RangerClay Posted April 28, 2012 Report Share Posted April 28, 2012 Thanks to the generous help of Tominator (Chris) I've finally got the nack of growing sweet corn. However the last few years the coons have been destroying the fruits of my labor. I've tried shooting and trapping but for every one I eradicate, two more come to the funeral. Poison is out of the question so I am buiding a fence. So here is a question for my gardening cohorts here on the forums. Should I use a 3 or 4 foot fence? The cost between a 3 and 4 footer is significant. I don't have a problem with deer. Does anyone else here have to fight off coons in their corn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted April 28, 2012 Report Share Posted April 28, 2012 Joe I don't know that a fence will solve your problem. I would start cheap with a fence charger and see how that went for you first. You can put up a couple strands of wire fast and cheap compared to other fences. 10,000 volts will get their attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted April 28, 2012 Report Share Posted April 28, 2012 Not sure a fence will work either as they will climb the wire or posts to get in. We have an electric fence with around 8,500 volts going through it at the end of the wire and 10,000 at the beginning and it keeps the deer at bay, but not the small critters. Might try an owl decoy or noise. We had a problem with coons getting into the chicken house after the baby chicks. We put a radio outside the house and let it play and no more problem. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailfreak55 Posted April 28, 2012 Report Share Posted April 28, 2012 A farmer I used to work for used a single strand of the cloth type electric fence a foot off the ground had that thing going all the time at 8000 Watts. Never had a problem with coons and had the beat sweetcorn around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 29, 2012 Report Share Posted April 29, 2012 Electric fence WILL work for coons, ask Chris. lol. Get some t posts Joe and run a couple strands of wire, all it takes is a cheap fence charger. Make the lowest wire at the height it would hit a coon on the nose and the next a few inches higher. We have fried a number of possums on our fence, coons I guess are a little smarter or maybe they are a little tougher, have not had any of them to be electrocuted that I know of yet. We never lose any corns to the masked bandits since using an electric fence around our garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted April 29, 2012 Report Share Posted April 29, 2012 (edited) Joe, the fence could be 12' high and the coons will either climb over it or dig under it. The elec fence is an option. You could check with: www.keystonepestsolutions.com also and see if they have something that meets your needs. You could also buy my corn planter and plant another hundred acres and not worry about it. LOL Lynn Joe, after I put this website on here I clicked onto it and couldn't find what you would want. Maybe you can. I've seen a spray repellant for coons before somewhere. I'll keep looking when I get a little more time. We've got a few minutes of sunshine so i have work to do. Got to tear out a beaver dam and hope to shoot a couple. Try googeling coon repellant. Good luck, Lynn Edited April 29, 2012 by LETMGROW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted April 29, 2012 Report Share Posted April 29, 2012 Like an Amishman told me.................generally if ya kill 'em once they won't get in your corn no more. :clown: I could loan you what I use to keep the critters outta my stuff........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted April 29, 2012 Report Share Posted April 29, 2012 yep. no way a fence will keep them out. a greenhouse would, for a while. but a coon will soon dig in or under a greenhouse. get an electric fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted April 29, 2012 Report Share Posted April 29, 2012 Small Animal : Pet by Havahart < Electric Fence Chargers |Fi-Shock Piece of cake to install battery powered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 Regular ol' fence won't work. Electric does. Zareba® 3 Mile Solar Low Impedance Fence Charger - 3604308 | Tractor Supply Company There's what I started using 2 years ago. Final straw was losing a whole plot except for 3 ears one night! One night, they cleaned my last plot. I run 3 strands. first about 3" off the ground, 2nd one about 5" off the ground, then a top strand about 4 feet off the ground. Since installing the fence, I haven't lost too much at all. They will eventually find a way in. I don't know if they send a sacrificial coon to take the shock while the others get in, or if they've timed the shock sequence or just got lucky, I don't know, but the electric does work pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 They will eventually find a way in. I don't know if they send a sacrificial coon to take the shock while the others get in, or if they've timed the shock sequence or just got lucky, I don't know, but the electric does work pretty good. They watched Ocean's 11. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted May 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Looks like I'm investing in an electric fence. I've done a little shopping and I've found a couple 5 acre units.Thanks everyone for your help. You are all welcome to come enjoy sweet corn with me this August! