Fence question - how to stop kids climbing over

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alit27, Nov 8, 9:33am
I have a wire mesh fence to keep the dog in and today she was barking like mad. I went to investigate and found that a couple of the local feral kids had climbed over the fence and were checking out the contents of my garage. My question is; what can I put over the top of the fence to dissuade the kids from accessing my property so easily. Unfortunately I have a long corner section and I can't afford to put up anything more substantial than a wire mesh fence. I am thinking of perhaps putting in a few thorny bougainvillea bushes and trying to train them along the top of the fence. But this will take years and I would like to stop the kids accessing my property now. If the dog decides to bite any one who climbs over the fence, it will be her that would be considered at fault and I would not like to have her put down. Thanks for any suggestions.
amasser, Nov 8, 8:08pm
How high is your fence and what is the height restriction in Akld.? Can you run to waratah posts with another row of wire mesh above the existing fence? Sometimes having that one with lower tension means that it is harder to climb over.
grouch, Nov 8, 8:24pm
Before doing anything I would pay a visit to the parents of the kids and explain that its not safe to come onto your property because of the dog. I would say that you can not always be outside to supervise so for safety reasons can you have a word with the kids and make sure they dont trespass.
dropsofjupiter, Nov 8, 9:06pm
What about running something like orange cord along the top and placing warning signs saying fence is an electric fence and will not to touch? might not work but wouldnt cost much and might put them off if they think they will get zapped.

ETA: there would possibly be better options to make it look more authentic, i have no idea what an electric fence looks like. hahaha
groovie1, Nov 8, 9:23pm
Approaching the parents would have been my first option too but if that's not possible how about one of those menacing warning dog signs (bigger the better) wired to the fence and a dummy security camera hooked up to your garage where its clearly visible.
cleggyboy, Nov 8, 9:26pm
Electric wire, quite acceptable in a urban area PROVIDING the unit is operated from a battery, and warning signs.
skipper42, Nov 8, 9:33pm
Barbed or razor wire (with appropriate warning signs of course)
alit27, Nov 9, 12:04am
Thank you all for your suggestions. I googled fences and unfortunately razor wire is only allowed on fences over 2.5 metres. A couple of gun turrets would be great, but I doubt if they would be allowed either. I have decided to go the organic way, until I sort out an extension to the fence (I'm thinking of extending the height of the fence with bamboo poles and some chicken wire. Hopefully it will be floppy enough to stop the fence climbers).

In the mean time I plan to hang little bombs consisting of plastic bags of dog poo off the fence. Should be quite a treat to climb over in the summer heat. I have piled up hydrangea branches along some of the fence as well, as they are quite scratchy. It doesn't look too flash but it will have to do for now.

What unnerved me about the kids was that although they were only about 8, they totally ignored me as I asked them what they were doing on my property, plus they were not frightened of my large barking dog.
lythande1, Nov 9, 12:07am
Seriously? There are no "feral" kids, maybe they haven't come from good homes, but that's not the kids fault.
And you'd happily let them be sliced up, trespass or not.
Geez.
alit27, Nov 9, 12:45am
x1
Until yesterday I felt safe and happy living where I do, however I feel less so now after having a couple of young kids with no inhibitions about accessing my property, going into my garage, despite the dog barking at them. I would much rather stop the kids from climbing my fence, rather than having to lock up my house and garage whenever I want to go into my back yard. Obviously razor wire isn't the way to go, and bags of dog poo are not ideal either, but unfortunately I am not able to afford the sort of fencing that would keep out trespassers.
imn, Nov 9, 2:07am
x2
Fences are an essential part of keeping your property safe and secure. However, sometimes they can be easily overcome, especially by mischievous kids. If you have a wire mesh fence, you might be wondering what you can do to prevent kids from climbing over it and accessing your property. Here are a few suggestions that might help.

One solution could be to install some anti-climb spikes along the top of the fence. These spikes are designed to be sharp and uncomfortable to climb on, discouraging anyone from attempting to climb over the fence. While this might seem like a harsh solution, it is an effective one. However, it is essential to ensure that the spikes are not too sharp, as you do not want to cause any injury to anyone who accidentally falls onto them.

Another option is to add some mesh to the top of the fence to make it harder to climb. You could attach some chicken wire or mesh to the top of the fence, making it harder for anyone to get a good grip and climb over it. This option is relatively inexpensive and can be done quickly.

If you are looking for a more aesthetic solution, you could try planting some thorny bushes along the top of the fence. Bougainvillea is an excellent option as it has thorns and is relatively easy to train to grow along the fence. While this option might take some time to be effective, it can be an excellent long-term solution. However, it is essential to keep in mind that it might take a few years before the bushes are large enough to be an effective barrier.

One potential downside to using thorny bushes is that they require regular maintenance, including pruning and watering. Additionally, they might attract unwanted animals, such as birds or insects, which could cause further problems.

