confused on fencing

[Robyn8]

A coyote can clear a 5' fence and the only real reason for the extra height is to deter chickens from flying over and if there are severe land differences to adjust for....just be sure there are no spots that the goats can get on and are close to the fence to jump over....such as stumps or toys. The shorter fence is easier to deal with and if ya check the amount per roll, most 4' fence comes in 330' rolls and the 5' can be as little as 100' rolls.

ok great thanks! I'll have my husband check the area and see we have some short spots. might be likely. Do you recommend 2 x 4 vs 4 x4 for long term wear and tear? or does that not really matter?

 

[CntryBoy777]

I'd say that the 4"x4" would do just fine, unless ya have animals that would fit thru a 4" hole that ya are going to maintain, but goats shouldn't be an issue.

 

[greybeard]

You need to research your fencing (and how to do it) very thoroughly before making any purchase decision. A fence should last 40 years, and it's lifetime dictated by how long the posts last, not by how long the wire does. Wire should last a lot longer than the posts.
Class1 galv often begins rusting within 5 years. Class 3 galv will be rust free up to 15 years..maybe longer unless it is exposed to a salt air environment.

I do understand, that initial costs and outlay can be intimidating, but buy the best wire you can find and the best posts you can find. Not all woven wire is created equally. Some, will not follow uneven terrain very well, others will without any strand being loose.
You should be able to get woven wire to stand on it's own when you tension it.

You can by the way, buy woven wire in 600' + rolls.

If I were going to install goat/sheep fencing, it would be Tornado 1348-12 12.5g fixed knot HT with 1 or 2 hot wires above the net fence. HT stretches tighter, lasts longer, and requires fewer posts.
No, it isn't inexpensive wire, but as with anything permanent, you want to divide the cost into the years of use you will get before need to replace it.

I suggest you look at some Youtube videos posted by someone named Farm Fence Solutions out of Indiana. He knows his stuff.

 

[greybeard]

Something else to consider. Figure up your real cost (per linear foot) of building this fence and then get some quotes of having it done by a professional fence builder. In some places, you can get it done in a faster & cost effective manner better than you might think and maybe even better than you can build it yourself.

 

[Robyn8]

You need to research your fencing (and how to do it) very thoroughly before making any purchase decision. A fence should last 40 years, and it's lifetime dictated by how long the posts last, not by how long the wire does. Wire should last a lot longer than the posts.
Class1 galv often begins rusting within 5 years. Class 3 galv will be rust free up to 15 years..maybe longer unless it is exposed to a salt air environment.

I do understand, that initial costs and outlay can be intimidating, but buy the best wire you can find and the best posts you can find. Not all woven wire is created equally. Some, will not follow uneven terrain very well, others will without any strand being loose.
You should be able to get woven wire to stand on it's own when you tension it.

You can by the way, buy woven wire in 600' + rolls.
View attachment 45383

If I were going to install goat/sheep fencing, it would be Tornado 1348-12 12.5g fixed knot HT with 1 or 2 hot wires above the net fence. HT stretches tighter, lasts longer, and requires fewer posts.
No, it isn't inexpensive wire, but as with anything permanent, you want to divide the cost into the years of use you will get before need to replace it.

I suggest you look at some Youtube videos posted by someone named Farm Fence Solutions out of Indiana. He knows his stuff.

Thanks for the suggestion! The tornado fence you linked is actually the cheapest option. It looks like the spacing is 12x3 at the bottom and 12x 6 at the top though. I thought i read to go smaller that 6 inches spacing for goats so they don't get their heads stuck. Is there something I'm not understanding or am i looking at the wrong size fencing?

 

[Alexz7272]

For my sheep & alpacas (and formerly also goats) we used the Red Brand goat fencing. It has held up great for us. We are moving to a 6 strand system on the 4 acres we are fencing but use the goat fencing for the run in or collection pens.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/red-brand-goat-fence-48-in-x-330-ft?cm_vc=-10005

 

[babsbag]

I use the red brand 4x4 and 2x4 woven wire for my goats. It can be a challenge on hilly ground. I have been known to run it down a ravine, cut it at a post, and run it up the other side, but that was a steep ravine. It can be hard to stretch on a hill. But it is the only kind of fencing I would even consider with goats.

 

[Latestarter]

The only issue with holes larger than 4"x4" is that if you ever intend to breed, the babies can go right through it. Everyone else has given you great info to decide from. Hope you share as you go along!

 

[Robyn8]

The only issue with holes larger than 4"x4" is that if you ever intend to breed, the babies can go right through it. Everyone else has given you great info to decide from. Hope you share as you go along!

i think we're going to go with the 2x4. good point about the babies! it's highly likely I'll want to breed something at some point. With the size pasture we're starting with it's only like $200 difference for the 2x4.

 

[greybeard]

Thanks for the suggestion! The tornado fence you linked is actually the cheapest option. It looks like the spacing is 12x3 at the bottom and 12x 6 at the top though. I thought i read to go smaller that 6 inches spacing for goats so they don't get their heads stuck. Is there something I'm not understanding or am i looking at the wrong size fencing?

1st off, I am not a goat person..I raise cattle.

The Tornado Titan wire I suggested is 48" tall and has 13 horizontal wires on it.
They are all spaced with vertical wires every 12" which of course mean the openings are 12" wide.
The lower 18" of fence is made of six rows of 3"X12" openings.
The next 2 rows are 4"x12" openings.
The next 2 rows up are 5" X12" openings.
Only the top 2 rows are 6" X12" openings.
All the horizontal wires are 12.5 ga and it's HT, meaning it is not ever going to get loose and sag or the openings get any bigger if tensioned correctly to begin with, like the low carbon Red Brand (and any other low carbon) wire will.

If you can tension that or any other 12.5 ga HT fixed knot like it's supposed to be and then pull the openings apart with your hands big enough for an animal to get it's head thru, you're stronger than I am.
Is there better and/or less expensive fencing? Maybe.