hey Ryan, welcome to Permies.

The most accurate way to measure the strength of an electric fence is by joule(s). 6000V at 0.25 joule feels quite different from 6000V at 2.0 joules and very different than 6000V at 13.0 joules. I have several fence energizers on my farm, and I've accidentally shocked myself numerous times on all of them. 0.5 joule is kinda unpleasant on a finger tip, and 2.0 joules hurts, and 13 joules almost knocked me to the ground - I felt it in my chest even though it was the back of my hand that made contact with the fence.

Can you look at your fence energizer and let us know how many joules it produces?

Also, fence "hotness" has several variables in the equation, and when a fence isn't quite working right the most common thing at fault is a poor ground with inadequate ground rod(s). Also, dry soil will reduce an electric fences effectiveness. Another thing to consider is hooves don't conduct electricity as well as padded paw feet. What may keep a fox away may not be enough to have an impact on a pig, goat or cow as examples because of their feet.

If the soil is dry, it is an insulator. Try wetting an area inside the wire so there is deep mud, then putting tasty treats outside the wire. ZZZAAAPPP!

I start my pigs off in a training area, which is small so I don't like to keep them in there long.  It's basically a pig pen with an outside area.  The outside area has two rows of electric rope around it, really hot.  I like the rope because it's white and easy for them to recognize.

Once they're trained to that, I let them into a big area with electric rope around it.  As long as I keep fresh food and water available, they don't even try the fence.  One time I did let the water run out, a couple of them got out.

I will say that a couple years ago, I had a couple pigs from a local guy and they were quite wild.  I did the usual training to the fence, they respected it while we were looking, then ran down the road.  I tried multiple times and ended up selling them for about what we paid for them.

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:If the soil is dry, it is an insulator. Try wetting an area inside the wire so there is deep mud, then putting tasty treats outside the wire. ZZZAAAPPP!

They know the wire his hot and wont go try and eat the food. Apparently they are smart enough to not go after the food and "open a door" and let her self out.

I think based on this and others it could be about where the wires are placed and maybe I just need a third level.

James Freyr wrote:Hey Ryan, welcome to Permies.

The most accurate way to measure the strength of an electric fence is by joule(s). 6000V at 0.25 joule feels quite different from 6000V at 2.0 joules and very different than 6000V at 13.0 joules. I have several fence energizers on my farm, and I've accidentally shocked myself numerous times on all of them. 0.5 joule is kinda unpleasant on a finger tip, and 2.0 joules hurts, and 13 joules almost knocked me to the ground - I felt it in my chest even though it was the back of my hand that made contact with the fence.

Can you look at your fence energizer and let us know how many joules it produces?

Also, fence "hotness" has several variables in the equation, and when a fence isn't quite working right the most common thing at fault is a poor ground with inadequate ground rod(s). Also, dry soil will reduce an electric fences effectiveness. Another thing to consider is hooves don't conduct electricity as well as padded paw feet. What may keep a fox away may not be enough to have an impact on a pig, goat or cow as examples because of their feet.

so i just reread this and checked out the Joules and it is only 1.2 joule energizer. Really struggling to keep these pigs in again. I had it going well for a bit but then I had to move them again and it went awry.