Fencing a 10 acre pasture

[ejb]

Hi guys...

I have a desperate need to fence in a rolling 10 acre pasture to use for sheep and goats...so far they have been able to defeat just about everything I have tried /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif, so I need to stop dicking around with temporary fences and do a good job....

My plan is to do a combination of woven wire (the bottom 36-42 inches) and then 2-3 strands of electrified smooth HT wire at the top. Lastly I plan on running a strand of barbed wire at the bottom (near ground level) to prevent anyone from going under (coyotes).

Guess I'll need to use some 6-8 inch corner posts with some H-bracing and t-posts for line posts, along with an occassional wooden post when the grade changes (a line boss?), i.e. when I need to either pull the wires down a valley, or else come back up a hill (there are several grade changes unfortunately).

My biggest concern is the tensioning of the woven wire...any tips? I almost certainly will be working solo, so any do's and don'ts and tricks of the trade would be much appreciated...the materials alone are going to cost close to $3000 so I'd like to do it right the first time...

PS: Any real difference in the different brands of woven wire? I can by red-brand locally, or I could order the "greencote" or "goldcote" from premier1supplies...the cost is about the same, but the shipping adds several hundred bucks....?

 

[DAP]

ejb ... what type of goats and sheep we talkin 'bout? How big is the total herd?

For the animals concern, make sure your fence weave has openings much smaller than the hooves involved. Goats are superb climbers.

We built a log rail fence 52 ins high and the pygmies were able to jump it using a 5 inch stump as a springboard. Not sure about the sheep though. The goats may chew on the weave also - sumpin to think about ... electricity should save the day if we are talkin about a lot of animals.

Don't forget to include in your focus the ability to keep 'things' out in addition to keeping 'things' in.

Get those critters a llama or a donkey friend!

Now, putting up fencing SOLO is tough work - especially during the wire hanging part. Noone to help at all?

Man.

 

[Boondox]

I have the same problem up here in Vermont. If it's not the sheep trying to get out it's the coyotes or tourists' dogs trying to get in! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif We did the old pound steel posts into the ground and string mesh routine the last time, but figured there had to be an easier way.

Then we stumbled across this fencing site for IBS Acres just a few miles away from us. Went to look and to practice setting a corner post. I'm sold! Now as soon as I save up a bit of $$$ I'll fence in another seven acres.

Pete

 

[DAP]

Pete, that looks like an interestig system. For large sheep it might not keep me up at night. For small pygmy goats, a 5 wire strand would either be dangerous to the goats or ineffective at containment. A yote would hop that fence in a NY minute if I'm seein those pics right.

Is this considered temporary fencing?

 

[cowboydoc]

I'd go with premier 1. They have specific fencing for sheep and goats and they really know their stuff with regards to fencing for different types of animals. Have you called them? Usually they will do a complete design for you free of charge if you are buying your materials from them.

 

[TerryinMD]

Sounds like you know what you need to do, but are looking for some alternatives.

I've only fenced our garden area which is about .75 acres and here is what I did to keep out the deer.

I used 12 ft 6x6 PT posts for the corners and gates. In between, I used landscaping timbers for the posts. The 6x6's are sunk in at 4ft since they are the main anchors for the fencing system. I sunk the remaining posts in at 2ft since the cattle fencing and barbed wire support the posts. My longest run is just under 300 ft. The fencing is attached with galvanized staples. I stretched the cattle fencing using my tireless helper, John Deere. You can fabricate a fence stretcher using a variety of materials. The key is to be able to attach something securely to the fencing and stretch it. Each corner and gate has a horizontal brace secured with high-tensil wire to keep tension on the brace. This stabilizes the corners and gates to keep tension on the entire system. My fence is 4ft cattle fence and three strands of barbed wire. The deer rarely come into the garden anymore since they have to work a little harder to get to the goodies and stand a chance of tearing up their legs and bellies.

I cannot remember the exact distances, but when erecting a long fence. You need to put in braces every so often. The fence follows the contours of the land and looks good when done properly. There is a wealth of information on the web or just go to TSC and I believe they have some instuctive material on putting up a fence. Don't forget to allow for a gate or two so that you can get into the pasture to maintain the fence or get to your animals.

Doing all of this by yourself is a daunting task. Try to find some willing teenagers who don't mind working hard and earning some extra cash to by their video games or CD's.

Good luck,

Terry

 

[ejb]

A total of 16 sheep and 10 goats, with the potential of more if I can keep them in (a potential of a trip to the livestock auction if they keep getting out).....

Never used to have a problem before...until the lambs came along and decided they don't need to worry about the electric fence...and then the ewes follow the lambs....

As for types, 7 angora goats, 3 nubian/boer mix breeds, and 16 Gulf Coast Native sheep (a small to medium breed)

Like I said, if I can't keep these $&!!&@! animals in, I'll need to get rid of them, because I really got better things to do than run around like a maniac chasing animals across my property....!

 

[DAP]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Chase my *#&$6 animals around my property ...)</font>

I hear ya BUT ... its very easy to think of a lot worse things to be doing!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[beenthere]

""until the lambs came along and decided they don't need to worry about the electric fence""

Maybe in the short term ('til lambs get bigger) erect a smaller 'corral' (like 1 acre more or less) that will hold the lambs while the others graze in the 10 acre pasture. Then all out to the electric fenced pasture when the lambs grow up and respect the electric fence. In the meantime, you can have some training sections for the lambs to 'learn' on while in the corral. Just a thought.

