T-post or Wooden Post?

[DonnaBelle]

DH has been cutting cedar trees on our ranch for about a year now and making cedar posts. this spring he's going to use them for corner posts and put up a good electric fence in the buck pasture, about 6 acres. I think he plans on T post for the other supports.

DonnaBelle

 

[goatboy1973]

I noticed the local power company was transitioning from wooden power poles to metal ones so I asked them to cut the ones in our pastures up into 8 ft. posts so that I can use them as corner posts. These power poles are pressure treated so no worry about rotting. We use Red Brand woven wire fence with t-posts every 8 feet. I also use a high tensile electric wire at the top and an offset (6 in.) electric wire placed 6in. from the ground. Our electric fence charger is solar and good for 10 miles. It is every bit as powerful as the plug-in type. On a long stretch of fencing (100 yards +) I do an "H" brace every 50 yards or at least half the distance of the long stretch. We never have any goats escape. My grandpa once said that if the fence holds water, then you might be able to keep goats in it. This is the way we have done goat fencing at Calfee Farms for decades with great results.

 

[kstaven]

Fencing is one of those areas where you never want to cut corners unless you enjoy cursing it for years after. Just a word of warning. Walk the fenceline and remove any suspect trees. People hate removing trees but it is easier than broken fences from downed trees or trying to remove a problem one once the fence is up.