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 If it helps, I got a unit at Lowe's for around 24 bucks. I think it was a Fi-Shock. Works well. Had a smaller "pet-safe" unit one time, and my dogs would run through it. Get something that at least has a picture of a cow on the front, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Got an old old fence charger here, dunno how it would compare to some of these newer ones. Our coop has a pretty good selection of fence stuff and parts, if you have a coop, would see what they have available. Dunno if you have tractor supply stores up your way, but they seem to have pretty reasonable prices too might be worth checking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Joe, if you put the elec. fence up, don't relieve yourself on it. I remember Brian's granddad had a fence attached to the old barn right next to the back doors. I think the charger was capable of creating enough voltage to light a small town. I had to go one day and stepped out the door and WOW! Lesson learned and never forgotten. I'll bet Brian's dad remembers this. No, he didn't warn me. Salty water conducts electricity better than copper wire. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted May 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Get something that at least has a picture of a cow on the front, lol. Ooooh I plan to! I want to hear those little bastards screaming in pain each night!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Ooooh I plan to! I want to hear those little things screaming in pain each night!!! I've never heard them scream, but I have found tracks that look as if they got the bajeebers knocked out of them. Skunk, deer, and coon tracks look pretty funny when they show that they obviously got shocked, lol. I'd add that make sure you don't let any grass or weeds grow up around the fence as this will ground the circuit pretty quick making your electric fence just another strand of wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 I'd add that make sure you don't let any grass or weeds grow up around the fence as this will ground the circuit pretty quick making your electric fence just another strand of wire. If you don't get a weedclipper type charger, it would be a good idea to roundup the fence perimeter.:yes: Joe, if you put the elec. fence up, don't relieve yourself on it. I remember Brian's granddad had a fence attached to the old barn right next to the back doors. I think the charger was capable of creating enough voltage to light a small town. I had to go one day and stepped out the door and WOW! Lesson learned and never forgotten. I'll bet Brian's dad remembers this. No, he didn't warn me. Salty water conducts electricity better than copper wire. Lynn LMBO. Almost as funny as the story of Todd(dogdoc) letting his father in law give him a vasectomy in his veterinary office. Cannot speak for Lynn's experience, but I can tell ya that a tiller makes a heck of a ground, especially when you are sweaty. Like Lynn says a lessson learned and never forgotten. Don't forget to unplug or turn off your charger when you work in your garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 If you don't get a weedclipper type charger, it would be a good idea to roundup the fence perimet.:yes: LMBO. Almost as funny as the story of Todd(dogdoc) letting his father in law give him a vasectomy in his veterinary office. Cannot speak for Lynn's experience, but I can tell ya that a tiller makes a heck of a ground, especially when you are sweaty. Like Lynn says a lessson learned and never forgotten. Don't forget to unplug or turn off your charger when you work in your garden. Frankly I wouldn't volunteer to do either. :disolve: :disolve:Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted May 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Does anyone besides me remember this show? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Does anyone besides me remember this show? Stimpy you IDIOT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted May 2, 2012 Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 Mythbusters did a segment on the urinating on an electric fence and busted that myth. Not that I'm going to go out and try it, lol. I've been shocked, it will get your attention, but it's not too much worse than a strong static shock, or sticking your finger in a light socket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 2, 2012 Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 Mythbusters did a segment on the urinating on an electric fence and busted that myth. Not that I'm going to go out and try it, lol. Don't think I have seen that mythbusters episode, but some of their "science" seems to me to be somewhat flawed. Is what it is, entertainment. I've been shocked, it will get your attention, but it's not too much worse than a strong static shock, or sticking your finger in a light socket. Never deliberately stuck my finger in a light socket to see if it was on, but static shock is nothing. Charger we are using will do a good bit more than get your attention, but then it is intended to keep large animals in pastures, as hard as it has hit me and with as many small animals as it has killed I will unplug it when I know the kids are gonna be outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted May 2, 2012 Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 Never deliberately stuck my finger in a light socket to see if it was on, but static shock is nothing. Charger we are using will do a good bit more than get your attention, but then it is intended to keep large animals in pastures, as hard as it has hit me and with as many small animals as it has killed I will unplug it when I know the kids are gonna be outside. Yeah, those solar charger models like I have won't come close to killing an animal. The other thing I don't like about my unit is that it pulses the shock out every second or so. I would prefer a constant live wire, but I guess that would probably drain the battery pretty quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted May 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 Yeah, those solar charger models like I have won't come close to killing an animal. The other thing I don't like about my unit is that it pulses the shock out every second or so. I would prefer a constant live wire, but I guess that would probably drain the battery pretty quick. How far is your corn from the house? Is it too far for AC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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