Teach me about running a single hot wire for cattle

[farmer2009]

I Use 2 strands of electric barbed wire. Perimeter and interior. I run single strand barbed electric in the woods and around the pond. If you ever decided to do an NRCS water quality project then permanent existing fences can disqualify you. But single strand electric classifies as temporary fences.

Post spacing I used was 30-35 feet. One wire about your knees and the other about the bottom of your ribs. Even without power cows don't test it. Heck wind blew down a tree across the fence the other day. Cows short on grass and they didn't try to get into hay field with 2 foot grass.

Spooky cows get culled here.

Insurance company says it's sufficient because of the power.

 

[petebert]

I may give it a try with two strands, that makes sense. What about running a poly strand? Higher visibility for humans, will animals see it? Shouldn't need much tension either.

 

[M5farms]

the poly rope and poly flat both work very good visibility , That's all I use for temp fence.

 

[TheMan419]

I may give it a try with two strands, that makes sense. What about running a poly strand? Higher visibility for humans, will animals see it? Shouldn't need much tension either.

We use electrobraid for horse fence. It has a tensioning tool. However you can tension it by hand.

 

[farmer2009]

I may give it a try with two strands, that makes sense. What about running a poly strand? Higher visibility for humans, will animals see it? Shouldn't need much tension either.

The barbed wire helps with that. I Don't have a problem with visibility when I use the solid silver wire. But the red brand wire with the red barbs at a certain angle it will disappear. Forestry flagging tape works great for marking new fences for animals 2 & 4 legged.

 

[petebert]

I'm going to give it a try this week, bought some yellow polywire. Can I put it in a U shape in a continuous strand? I have permanent fence on one side with wood posts. Figured I would start and end attached to the wood posts since they can take plenty of tension. Fiberglass poles down the straight lines, would t posts people able to handle the corners of the U or would they want to bend inwards?

 

[Creamer]

T-pots do not have enough resistance for sharp corners (especially in soft ground) unless you set one about ten feet on each side of the corner as well as one in the corner to help take the load off. then do not put too much tension on the wire.

 

[redman135]

Hello petebert, I recommend you use white either polywire or polytape, as cattle and deer have black and white vision and see white better than any other colour. Also as you mention a deer problem you should use polytape as this catches the breeze and moves. Deer have excellent "movement" sight, and generally only run through a fence because they didn't see it.
Peg spacing, can be up to 16 yards on very flat ground (you don't say how flat), or down to 2 yards to get over a sharp hump.
Yes you can use a "U" layout if you tie off the "U", end peg to the permanent fence, it is a common method when educating calves.
If you only have flexible electric fence pegs then use a lazy corner that is spread over 5 pegs to get around a corner, and don't over strain the polywire/tape.
Power unit, you don't say what you are using. If you are having problems with weak output not stopping animals then get the manual out and follow the earth/ground instructions.This is where you find 90% of your trouble.
An earlier poster said they used electric barbed wire. DON'T. If people get caught in electric barbed wire you will have Work Safe or your govt equivilent on you hobnails first, electric barbed wire fences are considered a serious NO NO on safety grounds. Definately use plain wire or tape only.

 

[petebert]

I have a bunch of wedge loc pieces and thought about reinforcing the t post corners with those. I do like the idea of making the corner more of an arc to distribute the load.

Very flat land.

No problems with the fence charger. My animals never get out of my electric net fencing. The only problem I ever have is deer running into it at night. What if I tied a ribbon inbetween each fiberglass post down the lines?

 

[Creamer]

I have a bunch of wedge loc pieces and thought about reinforcing the t post corners with those. I do like the idea of making the corner more of an arc to distribute the load.

Very flat land.

No problems with the fence charger. My animals never get out of my electric net fencing. The only problem I ever have is deer running into it at night. What if I tied a ribbon inbetween each fiberglass post down the lines?

Not an arc but a square corner with the second post on each side set up to take the load. These posts will then give some and the corner will help. The other thing you can do is to put an angular brace on the corner post to not let it lean.

Ribbons help. Deer move at dusk and dawn so anything that is somewhat flourescent that will last for 30 minutes or so after dark will help more.