Could a shock from an electric fence kill a rabbit?!

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Cedars

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This is going to sound really dense so I apologise!

Dead rabbit in our field today. Looks like it just dropped dead mid run, legs in movement and everything! And its right under our electric fence. Could it kill them?!
 
I think it could, more from the shock of the shock if you get my meaning! Rabbits are not the most robust in the heart department - years ago I knew someone who got a job looking after rabbits on a rabbit farm (bred for meat) and lots of them just dropped dead of shock because someone new was looking after them. Mind you they were highly stressed, kept in little cages no bedding etc.

A farmer round here lost a ram because it got stuck in the electric fencing, and the stress of the electric shock killed it. So if your fencing is strong and conducting efficiently and giving off quite a jolt, I reckon it could.
 
Llewelyn said:
I think it could, more from the shock of the shock if you get my meaning! Rabbits are not the most robust in the heart department - years ago I knew someone who got a job looking after rabbits on a rabbit farm (bred for meat) and lots of them just dropped dead of shock because someone new was looking after them. Mind you they were highly stressed, kept in little cages no bedding etc.

A farmer round here lost a ram because it got stuck in the electric fencing, and the stress of the electric shock killed it. So if your fencing is strong and conducting efficiently and giving off quite a jolt, I reckon it could.
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1 of my sheep got caught in my electric fence in my horse field and died just the other week !!
 
Well an electric fence nearly killed my m-i-l (no comment!). It was a proper electric fence with the correct energiser, but it was on maximum as it had a long way to go round, we were renting a neighbour's fields and he put the fencing in.

M-in-law was then in her late 70s and accidently caught hold of the fence and got a shock. She walked back home but felt really ill so was taken down to A&E. They did lots of tests but after a bit said to go home and see GP in a week.


The GP was looking at the hospital report and asked if she had had a fall. M-i-l said no,but why, and the doctor said she had had a bruise on her heart and the couldn't understand how it had happened.
 
ORANGEHORSE said:
Well an electric fence nearly killed my m-i-l (no comment!). It was a proper electric fence with the correct energiser, but it was on maximum as it had a long way to go round, we were renting a neighbour's fields and he put the fencing in.

M-in-law was then in her late 70s and accidently caught hold of the fence and got a shock. She walked back home but felt really ill so was taken down to A&E. They did lots of tests but after a bit said to go home and see GP in a week.


The GP was looking at the hospital report and asked if she had had a fall. M-i-l said no,but why, and the doctor said she had had a bruise on her heart and the couldn't understand how it had happened.
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Light bulbs have just gone "ping" above various people's heads...
 
Oh my goodness! I gave myself a massive shock wearing crappy shoes, bending over, with wet hands, touching the floor and zapped myself on the arse. That was REALLY painful!

You really shouldnt try to bump off your MIL!
 
flamehead said:
Oh my goodness! I gave myself a massive shock wearing crappy shoes, bending over, with wet hands, touching the floor and zapped myself on the arse. That was REALLY painful!
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You should try zapping your lady bits then....that really hurts...i also zapped my head once, had a headache for ages afterwards, it wasn't good!
 
eldest staffie zapped herself by racing after rabbits with her tail up bolt upright.

Still hasn't forgiven me (obviously I had done something evil to her) and will not go near that particular field

And as for zapping lady bits... friend of mine CLIMBED over the fence to say hello to my old boy before I could stop her.. complete chaos as she also electrocuted my horse at the same time..

But agree about the rabbit and shock. My dogs regularly "kill" rabbits by chasing them and the rabbits drop dead of shock..!
 
Some people zap their ladybits for fun dont they?!

Ouch, electric fencing HURTS! =[ and yet, my little one seems to think its a game to zap herself!!
 
My brother in law got zapped in the 'gentleman's department' when we were out shooting one time. I'm afraid it took me a moment or two to rescue him as I was admiring his pogo dancing, face pulling and shouting. I couldn't work out if he was reliving punk concerts from the past or trying to imitate a Maasia Warrior.

Regarding the rabbit; chances are it just died, especially if it was cold and wet. I spotted one next to a bridleway a couple of days ago and have also found them from time to time in our field.
 
