Fencing

Energiser output should be matched to the length of fence line and the number of wire or netting strands you're running, plus a margin for vegetation contact and future expansion. As a rule of thumb, undersizing leads to a weak pulse and poor animal control, so it's better to size up slightly than run an energiser at its limit. If you're unsure, get in touch with your fence length and livestock type and we'll help you pick the right output.

Yes — a 12V leisure battery paired with a battery energiser is the standard setup for fields without mains power. Runtime depends on the energiser's power draw and battery capacity, but a fully charged leisure battery will typically run a fence for several weeks between charges. Adding a solar panel kit extends this considerably and is worth considering for permanent or remote installations.

Electric netting is a fast, flexible option for strip grazing, poultry or temporary sheep and goat enclosures, as it's quick to move and gives a visible physical barrier as well as a shock deterrent. Wire (whether steel or conductive polywire/tape) is better suited to permanent or semi-permanent boundaries and larger stock such as cattle and horses, where a solid, long-lasting run is needed. Most farms end up using a combination of both depending on the job.

A fence tester tells you the actual voltage running through the line, which is the only reliable way to know if your fence is delivering a strong enough deterrent to livestock. Simply clip the earth lead to a ground stake or metal post and touch the probe to the wire — a healthy fence should read at least several thousand volts. Regular testing helps you catch faults like vegetation contact, broken wires or poor earthing before they become a containment problem.

Our fencing kits typically bundle an energiser, netting or wire, posts and the basic connectors needed to get a fence up and running without having to source each component separately. They're a practical starting point if you're new to electric fencing or setting up a straightforward paddock, run or poultry enclosure. If your setup is larger or more complex — long runs, mixed livestock, multiple zones — it's worth speaking to us first, as a kit may not cover everything you need.

Good earthing is essential to a well-performing fence, as a poor earth return is one of the most common causes of a weak shock. Use galvanised earth stakes driven fully into moist soil, spaced a few metres apart and connected in series, with more stakes needed on dry or sandy ground. As a guide, allow roughly one metre of earth stake per joule of energiser output, and check connections regularly for corrosion.