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- #11
Age Old Fencing Questions
- Thread starter Alexz7272
- Start date
babsbag
Herd Master
It doesn't say how big the squares are, at least I can't find it, but pretty sure that that is similar to the other...big holes. I know that the other stuff is expensive, but might be worth it if you end up doing it over again later. If you have stray dogs at all I would never use it. If you do have to do it put the hot wire at the bottom and at goat knee height, but low enough that a baby goat will get their nose or ears bitten.
The 2x4 no climb is my favorite but this is second. http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/goat-fence-48-in-x-330-ft.
Not a price you will like.
The 2x4 no climb is my favorite but this is second. http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/goat-fence-48-in-x-330-ft.
Not a price you will like.
babsbag
Herd Master
My baby alpine goats would go right through the field fencing but having it smaller on the bottom will help. Multiple rows of hot wire should help too when you have little kids.
Alexz 7272, this post is just meant as food for thought ... Are you in this venture to make a profit ( or at least have your livetock just pay for themselves ) or a just for fun hobby which in most cases looses money. Fencing isn't your only issue that would determine the fence type that you need. Your soil and it's carying capacity for different classes of livestock , availability of water are the more important issues to solve first. The goat breed you have is not ideal as a profitable venture , but a drain on the feed budget. In this day and age, wool sheep are not profitable for a small farmer as sheering costs drain the budget and the sale of wool is next to nill ( I did this, done that and sold out due to the crash of the wool industry ) so a drain of the budget. Same goes for the traditional meat breeds of sheep as they also need shearing. Google Dorper sheep to have a good idea that they would fill your land's carying capacity as not only that they graze but also forage, and are able to gain weight better and keep their weight than the other livestock on the sparce vegetation and arrid conditions and also shed their wool so no need to shear. In todays' sheep industry, I think that they have the best chance for making a profit. Alpacas had their day in the sun . Their prices have dropped drastically , so the large breeders are selling out. ( a very large breeder as well as having a National alpaca transportation business just 5 miles from us is currently selling out). The horse industry crashed ( BLM is selling horses for $25 per head ) several years ago due to the bleeding hearts having a law passed to stop horse slaughter in the US. So please sit down and REALLY THINK the whole venture through. What you decide will drastically determine what type of fencing that you really need. Good luck.
- Thread starter
- #15
Alexz7272
True BYH Addict
Got it, so spend the money on the goat fencing. Will do! Plus, I really am getting annoyed getting momma unstuck from the fence with her dang horns 
I am doing more of a hobby farm, more so a homestead (being self sufficient). I have a very small niche market for my excess, my fellow Lithuanian-Americans. I know I will not be making a profit off of them.
I am doing more of a hobby farm, more so a homestead (being self sufficient). I have a very small niche market for my excess, my fellow Lithuanian-Americans. I know I will not be making a profit off of them.
Baymule
Herd Master
It's field fence. Still crap. It breaks easily.
You named sheep, goats and alpacas, which are all high prey animals, utterly defenseless. I know you don't want to hear this, but buy the good wire. 2"x4" is the best. They can't stick their head through it.
NH homesteader
Herd Master
From personal experience, don't buy welded wire! I wish I was a millionaire because I would use all 16' cattle panels. They're awesome! And so pricey!
OneFineAcre
Herd Master
Personally I wouldn't put too much faith in anything @Bossroo saysGot it, so spend the money on the goat fencing. Will do! Plus, I really am getting annoyed getting momma unstuck from the fence with her dang horns
I am doing more of a hobby farm, more so a homestead (being self sufficient). I have a very small niche market for my excess, my fellow Lithuanian-Americans. I know I will not be making a profit off of them.
Only criticizes what you do
Never says what they do
Has never posted pics of their animals
Only says what they used to do not what they do now
Not sure if they really have any animals
farmerjan
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Okay, I am gonna weigh in on the fencing. We use field fencing. Have used both the 47" with 6 inch stays, and the 12 inch stays. They have to be stretched and put up right; and some is high tensile and some is not. The no climb 2x4 is okay for anything if you can afford it. The woven wire field fence will keep hogs in with an electric wire but it has to stretched right. Can't emphasize that enough. Most people don't get it up correctly to start, then it is a pain in the ****. We put up an average of 3- 6 rolls a year between the different places we rent according to the agreements, and my son also helps another guy who does fencing for a living. Don't like the 12 " stays because foxes etc can get through and the chickens, and the sheep all put their heads through. The 12 inch stays can be pushed to make it wider alot easier than the 6 " . We raise White Texas Dall sheep : the rams for their horns specifically. Lambs can put their heads through the smaller 6" stays and get stuck but the trick is to make them "stick-heads" until they get too big to put their heads through. A friend also does it with all their goat kids 75 to 100 nannies so anywhere from 150 to 200 kids. Take a stick 8-12 inches long, use duct tape and tape it across their horns on top so that they can't get their heads through the wire. Works like a charm. Honestly. They get tired of trying and their horns keep growing and then they can't get their heads through. The sticks will fall off/get rubbed off in a few weeks to a couple months. Any animals that we have that constantly try the fence don't stay. Doesn't matter how big a pet, how good a breeder, if they can't get with the program, they are a nusiance (sp?) and will teach everyone else to get into trouble. Lawsuits aren't worth it. Have you thought about electrified netting? It will teach alot of respect for electric REAL quick if they get zapped; added benefit, it keeps the predators out, and you can rotate the grazing. Or if the goat is tame, put a collar on it and tie it where it can't get tangled up.
We don't have any trouble with the cattle destroying it. They occasionally will reach over the top; hence the barbed wire or an electric wire at top. I will take woven wire any day over high tensile smooth wire; and barbed wire unless the barbed wire is an 8 wire fence.
We don't have any trouble with the cattle destroying it. They occasionally will reach over the top; hence the barbed wire or an electric wire at top. I will take woven wire any day over high tensile smooth wire; and barbed wire unless the barbed wire is an 8 wire fence.
Well, I guess being born and raised on a working profitable farm and running a working commercial farm and raising hundreds and yes, thausands of animals for PROFIT for well over a half century doesn't count for much in the eyes of some. About 6 years ago, my body finally told me to retire or buy a underground home. I did the former. I sold our farm animals that were my means of making a PROFIT , kept a couple old cats, and the last of my working dogs to keep me and my wife company. These are now deceised. I say what is needed , not hearsay by one wanna be farmer to another and hope that it helps some to open their eyes and ears in the ways of proper animal husbandry for profit. The IRS says that over 60% of people living on a farm are operating on a net loss every year for years. Why , when many on this big blue marble are undernurished and /or starving ?
