Fencing etiquette?

[paulsharvey]

I have neighbors with 4' between identical 4 rail white wooden fences. Looks stupid to me...lots of weeds and not much painting going on in the middle? Plus too small to run any good size tractor down it and oddly closed off on both ends. No mans land

We already have a bit of no man's land. Ours, they fenced at an angle, so on one corner, it tapers down to next to nothing, but by the time you get to the other side, its probably 90 ft of no man's land.

The other two fences, closer to the property line, on the eastern side, I plan to also fence past. Partly just to have a single, uniform, fence.

Im thinking 42" field fence, with a single strand of barb at 48" (or maybe 52"). Planning on 12 ft post spacing, every 4th post being wood. I might decide to stretch those wood poles out more, maybe every 60 ft. I just happen to have several power poles, to make 12"×8 ft poles out of.

Edit: I have also considered thats over kill and extra money, and maybe I got with 4 or 5 strands of barb. Our plan is about half a dozen calves eventually, small to medium beefs, on about 8 acres, once we get to that point. That $4000 property tax bill, know its going to 3.5% every year, kinda lit a bit of fire on us, to get moving, and ag exempt about $1000 of that bill every year.

 

[dodge man]

I bought our place 26 yrs ago fenced with 2x4 wire. After 8 yrs the neighbor built a home and had a survey done that showed my fence 150' onto his property at one end of our common line. Seems that when the original fence installed in 1979 the contractor used a street radius marker instead of the property line. The pie shaped piece in question was about 1.25 acer. The new neighbor insisted I move the fence.
Long story made short. Legally we owned his property by uncontested use and improvement. As a good neighbor I allowed him to move the fence using a contractor of my choice, the existing steel posts, and new wire. He was happy to get his land back (after almost 40 yrs) and we got a like new fence.

That’s funny about a contractor using a radius point. One of the only larger subdivisions I did in our area the first house they built the contractor used a radius point. Luckily the house was just within the setbacks or close enough no one questioned it. For those that don’t know if there is a curve in the roadway you usually have to stake where the curve starts and ends.

 

[Highlandr]

Edit: I have also considered thats over kill and extra money, and maybe I got with 4 or 5 strands of barb.

Have you considered smooth wire?

Key Advantages:

• Safety for Livestock: The smooth surface prevents injuries, cuts, and punctures common with barbed wire.
• Cost-Effective: High-tensile wire's strength allows for wider post spacing (up to 50 feet), reducing the number of posts and labor needed compared to traditional wire.
• Low Maintenance: Resists sagging from temperature changes and animal pressure, requiring only occasional tension adjustments with simple tools.
• Strength & Durability: High-tensile steel offers significant breaking strength, resisting impact and springing back into shape, with long life expectancy (50+ years with good coating).
• Easier Installation: Lighter than low-carbon wire, easier to handle, and doesn't require fighting barbs, making installation quicker.
• Versatility: Can be electrified easily and used for containing various livestock or excluding predators.

 

[paulsharvey]

Have you considered smooth wire?

Key Advantages:

• Safety for Livestock: The smooth surface prevents injuries, cuts, and punctures common with barbed wire.
• Cost-Effective: High-tensile wire's strength allows for wider post spacing (up to 50 feet), reducing the number of posts and labor needed compared to traditional wire.
• Low Maintenance: Resists sagging from temperature changes and animal pressure, requiring only occasional tension adjustments with simple tools.
• Strength & Durability: High-tensile steel offers significant breaking strength, resisting impact and springing back into shape, with long life expectancy (50+ years with good coating).
• Easier Installation: Lighter than low-carbon wire, easier to handle, and doesn't require fighting barbs, making installation quicker.
• Versatility: Can be electrified easily and used for containing various livestock or excluding predators.

Breifly, yes, just never used it, and dont know anyone that uses it around here.

 

[RayIN]

My neighbor talked to me about sharing a fence build on our common line. They wanted a 4 strand barb wire for their cattle, I wanted field fence with a wire strand on top. They said that their cattle would not honor a field fence and that only a barb wire fence would work.
Well I have had cattle honor a field fence for decades in another location without an issue but that was the owner's choice and her foreman was just the middle man but he was of the same opinion.
My dogs will not be stopped by a 4 strand barb wire and I had no use for the barb wire fence. There was an old, 40- 50 years old, barb wire fence there already, just not on the property line. It was in real bad shape and would not stop any cow or any other animal. Since we could not come to an agreement to cost share they put the 4 strand barb wire 6 inches on their side and I am putting a field fence on my side. Seems stupid yes, but their needs were radically different than mine. Sometimes you just do what you have to do.

