7 Supplies for Setting Up Electric Netting Fences
Learn about the seven essential supplies for electric netting fences, from energizers to ground rods, ensuring a safe, reliable setup for your livestock.
Setting up a temporary electric net fence can transform rotational grazing and predator protection on a small homestead, provided every component works seamlessly together. A single weak link in your fence line—whether a lax ground rod or an undersized energizer—can cause voltage drops that invite unwanted pests or let livestock escape. Equipping your setup with reliable, compatible gear ensures your animals stay safe and your grass stays managed without constant troubleshooting.
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Planning Your Portable Electric Net Fence Layout
Layout planning prevents sagging net lines and short circuits against tall vegetation. Mapping the perimeter beforehand helps determine exactly how many rolls of net and extra support posts are necessary for irregular terrain.
Clear a path before unrolling any net. Walking the line with a brush cutter or lawnmower removes tall weeds and woody stems that bleed off power when touching the bottom energized strands.
Keep paddocks simple in shape—rectangles or large curves reduce tension at corner posts. Sharp 90-degree angles put excessive strain on netting step-in posts, pulling the fence down over time.
Choosing the Right Power Source for Your Fence
Energizers dictate fence performance, and portable netting requires significantly more joules than single-strand wire fences. Netting contains multiple horizontal lines linked together, creating continuous electrical resistance and high vegetation draw.
Solar energizers offer maximum portability across scattered pasture plots, while plug-in units excel when grazing stays near outbuildings. Stored joule ratings must match the total linear feet of netting rather than basic single-wire pasture estimates.
Always select a unit with output capacity that exceeds minimum livestock thresholds. Predators like foxes and coyotes require high peak voltage—typically at least 4,000 to 5,000 volts on the net—to build an effective psychological barrier.
Electric Netting – Premier 1 PoultryNet 12/42/3
Easily contain poultry and deter predators with this portable 48" electric fence. Its quick setup and 2" x 3" mesh keep birds in and unwanted animals out.
Netting serves as the primary physical and electrical barrier, confining poultry, sheep, or goats while excluding ground predators like foxes and raccoons. Without a well-designed mesh roll, maintaining structural height across uneven ground is virtually impossible.
The Premier 1 PoultryNet 12/42/3 features 12 horizontal strands, a 42-inch height, and close 3-inch horizontal stake spacing. Pre-molded vertical plastic struts prevent sagging between posts far better than limp string mesh, keeping the net upright across varied pasture terrain.
Bottom strands are non-conductive to prevent grounding out on damp soil, but damp weeds leaning against higher strands will still draw down power. Standard 100-foot rolls weigh under 20 pounds, making them manageable to move and set up single-handedly.
Ideal for homesteaders moving small flocks or herds through rotational paddocks. It is not suitable for tiny chicks that can slip through 3-inch mesh gaps, nor for permanent perimeter boundary lines exposed to heavy snowpack.
Solar Energizer – Gallagher S100 Solar Charger
Power up to 4 miles of fence with the Gallagher S12 Solar Electric Fence Charger. This portable and durable energizer features a built-in solar panel and earthing system for easy setup and reliable 24/7 power.
A solar charger converts stored battery energy into high-voltage pulses, delivering effective shocks along the netting without requiring access to an electrical grid outlet. Portable power allows you to establish temporary paddocks anywhere sunlight hits.
The Gallagher S100 Solar Charger delivers 1.0 stored joule, capable of energizing up to 4 rolls of electric netting simultaneously. Its rugged, weather-resistant case integrates a solar panel and internal lithium battery into a single top-handle unit built for field moves.
Solar panel orientation matters; mount it facing south with zero shade obstruction from tree lines or buildings. In deep winter conditions with short daylight hours, monitoring battery levels becomes a mandatory weekly routine.
Best suited for part-time farmers who move paddocks frequently across remote pastures. It is excessive for a single 50-foot garden border, but undersized for multi-acre commercial grazing operations.
Ground Rod – Zareba Galvanized Steel Ground Rod
The ground rod completes the electrical circuit when an animal touches the fence. Current flows from the net, through the animal, into the soil, and back up the ground rod to the energizer to deliver a memorable shock.
The Zareba Galvanized Steel Ground Rod provides a durable, rust-resistant ground connection with its 6-foot length and 5/8-inch thickness. Galvanized coatings withstand repeated driving into dense soil without flaking off like copper-clad alternatives.
Dry or sandy soil impairs conductivity, often requiring multiple rods chained in series using heavy gauge wire. Use a zinc-plated ground rod clamp to maintain tight contact between energizer lead wires and the rod.
Essential for any portable electric setup powered by energizers rated over 0.5 joules. It is unnecessary for tiny low-output garden energizers, but mandatory for high-voltage netting systems.
