Electric fencing and kids (human)
- Thread starter Mini-M Ranch
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cw
Ridin' The Range
lol (as i hold myself imangining what that would feel like)(the volts jumpin around inside your love stick)
freemotion
Self Sufficient Queen
I would just make sure the kids were not exposed to the fence for the first time (human kids, that is) when the grass is wet and make sure they don't touch it with their heads. That is too risky.
Once they get that first jolt, they will never touch it again.
When I was a kid we would "test" the fence by holding a long grass blade against the wire and slowly inching it up until we could feel a faint jolt. You can teach them to do this, too. A four-year-old should be able to grasp this. And they probably can't reach the wire anyways....unless they are inside the fence, then they are closely supervised anyways.....right?
Once they get that first jolt, they will never touch it again.
When I was a kid we would "test" the fence by holding a long grass blade against the wire and slowly inching it up until we could feel a faint jolt. You can teach them to do this, too. A four-year-old should be able to grasp this. And they probably can't reach the wire anyways....unless they are inside the fence, then they are closely supervised anyways.....right?
Farmer Kitty
True BYH Addict
Why would you want to teach kids this? What purpose does it serve? Maybe it's because I'm super sensitive to the electricity but, I personally can't see teaching a kid to "test" the fence. They do make testers to do that with.freemotion said:I would just make sure the kids were not exposed to the fence for the first time (human kids, that is) when the grass is wet and make sure they don't touch it with their heads. That is too risky.
Once they get that first jolt, they will never touch it again.
When I was a kid we would "test" the fence by holding a long grass blade against the wire and slowly inching it up until we could feel a faint jolt. You can teach them to do this, too. A four-year-old should be able to grasp this. And they probably can't reach the wire anyways....unless they are inside the fence, then they are closely supervised anyways.....right?
Kids can reach through woven fence to try to pet the animals inside. I'm assuming that is where the OP's concern lies as well as when inside with the animals. You can't always be right there to keep them from grabbing the fence. Hence the need to teach them that it will hurt.
freemotion
Self Sufficient Queen
Because children are intelligent and can learn things, even 4 and 5 year olds. There really is no need to jolt them hard to teach them about the fence, they are not animals. Like all of us adults, they will accidently touch the fence eventually and get smacked. But until then, they can be taught about it in a gentler way, and be taught some cool stuff about electricity and conduction.
My dad was brought up on a working farm and milked four family cows by hand twice a day. Then he went to Northeastern University to become an electrical engineer, and worked for a while at MIT testing rocket guidance systems for NASA. So we kids got lots of lessons when we moved back to the rural area and had farm animals. The most important one was to always hunger for knowledge.
You don't need to be a rocket scientist to teach your kids some basic science. The suggestion was made because it was fun and interesting and it left me with good memories. We also had a fence tester to determine if the fencer was working properly. The grass blades did not replace this.
If the kids reach into a metal fence and touch the wire, they will be grounded and really get socked. If the grass is wet and their heads are touching the fence, they can be seriously injured. I think the grass blade technique will be a safe way to teach them without risk of injury.
My dad was brought up on a working farm and milked four family cows by hand twice a day. Then he went to Northeastern University to become an electrical engineer, and worked for a while at MIT testing rocket guidance systems for NASA. So we kids got lots of lessons when we moved back to the rural area and had farm animals. The most important one was to always hunger for knowledge.
You don't need to be a rocket scientist to teach your kids some basic science. The suggestion was made because it was fun and interesting and it left me with good memories. We also had a fence tester to determine if the fencer was working properly. The grass blades did not replace this.
If the kids reach into a metal fence and touch the wire, they will be grounded and really get socked. If the grass is wet and their heads are touching the fence, they can be seriously injured. I think the grass blade technique will be a safe way to teach them without risk of injury.
Farmer Kitty
True BYH Addict
Ahhh, I see where you are coming from. Yes, kids are smart. Smart enough that just telling them something will hurt if they touch it will probably be enough without them touching it with or without the blade of grass. I know it was with my two and they were a lot younger. I still say it's not necessary but, it is a science experience that they could learn, depending on the children and if they are ready for it. Like I said, I'm extremely sensitive to electricity and feel these kinds of things are not necessary. If they are sensitive, like I am, then it could be like a non-sensitive person touching the fence directly.
Touching today's fencers will hurt but not seriously injure unless they have a medical condition that it would affect i.e. a heart condition.
Touching today's fencers will hurt but not seriously injure unless they have a medical condition that it would affect i.e. a heart condition.
Beekissed
Herd Master
I beg to differ on that point. Most inquisitive kids have to find out for themselves eventually. Oh, they may listen to you while you are standing there, but the moment your back is turned, they just have to see for themselves!
At least, with boys its like that, I don't know about little girls. 
I think the blade of grass thingy is how most country kids try it on for size.... I know I did!
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Mini-M Ranch
Overrun with beasties
Okay, I'm not so much worried that they will just go about willy-nilly touching the fence. If I tell them it bites and not to touch it, they will try not to.
I am talking about accidentally touching the fence when we are visiting the goats, or when they are trying to open the gate, etc. Yes, they would be supervized, but I still can not anticipate their every move. My 4 year old is a firm believer that our animals are to be loved and petted(she even pets our rooster) and I am sure she will forget and try to reach through the fence.
Of course, the safety of my human kids is of the utmost importance. However, I will have a responsibility to keep my goats safe as well. Considering that our neighbors have labradors, I need to keep the goats as secure as possible. The dogs are actually very sweet and don't even both my cat, but that doesn't mean that they will always behave with such good manners.
Would the fence still be effective if I just turn it off whenever we are outside and back on when we go in?
I am talking about accidentally touching the fence when we are visiting the goats, or when they are trying to open the gate, etc. Yes, they would be supervized, but I still can not anticipate their every move. My 4 year old is a firm believer that our animals are to be loved and petted
(she even pets our rooster) and I am sure she will forget and try to reach through the fence.Of course, the safety of my human kids is of the utmost importance. However, I will have a responsibility to keep my goats safe as well. Considering that our neighbors have labradors, I need to keep the goats as secure as possible. The dogs are actually very sweet and don't even both my cat, but that doesn't mean that they will always behave with such good manners.
Would the fence still be effective if I just turn it off whenever we are outside and back on when we go in?
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Overrun with beasties
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yes, that would be fine, and put your mind at ease too, I'll betMini-M Ranch said:Would the fence still be effective if I just turn it off whenever we are outside and back on when we go in?
2468herdsrgr8
Overrun with beasties
Totally agree ! Gee whiz we do that all the time when we have young ones over here...!!!! Just remember to put it back onusername taken said:yes, that would be fine, and put your mind at ease too, I'll betMini-M Ranch said:Would the fence still be effective if I just turn it off whenever we are outside and back on when we go in?