In Indiana, each property owner is responsible for the right-half of the boundary fence (as viewing the fence from your property). This way each of you are responsible for your fence. Sounds doable to me.
As to weed/brush control in between the fences, brush killer and broadleaf weed killer should take care of that issue.
There is a very old saying; "good fences make good neighbors".

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I would build my fence on my line, and not worry about theirs. Some people build their fences off the line in order to mow on both sides of their fence. Some states, if a fence is built on the property line, you can get the other side owner to pay for half the fence.

So, if your neighbor had a fence, set 3 or 4 or 5 ft back on their property, is ridiculous to install your own fence, 5 ft away, 4 inches on your side? We are talking field fence/livestock fence, not privacy.

Thats what im going to do, but it seems kinda stupid too. With that, they didnt abandon that 5 ft on "my side" of the fence either.

If your neighbor has a fence all along your entire line, set back multiple feet, not 2 ft; but also not 20 ft; would you bother fencing your side?wo

 

[MossRoad]

We already have a bit of no man's land. Ours, they fenced at an angle, so on one corner, it tapers down to next to nothing, but by the time you get to the other side, its probably 90 ft of no man's land.

The other two fences, closer to the property line, on the eastern side, I plan to also fence past. Partly just to have a single, uniform, fence.

Im thinking 42" field fence, with a single strand of barb at 48" (or maybe 52"). Planning on 12 ft post spacing, every 4th post being wood. I might decide to stretch those wood poles out more, maybe every 60 ft. I just happen to have several power poles, to make 12"×8 ft poles out of.

Edit: I have also considered thats over kill and extra money, and maybe I got with 4 or 5 strands of barb. Our plan is about half a dozen calves eventually, small to medium beefs, on about 8 acres, once we get to that point. That $4000 property tax bill, know its going to 3.5% every year, kinda lit a bit of fire on us, to get moving, and ag exempt about $1000 of that bill every year.

If I had a spare triangle of land outside of my fence, I'd plant it to mixed forest with shrubs around the exterior. Wildlife would love it, and I wouldn't have to maintain it.

We did that on a lot of our 20 acres. Loaded with deer, turkey, squirrels, etc...

 

[scootr]

That’s funny about a contractor using a radius point. One of the only larger subdivisions I did in our area the first house they built the contractor used a radius point. Luckily the house was just within the setbacks or close enough no one questioned it. For those that don’t know if there is a curve in the roadway you usually have to stake where the curve starts and ends.

It's funny until it isn't Initially the new neighbor was all move your fence it's on my property. My sister being a real estate lawyer sent a 7 page letter explaining they basically forfeited the property and it was up to us to offer a settlement or not. We ended up giving them what they wanted at the cost of some new fencing set just 6" inside my line to ensure ownership etc.

 

[paulsharvey]

If I had a spare triangle of land outside of my fence, I'd plant it to mixed forest with shrubs around the exterior. Wildlife would love it, and I wouldn't have to maintain it.

We did that on a lot of our 20 acres. Loaded with deer, turkey, squirrels, etc...

Well, only have 13.5 acres; which sounds like a good bit; but 1.5 acres of "mine" is half of a broadly worded easement private road; 1 acre is under water; and 1 acre is yard/house. Leaving 10 acres; and i want to leave the 1.5 acres of old hard wood next to the lake largely along. So, I can't just give up the north western corner.

I am also balancing pasture and trees. The general guidance ive gotten is; bush hog anything/everything it will cut; remove Everything 6" or less; then aim for 40% or less canopy cover.

 

[domin]

i wouldn't bother

 

[paulsharvey]

i wouldn't bother

Preciate the encouragement

 

[Jstpssng]

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[Torvy]

Offset fencing is often done so maintenance can be done on the fencing without encroaching on the neighbors' property.

Mark the property lines well and maintain the property and they can't just steal it. (Caveat: check your state laws, they can vary greatly).

 

[FullMetalBucket]

Sounds like you tried to work a compromise they weren’t interested in. Do what you have to do and if they don’t like it they can go fence themselves .

 

[kenmac]

IDK if this applies to every state or not. But this is what google showed
How a Fence Can Become the New Line

• Adverse Possession: If a neighbor builds a fence, uses the land as their own (e.g., mowing, gardening), and occupies it openly, notoriously, continuously (10+ years), and exclusively, they can claim that land as theirs, making the fence the new boundary.