Need Fencing Advice

[MIKE7639]

I am in the process of installing 48" tall goat/sheep woven wire fencing with one strand of barbed wire on the top. I've just about finished fencing the two sides of the property which were previously unfenced. The other two sides of the property have good, properly installed 5-strand barbed wire fence on T-posts. Can I install the goat fence on the existing fence without removing the 4 bottom strands of barbed wire? I'd like to avoid removing the barbed wire if possible. Thanks in advance.

 

[vtsnowedin]

I don't see why not. You can put the woven wire fabric on the other side of the posts from the barbed but you will find the four extra strands of barbed will be annoying while you stretch and fasten the fabric.

 

[MIKE7639]

Thanks for that. I'd like to keep the goat fence on the flat side (inside) of the T-posts because the goats like to rub themselves on the fence. Given the fact that it will be annoying to install the goat fence over the barbed wire do you think it can be done on the same side of the posts?

 

[vtsnowedin]

Oh it can be done either side, I was thinking of balance to help keep the posts plumb. You don't want your stock ,goats, cows , whatever challenging your fence all the time. Sooner or later they will find or make a hole. It is better to teach them to respect the fence and leave it alone. that is why barbed wire works. Let them get picked on the barbs on two sides of your property and they will learn to leave all four sides alone. Better yet is some sections that are electric fence that will generate a great deal of respect for anything shinny.

 

[hslogger]

Sir, You can run any kind of fencing along your old fence. I always like to have simple,fence that when it needs to be replaced, isn't layers of stuff. That be said, all my perimeter fence for sheep is woven wire, and a common fence with one neighbor is NZ high tensile HOT wire. Sheep wont' mess with any fence except rub on it, and they will sooner or later make a tight fence look a bit loose. All my cross fencing and temporary fence is two strand hot wire and sheep will respect that unless in deep fear, being run through it.
GOATS on the other hand don't respect jack S unless you run hot wire on the inside someplace. They WILL climb it, or get hung up in it and then you have a cut up goat. Goats are a pain in the *** overall.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Better yet is some sections that are electric fence that will generate a great deal of respect for anything shinny.

Depends on how smart your animals are. My pigs are constantly testing to see whether the electric fence is live. If any section goes down, it doesn't take them long to catch on and escape. How smart are goats compared to pigs?

 

[NHmitch]

They make t-post electric fence insulators that snap on and extend out about 5 inches. These should work on that fence to install the electric fencing away from the barbed wire on the inside of the pasture. http://www.tractorsupply.com/zareba-reg-yellow-snap-on-5-in-extender-insulator-3600493

Hope this helps a bit. It may or may not work for your situation, but we have used them for years on t-posts and they hold up great..

 

[joshuabardwell]

They make t-post electric fence insulators that snap on and extend out about 5 inches. These should work on that fence to install the electric fencing away from the barbed wire on the inside of the pasture. Zareba® Yellow Snap-On 5 in. Extender Insulator - 3600493 | Tractor Supply Company

You can use those, but if the fence changes elevation very much at all, they will quickly break off from the tension. They are not made to hold the wire under hardly any tension at all.

 

[MIKE7639]

Thank you all for the advice. I've never used electric fence and much of my place is heavily wooded so I know I'm going to have some challenges. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.

 

[NHmitch]

You can use those, but if the fence changes elevation very much at all, they will quickly break off from the tension. They are not made to hold the wire under hardly any tension at all.

That's a good point, we use electric braided rope, and it runs freely through the center of the connectors, and we tension it at the corners. With horses we use much less tension, and we want them to break if the horse runs through the fence to avoid serious injury, unlike high tension line used for cattle..