Fence Tester – Cyclops Digital Fault Finder
A fault finder measures exact line voltage and indicates the directional path of electrical shorts along the net line. This tool eliminates guesswork when voltage drops unexpectedly across a pasture run.
The Cyclops Digital Fault Finder reads precise digital voltage numbers while displaying arrow indicators pointing directly toward shorts caused by weeds or grounding faults. Its backlit screen allows early morning or dusk voltage checks.
Unlike basic light-up testers, this digital meter shows small voltage drops down to specific numerical increments. Keep it in a coat pocket or tool apron during daily livestock checks.
Indispensable for anyone operating two or more rolls of netting. It is less vital for a single small garden enclosure where visual inspection takes less than a minute.
Support Posts – Field Guardian Heavy Duty Post
Support posts strengthen corner points, ends, and sagging mid-sections of the netting where standard built-in posts lack rigidity. Reinforced corners maintain net height and prevent fence collapse.
Field Guardian Heavy Duty Posts feature heavy fiberglass shafts with adjustable UV-stabilized clips that hold net lines taut without wearing out under sun exposure. Step-in stirrup bases allow easy installation in firm ground.
Drive posts into the ground at an outward angle on corners to act as guy-line anchors. Position clips carefully to avoid pinching and snapping internal stainless steel conductive filaments inside the netting strands.
Crucial for setups installed on undulating terrain, windy ridges, or tight turns. Unnecessary on perfectly flat, straight pasture runs with low wind exposure.
Jumper Cables – Premier 1 Alligator Clips Set
Jumper cables transfer electrical current safely between separate net rolls or from energizer leads to the netting and ground rod. Solid connections ensure power flows continuously throughout the entire paddock perimeter.
The Premier 1 Alligator Clips Set utilizes heavy-duty insulated wire paired with stainless steel clips designed to grip top strands and ground rods tightly without slipping off under wind vibration. High-visibility wire jackets reduce tripping hazards near connection points.
Exposed bare wire clips can short out if allowed to dangle against soil or wet vegetation. Keep connections elevated off the ground by clipping higher up on net posts.
A must-have accessory when connecting two or more fence rolls together. Not needed if operating a single standalone net roll connected directly to energizer leads.
Warning Sign – Dare Products Electric Fence Sign
Warning signs provide a clear visual alert to visitors, neighbors, and children that the netting carries a painful electrical shock. Clear notification reduces legal liability and prevents accidental human contact.
The Dare Products Electric Fence Sign uses high-visibility yellow plastic with bold, weather-proof lettering that snaps directly onto standard netting line strands. Its UV-resistant plastic prevents fading and embrittlement after seasonal sun exposure.
Position signs every 30 to 50 feet along public roads, shared property lines, or near farm pathways. Check plastic clips periodically, as high winds can detach loosely attached signs.
Mandatory for property boundaries, community garden plots, and small farms near residential zones. Optional inside fully private, enclosed interior pastures away from public traffic.
How to Properly Ground Your Electric Net System
Grounding accounts for the vast majority of electric fence failures on small farms. When an animal contacts the net, juice flows through its body into the damp soil, searching for a path back to the ground rod to complete the electrical loop.
Drive the ground rod completely into moist earth near the energizer, leaving only an inch exposed for clamp attachment. In dry summer spells, pour a bucket of water around the ground rod base weekly to preserve soil conductivity.
For extended multi-net setups, space secondary ground rods 10 feet apart and connect them with insulated 20-gauge copper or steel wire. Never attach fence grounds to household plumbing or utility ground poles.
Daily Maintenance Tips for Maintaining Voltage
Check line voltage daily using your digital fault finder at the furthest point from the energizer. Target a minimum reading of 4,000 volts for livestock and 6,000 volts for predator exclusion.
Walk the fence perimeter to kick away encroaching weeds, fallen branches, or sagging netting strands. A single heavy weed touching an energized horizontal strand can drop fence power by thousands of volts within hours.
Inspect connection points between rolls to ensure alligator clips remain free from rust, mud, and corrosion. Tight, clean metal-to-metal contacts prevent energy loss across paddock expansions.
Final Checklist for Livestock Netting Success
Success with portable netting rests on discipline and systematic setup routines. Before releasing animals into a new paddock, verify that all posts are standing vertical, line tension is even, and corner support stakes are firmly anchored.
Run a final voltage check along the far end of the net line before walking away. Training naive livestock to respect the fence inside a smaller, high-voltage paddock first prevents costly fence trampling later.
Store nets properly when taking them out of rotation by stepping posts out in sequence and folding mesh like an accordion. Clean, tangle-free storage ensures your next paddock move remains fast, efficient, and stress-free.
With the right combination of high-output energizers, durable netting, and proper grounding, temporary electric fencing becomes one of the most versatile tools on your farm. Taking time to source reliable components pays off every time you effortlessly move stock to fresh grass.
