Deer/Rabbit Proof Wire Fence Type Recommendations

lhfarm · Mar 9, 2016

I posted here http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/350330-how-rabbit-proof-large-garden.html?highlight= looking for ideas as I replace the 25+ year-old fence on my 50x50 garden. I am looking putting a 90 degree bend in the bottom section to provide the rabbit proofing. So I will need something I can bend. I'll mount a roll fence on top of the lower fence to bring the height to 8'. That is the height of the current fence and we have never had a deer jump into the garden - they have walked in when the gate was left open.

I'm shopping at the local farm stores and not finding much variety in welded fence types. I would like something that can bend for the bottom, but is heavy enough to last for years. I'm assuming the top section can be light weight, but still would like a long life.

Ideas or suggestions appreciated.

EddieWalker · Mar 9, 2016

You don't bend the fence, you install two separate fences. The flat one that lays on the ground is stapled in place and then tied to the bottom of the upright fence. The staples are just long pieces of galvanized wire that are probably four inches long, give or take. You just push, hammer them into place to hold the wire flat on the ground until the grass grows up around it. Then the grass will hold it in place. Around here, I'm told to get 32 inch or 36 inch galvanized goat fence to lay on the ground. You want the squares small enough that when the animals try to dig under your fence, they can't get through the wire on the ground.

EddieWalker · Mar 9, 2016

lhfarm · Mar 9, 2016

EddieWalker said:
You don't bend the fence, you install two separate fences. The flat one that lays on the ground is stapled in place and then tied to the bottom of the upright fence. The staples are just long pieces of galvanized wire that are probably four inches long, give or take. You just push, hammer them into place to hold the wire flat on the ground until the grass grows up around it. Then the grass will hold it in place. Around here, I'm told to get 32 inch or 36 inch galvanized goat fence to lay on the ground. You want the squares small enough that when the animals try to dig under your fence, they can't get through the wire on the ground.

Thanks Eddie, just what I am looking for. Do you have preferred method for attaching the ground fence to the upright fence? Steel rings or wire?

EddieWalker · Mar 9, 2016

Sorry, I'm repeating what I've been told and have never actually done it myself. I've been to quite a few high fence ranches and looked at what they did to keep coyotes out. That is the biggest problem when breeding exotics, is the loss of fawns to coyotes. One person I know lost over $50,000 worth of fawns this year alone due to coyotes getting in under his fence.

This method seems to be the one with the most success at keeping them out. Some guys have said that coyotes will actually climb the fence to get in where the holes are bigger. I have trouble believing that, but they are living with it, I'm just trying to learn. Hogs are also known to dig under fences, especially where water flows under a fence. They never quit trying to get in, so it's worth the effort to make it as secure as possible.

What I'm told is to use was hog rings. Again, I've never done this, but seen it on the fences I've looked at. It seems to work when done right. I've also seen it done poorly, and it didn't look like it would last to me.

SirReal63 · Mar 9, 2016

Red Brand makes what you may be looking for, it is called apron fence.
Specialty Application - Apron Fence

If you need something heavier, then the two fence solution is best.

lhfarm · Mar 10, 2016

SirReal63 said:
Red Brand makes what you may be looking for, it is called apron fence.
Specialty Application - Apron Fence

If you need something heavier, then the two fence solution is best.

I think this would work, since I'm just worried about rabbits at the moment. Going to see if the big farm store will order some for me.

Thanks

RalphVa · Mar 10, 2016

I've used electric fencing for 15 years. Need 2 strands for hooved rats (not dear to a gardener): top @ 4' and one in middle. Then need one at about 2" and one (non electric) running on the ground as a rabbit trip. A little 6" high fence will keep rabbits out. That's what I use around some small blueberries and around my garden in Baton Rouge where I just had rabbits and no hooved rats.

Initially, it's probably a good idea to "bait" your fence for the hooved rats by putting pieces of tin foil with peanut butter on it on the top wire at some intervals.

Never had a problem with hooved rats getting inside except initially when I had trouble with non electronic chargers going out. Had rabbit problem until I put in the ground trip wire.

Ralph