T or U posts for wire field fencing?

chicken fruit

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which is best for goats and maybe a pony? and for a 4' fence, in the NE where it freezes and heaves what length posts? 6 foot?

I dont have the option of dug and installed wood posts, its leased land and I need to be able to pull it all up if need be and reuse as much as possible.
 

Lil-patch-of-heaven

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I would think u posts for goats and ponies. I like t posts for fences that aren't going to have much stress at all. And here I can buy u posts for about half the price of t.

I don't have exp with heaving ground. If it were me I'd guess six ft but hopefully someone who knows much more wll post an answer for you. :)

eta: I have to clip the wire REALLY tight since goats will stand on your fences (and put their heads through, and lean against them no scratch, and ....). Otherwise they will very quickly sag.

For the bucks we plan to add a top rail.
 

Chirpy

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I've never used 'U' posts - they may work great.

We have heaving soil here and use 6 foot "T" posts. I don't like them because a pony that leans on them could possibly bend or push them outward. (My horses wreaked havoc with them. All my pasture fencing is leaning outward now. :barnie) I've not used them for my goats (we use wood posts, in cement, for a more solid/secure fence for them) but I think they would work just fine since goats aren't as strong as ponies. However, having said that, the goats will stand on/against whatever fencing you use (if possible) and it's possible that that could weaken the "T" posts in the ground over time and cause them to lean outwards also.

I do like the "T" posts because, as you said, they are easy to install and can be moved if needed.
 

chicken fruit

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Iam hoping to do the no climb wire- supposidly it keeps goats and sheep from climbing fences? I dont see how though... lol. But I think I will add a top and bottom rail with some raw cut lumber. Up here i'd run me all of 160 bucks to run the top and bottom rails, and it would add 12" to the fence, or almost.

Thanks for your thoughts on the posts... I wasnt sure which was more solid- T or U. I guess U would be more heavy duty? It has more surface area in the ground, which kinda makes me feel dumb for asking... HAH!
 

Lil-patch-of-heaven

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I don't know if there's more than one type or weight of either one but the u posts I have are WAY heavier and stronger than t posts. I like t posts for poultry. I've had them snap at the ground though after a few years of use.

T posts are easier to get in the ground (I can just about slide them in in the ground is soft but usually pound them in) and are good for wire with lots of small holes given the way the tabs are built into the sides -- like poultry netting.

U posts are thicker and I always have to pound them in. You need to wire the fence to them -- they have bumps and not little clip-tabs to slide wire under. They make u post clips for the wire. I've not used those though. We used a heavy wire twisted very tight with a fence tool so the fence won't slip. I'm not sure if the slips will keep it from slipping with goats or not.

I don't have no climb wire but I bet goats will stand on it too lol. I looked at it and I can't see why they wouldn't. I just bought field fencing which is less than half the cost. Only problem is my goats can get their heads through it and they do have horns so the kids CAN get themselves stuck. I use bars duct-taped to the does so they won't.
 

chicken fruit

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Wait... my U posts have tabs... But I cant for the life of me see how someone would use just them anyway- I do the same, twist wire super tight with pliers to hold it in place.
 

Lil-patch-of-heaven

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Your u posts have tabs? Not just little bumps? So you slide the wire under the tab?

There must be more than one kind then. I was afraid of answering in that case, because I've only ever seen one kind of each but I was afraid there might be variation.

My u posts are WAY heavier than my t-posts. That's the main reason I'd choose them. I actually didn't like the little bumps at first cuz I was used to t posts, but the weight is far more important. And like you said, I wouldn't use just those little tabs anyway. Not for goats lol.

Eta: speaking of vaiation I forgot that t posts get heavier as they get longer. The three foot ones are ridiculous. I usually used five or six foot. My six foot u posts are thicker than my six foot t posts though. Just wanted to clarify for the sake of accuracy. :)
 

aggieterpkatie

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I prefer t-posts. The only u-posts we can find here are the Harry Homeowner flimsy kind. :/
 

chicken fruit

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Man! Do I live in U post heaven or something? Every one and their brother has U posts up here and theyre quite solid- much heavier than their T post counterparts. Hmm.

Do you suppose I should nix the top and bottom rails (duh, not using wood posts! I cant secure them) and go for a run of electric wire around the fence? That'd keep goats and ponies off. I know they sell insulators for U posts...
 

patandchickens

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It just depends on how heavy- or light-duty the post is. I have seen both heavy and light-duty versions of BOTH. (Given a choice, I prefer a heavy-duty T-post, personally)

Two things though. First, "no-climb" fence is only no-climb to HORSES -- sheep and goats can still climb it or walk it flat.

Second, you can't use ONLY t-posts for anything that will have to carry some tension (like a wire mesh fence). The corners will just lean in. REally really. You can TRY bracing them diagonally like you would with wooden corner posts but I've never seen that work very well. I would HIGHLY recommend making at least your corner posts, and gate posts, be 4-6" wooden posts sunk at least 3' into the ground. A wibbly fence is worse than useless, it is a menace.

Wood posts can btw be pulled up and removed, just like metal posts can.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat
 
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