 

[ejb]

>>Try to find some willing teenagers who don't mind working hard

Yea, and after that I'll see if I can find Jimmy Hoffa /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif...

Seriously though, thanks for the tips but as for finding hardworking teens.....never had much luck with that /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[isucrazy]

RED BRAND also makes a goat and sheep wire. They "critters " can get their heads in and out of it without gettin stuck. A int no such thing as a tight fence with goats that ive seen. They will lean into it as hard as they can and take off walking It must feel good /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I have pigmy goats and barbadose sheep on 10 acres also. Never have had a problem with em getting out ever . My wire is 38" with 2 strands of barb wire 5" apart, 48" total hight. I wish I had never puy the barb wire on the top. I think I have one sunday go ta meeting shirt that dont have a tear in it. If they have plenty of ruffage to eat you shouldn't have any problems. Poison oak and ivey is their chocolate! A jenny is a must here with the coyots. A jack aint worth his feed as fare as pasture policeing goes. Steel Corner post and streachers are very common here. dont know what to tell ya there except , steel and sackrete throw in a bunch of overkill and you will be set for a long time." TOO DEEP,TOO BIG, TOO MUCH SACKRETE" Nothing looks worse than cock-eyed corners! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif You kno, pulling up or out of the ground on one side.. Good luck

 

[slowzuki]

I've read the most effective sheep fencing is 5 wire electric. Keeps the coyotes out and the sheep in. One of the tricks some people do is alternate a ground wire in with the live wires so when things are dry there is still lots of zap.

Supposedly in the sheep raising stuff I've learned you have to dump some water on em and touch their nose to the wire at a young age so they stay away. Sounds cruel but touching electric hasn't done anything to me done anything to me done anything to me. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Ken

 

[isucrazy]

Yes sir. An old man in town has milk goats on a small mostly bare place he uses hot wirs also. I can imagine with em wet they FULLY understand that wire aint no fun! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[OkeeDon]

<font color="blue"> but as for finding hardworking teens.....never had much luck with that </font>

Go to your local high school and talk to the Band Director. Find out if they are taking a year-end trip, need new uniforms or instruments, or otherwise need to raise funds. Offer a reasonable amount for the work you need to have done. Stand back.

 

[polecat]

took the words out of my mouth but i was going to say goto the shop class and talk to the instructor bout his best 2 or three students..and if they need jobs!!!! right on okee dokkkkeey don!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif put apple slices on the wires when the ground is wet!!! touch their noses to it ...holdem and do it agin...it'll keepem in when /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif u arent round!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[polecat]

AND CMON U GUYS WITH ALL THE PRETTY FENCES..8'ERS AND ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!! LETS SEE SOME PICS PLEASE!!!!!
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[daedong]

If you were to build an electric fence useing 6 wire, 3live 3 earth starting with an earth 3in above the ground so lamb cannot get under it therefore they will attempt to go between the 1st and 2nd wire zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzap

use high tensile galve wire 2.5mm 1/10in dia


---------------6th wire live 10in




--------------5th wire earth 8in



--------------4th wire 8in live



--------------3rd wire 6in earth


--------------2nd wire live 5in

------------- first wire earth 3in from ground

--------------------------------ground level

 

[polecat]

not sure what it is like in australia but here in new england when you say rolling pasture and the problem with that is that even at 8 or 10" the grass (deep and lush ) in maine and really gorgeous in ma by now i'm sure ..u r going to b shorting our your wires...the lessons need to be taught when they git in the pasture!!! i cant remember the string i was on but i replied to one a month or two ago in great depth!!
how tall is your smallest animal even in infancy...i have a friend who has many sheep and the problem i think you have is pretty easy...the hot wire needs to b definitely on the bottom..but how r they getting under they stand how tall..they will glean under the lowest of fences even if they know the wire is hot but r they laying on their sides and wrggling out?? i think not..3-6 inches above the ground is going to b a tactical night mare...especially when u have rolling pasture...i would mow a path where u put the new fence so that u have a way of keeping the grass down...10" should be fine but losing a few feet on either side of the fence allows u to b able to keep the grass away from the wires and petting the posts a little farther apart allows u to literally push the mower deck up against the wires..this has been the best way to keep the voltage up high without shorts..my fence kept in the wileyist minature goat who was no taller than 14 " at the shoulders....jist my .02 ..trainem that that wire is not 2 b fooled with is the best trick i've ever learned...will b doing a string on the fastest way to put up a fence soon as i've got to do 3-4 acres of gorgeous grass my self within the next 2 weeks!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[polecat]

the string that u may want to read is..."electric fence"....by grainger 12002 ...posted on 4/04 and on rural living.... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
and had lots of great stuff in it!!!!
tootaloo /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[KYFARMER]

I have no experience with goats but regular woven fence will stop sheep.
I have about 3/4 mile of high tensile wire fence ( seven wires) in a hilly area. One problem I have found is that when the wire is stretched tight it has a tendency to pull the posts in the low areas out of the ground.
I suspect there is someone in your general area that builds fence for a living. I would consult him to find out what to build and how to build it.