Interested in some feedback on fence plans

[Smallplot]

With two or three fence steel posts between wooden posts (which are currently 6' apart), I'd wind up with 16" to 24" between posts. That's not overkill? I can't say I've ever seen a fence with spacing that tight.

Guess next time I will have to draw a picture. 2 to 3 steel posts for every wooden post with everything spaced out around to 8 to 12 feet.

 

[jbeall]

Let me go back to one of my original ideas: what if I repaired the three board fence, and then cover it in 20 gauge chickenwire or similar lightweight mesh? The mesh would only be spanning about 16" between boards, and the boards themselves would be what keeps larger cattle fenced in. The lightweight mesh would just be for preventing smaller animals (e.g., calves) from getting out between the boards.

Would this work? What would happen if I tried this?

 

[rasimmo]

Let me go back to one of my original ideas: what if I repaired the three board fence, and then cover it in 20 gauge chickenwire or similar lightweight mesh? The mesh would only be spanning about 16" between boards, and the boards themselves would be what keeps larger cattle fenced in. The lightweight mesh would just be for preventing smaller animals (e.g., calves) from getting out between the boards.

Would this work? What would happen if I tried this?

I would not use chicken wire, but that's just me. That is why I suggested the field fence. The larger animals will push on it and probably destroy it. That is just my opinion. I have no idea what the price difference would be, but I would price out each way and see what the difference is.

 

[jbeall]

At my local Southern States, 12.5 gauge, 48" tall field fence was about $1/foot more than 20 gauge chicken wire.

That's an extra $1700 for the perimeter fence, and $3400 if we did the entire interior fence that way as well.

Which to a poor guy like me is a lot but I also understand that when you're talking about a fence you want to last 20+ years, it's not that much.

-Josh

 

[rasimmo]

You know your financial situation way better than me. I have gone the cheaper route on things in the past and regretted it. If I would have done it right the first time it would have come out cheaper in the end. That is up to you to decide my friend.

 

[roygage]

At my local Southern States, 12.5 gauge, 48" tall field fence was about $1/foot more than 20 gauge chicken wire.

That's an extra $1700 for the perimeter fence, and $3400 if we did the entire interior fence that way as well.

Which to a poor guy like me is a lot but I also understand that when you're talking about a fence you want to last 20+ years, it's not that much.

-Josh

Josh, You might try used. Around here, Iowa, the farmers have torn down miles of fence the past twenty years. Most is long gone to the scrap yards but may still be some good rolls of used around.

Chicken wire would be disaster in my opinion.

I am with a group that helps promote the local tractor pull. Last year we went looking for cheap chain link fence. Found three hundred + feet of ten foot fence, poles and supports ect. Free. Fence looks as good as a new one would and is commercial grade.

This fall went looking for some 6 foot chain link for the other side of track, found about 500 feet or so, again for free. Four of the poles are galvanized 4 inch by .250 pipe 18 feet long. I priced them online at 329.00 a piece.

I understand you are not looking for chain link fence but you start snooping you never know what you might find.

Maybe an add in your local Farm Bureau spokesman magazine.

 

[billybobjimmyjoejack]

It seems you are on a very tight budget. If you were to choose just some of the fence line that you have that would contain just the smaller animals, you could upgrade that section with the woven wire of your choice (as your budget permits). You would then remove the rail boards from those areas and use them to repair some of the other areas that are in bad condition. You would be just upgrading as you can afford, a section at a time.