Ultimately, the best solution will depend on your specific situation and budget. While a wire mesh fence might not be the most robust option, there are still ways to make it more secure and discourage kids from climbing over it. Whether you choose anti-climb spikes, additional mesh, or thorny bushes, it is essential to keep your property safe and secure while ensuring the safety of others.
morticia, Nov 9, 2:12am
x1
As Country kids we grew up knowing that, if you climb over Mr So-And-So's barbed wire fence, you will tear you clothes, scratch your legs and arse and probably get it kicked as well when you get home for being so stupid and wandering around on someone elses property without permission. Why is it any different for city kids?
cleggyboy, Nov 9, 2:33am
x1
Sadly people seem to think their brats can do as they like. They only get stroppy when their brats have been found out, then it is someone else's fault.

Yet people are entitled to protect their property, but try and tell these ferals that.
gwimweeper, Nov 9, 8:48am
This. If the kids are checking out the contents of your garage they are probably doing so to other people's too.

Next step will be checking out the contents of people's houses.
punkinthefirst, Nov 9, 8:57am
I'd keep the house and garage locked in the meantime. Unfortunately, kids like these cannot be reasoned with, nor can they be expected to respect your boundaries. Once they discover that they can't get in, they'll probably find another, softer, target.
One of those "thorney" roses would grow quickly, as well.
Also, (and this has worked well for me) just let the local feral kids know that you're a witch, and will put a spell on them. haha! Waving your fingers around in a vaguely "hexing" fashion, helps. To give you the background to this hint, my Grandkids came back from playing in the park next door one day, laughing their heads off. Some local kids had told them that they shouldn't climb over my back fence because "she's a witch". (.of course any woman living on her own is a witch! ) First I'd heard of it, but it has kept my yard feral-free ever since!
rojill, Nov 9, 9:02am
Go see your local cop . Explain what happened and ask him to make a call upon the kids parents. You could also ask him for suggestions as to how you may legally protect your property from these budding crims, eg. can you trespass kids of this age ?
He may also be grateful for a heads up.
whitehead., Nov 9, 9:32am
a second hand electric fence along the top will stop kids but i dont think its legal
nzjay, Nov 9, 10:11am
The Police have a youth section who would be glad to go talk to the parents, I'm sure. Anything to deter a couple of potential future crims.
cleggyboy, Nov 9, 6:36pm
Of course it is if you read my post further up, I have had it around my place for 15yrs, most shops have it on their roofs to deter taggers and burglars.
Same with some car dealers & boat dealers it is becoming the norm now, it is as common as security cameras.
marte, Nov 10, 11:48am
The trouble with securityfences etc is that the Police may be called to the property for any reason and they may have to access it and it has to be safe for them to do that.
Sorta like if they are chasing someone who has gone onto the property, it has to be safe for the Police to follow them.

Otherwise some pricks gonna lead them on a chase and get them hurt.
fhpottery, Nov 11, 4:13am
I think electric fences are legal so long as you put the yellow danger sign on the wire. I could be wrong and correct me if I am. Electric fences must not be barbed wire I do know that much.
Commercial business have them in town on fences so not sure why not on a normal fence.
grouch, Nov 11, 4:46am
When I was in town the kids over the back used to climb the tin fence and they were determined little buggers. I used to go out and shout at them but it didnt do any good. Then to top it off they had an apple tree on their side so they used to pick the apples and then throw them at my house. I was worried about them breaking a window. I would come home from work and find apples around my lawn. It was very annoying. In the end I opened the door and let the dogs out. The dogs went crazy and I told them if they dropped over my side when the dogs were out I couldnt guarantee that they wouldnt get bitten. I know it wasnt the best solution and eventually they stopped but I was going to go and see the parents if they kept it up as I didnt think that they would like to pay for my windows. Now I live in the country and dont have any neighbours for miles. Great!
Out here to keep the beasts in we have a small black box which is solar powered which is attached to the tapes and it gives off an electric shock and that would be the way to go. The whole set up is not very expensive but it would sure as hell keep them out.
cleggyboy, Nov 11, 5:27am
As I have already posted above, in an urban area the electric fence unit MUST BE OPERATED by a battery (car or D cells) and warning signs.
I have had mine for 15 yrs and had to handle several complains (no doubt from crims) the cops have checked it out twice and all is O.K.
don735, Nov 13, 10:09am
resene have a product that dosnt dry put on top of fence and down 100mm your side can be used to keep birds away if asked
brightlights60, Nov 13, 8:56pm
Way back in the day, when the world wasn't so PC, my Dad, a Prison Officer and used to dealing with ferals (and yes good description), got sick and tired of the ones next door climbing the fence to look over and generally be pains. So he glued drawing pins along the very edge on our side. Funny thing, they never did it again. I read once about an Airforce pilot whose friends could never understand how the tail of his plane remained bird poop free when theirs' had to be hosed off every day because of the airbase birds. One day one climbed up on his plane to inspect it, yup, he had stuck drawing pins along the top of the tail.