Once I stop laughing at these posts, I'm off to lower our electric fence, or electrify the stock fence, blooming rabbits have our field looking like a moonscape with all the holes they dig, as fast as I fill them the little beggars dig them out again, I really fear for the horses legs as some holes are quite deep, they must spend all night digging
 
When I can stop laughing at this hilarious thread!!!
Strange that I found a dead rabbit stretched out as if in mid-run on Sunday! But my leccy fence isn't low enough to zap them (sadly as they are becoming a nuisance digging holes everywhere!). I did suspect a horse as my stallion had appeared to stamp on a poor little hedgehog back around last summer - poor little thing definitely stamped on and the ground all around it was disturbed (as was I!). I keep telling him to do something useful and stamp on a rabbit or two (sorry to upset any rabbit lovers out there!).
Anyway I put 'said' dead rabbit out for the Red Kites that frequent the skys around my area but it still appears to be there this evening, strange.
I am being ultra careful about my fencing at the moment as I bought a new battery and a new battery charger and it is all a bit lively out there! Maybe it did get the rabbit!!?? ;)
 
Well mine is high up, it has occurred to me it probably isnt the fencing because it would have had to have been touching the ground which of course it wouldnt be.

It just looked totally perfect so I dont think it could be one of the horses!? Weird!
 
SuenRoux said:
When I can stop laughing at this hilarious thread!!!
Strange that I found a dead rabbit stretched out as if in mid-run on Sunday! But my leccy fence isn't low enough to zap them (sadly as they are becoming a nuisance digging holes everywhere!). I did suspect a horse as my stallion had appeared to stamp on a poor little hedgehog back around last summer - poor little thing definitely stamped on and the ground all around it was disturbed (as was I!). I keep telling him to do something useful and stamp on a rabbit or two (sorry to upset any rabbit lovers out there!).
Anyway I put 'said' dead rabbit out for the Red Kites that frequent the skys around my area but it still appears to be there this evening, strange.
I am being ultra careful about my fencing at the moment as I bought a new battery and a new battery charger and it is all a bit lively out there! Maybe it did get the rabbit!!?? ;)
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I'll lend you my 2 staffies, they really do help to keep down our rabbit population, although they are not allowed to eat/go near the bodies!. Also, they are horse proof and stay well clear (unless you have a section A - apparently, they aren't big enough to count as "real" horses and younger staff insists on treating said pony like another dog!)
 
If I want to test my fence I get my Giant Schnauzer,Chance to stand underneath and then say "Rabbits!" and her tail sticks straight up...................;)
 
There may well be a fault with your electric fencing unit so I would get it checked out just in case there is a life threatening fault with it as it may be sending out too high a voltage.
 
apparently if an animal (or person) gets caught (as in unable to get away from it) in a fence it can be fatal because of the repeated shocks, which is why it is illegal to make barbed wire live in this country. Hedgehogs seem to be the biggest victims getting caught in poultry nets. Mine is running at 10000 volts all around the fence, hopefully enough to keep houdini colt in and mr fox out of the hen pen! Unless the rabbit was caught up it is likely it has just literally dropped dead.
 
flamehead said:
Some people zap their ladybits for fun dont they?!

Ouch, electric fencing HURTS! =[ and yet, my little one seems to think its a game to zap herself!!
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I was reading (and replying to) this thread late last night while the other half was out with his dog. As I was laughing so much when he came back I had to explain and he said could he have the phone number of lady who zaps their bits for fun!!!!!!!!! Young man! Well really. I am still laughing now with the poor Schnauzer being used as a fence tester! Poor dog. Now having to explain why I am laughing out loud - in the office!!!! (Well it is lunch time).

Reference my dead rabbit - the Red Kite was sitting on the fence eyeing it up this morning when I put the horses back out after the farrier had been. Happy munching. They are usually good at clearing up.
 
Well I don't know your case but I recon one of high voltage ones could yes, I've had a few belts of the one on the farm and by jove my heart nearly jumped out of my skin, my arm throbbed for 10 minutes so, I was knocked for 6 put it that way :D so I can imagine what it would do to a poor bunny rabbit!
 
I accidentally grabbed a bit of fence I thought was switched off, and the surprise of the shock made me scream so loud it echoed off the stables and spooked the horses in the paddock with me:o

No one came to check I was still alive though:mad::rolleyes:
 
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