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Jane Ferris
27 Posts |
 Posted - 05/02/2012 : 11:09:44 AM
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Hello Alpaca Community
We are just about to take the plunge, and "buy the farm!" 
Please: What is the best pasture fencing to use and why do you recommend it?
Jane Ferris
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Christiane
2554 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2012 : 1:19:45 PM
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Speaking from experience and now nine years of it with alpacas, I would recommend horse fencing, the non climb kind, and if I had to do it over again, I would use all wooden posts put 24 inches in the ground(more if possible.) When I started, I tried to do everything as cheaply as possible and used the welded wire that you can find at most farm and gard/Home Depot type stores. Needless to say, I have had to replace all of it over the years and the horse fencing is what I recommend to all of my farm visitors. The t-posts work ok if you don't mind them sagging one way or another after a year or so, especially if you have a lot of water after rains. I have replaced most of those and am planning on putting in more wooden posts this summer.
The other thing, is gates, gates, and more gates. My mentor told me about that, and it is true. It is so much easier if you have gates that will enable you to have a truck enter to deposit gravel, sand, or hay. Leave plenty of space for a large truck to make a turn as well. If you don't have overhangs on your barn or other building that you intend to use to house your animals, put one in. I am doing that now as it saves lots of work in having to clean poop inside a barn. Much easier to clean it if you have an overhang where they will "go". It also provides much needed shade and cover for feed.
Christiane Rudolf
Tanglewood Farm
19741 Victory Lane
Fayetteville, Ohio 45118
(513) 875-2533 |
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Mara DeBoe
52 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2012 : 3:13:44 PM
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We try to get our wood posts in 36 inches, if not more, to inhibit movement due to frost. The wood posts will heave more than t-posts. We place 2-3 t-posts between each wood post, with about 12-15 feet between posts. And woven fencing 48" or 60" tall. If you have long stretches of fencing, reinforce the corner posts with diagonal bracing. And yes, gates, gates, gates. We can open and close gates to make runs and different size pastures.
Mark & Mara DeBoe
Wibotawot Farm
River Falls, WI |
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pdhmaine
629 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2012 : 4:51:18 PM
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Geo-Tek's Common Sense Fence with 5 strands of Electrobraid has worked well for us for 8 years. 6 or 7 strands if you are in an area with stray dogs or coyotes. We use gates from the local feed store. Lots and lots of gates!
Pam
Pamela Harwood
Longwoods Alpaca Farm, LLC
135 Longwoods Road
Cumberland, ME 04021
pdh@longwoodsalpacas.com
www.longwoodsalpacas.com
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jillmcm
3167 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2012 : 8:16:26 PM
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If you're in an area with a real winter, I'd recommend pounded, not augered, posts put in 3' deep and 5' or 6' no climb fencing. And like everyone else says - lots of gates!
Jill McElderry-Maxwell
Bag End Suri Alpacas of Maine - ¡BESAME!
Benton, ME
(207) 453-0109
bagendsuris@roadrunner.com
http://www.bagendsuris.com
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bturner
181 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2012 : 8:57:59 PM
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Pounded 8' posts 3' into the ground. 5' galvanized woven wire fencing. All available at TSC or if you can accept large truckloads, there are companies that are less expensive if you get all the fencing at once. Once you get the posts pounded, stretching the fence is pretty easy.
Not sure about strands of wire. It seems like crias and the guard dog would just walk right through. Remember, the alpacas love to rub up against the fence. You always hear that alpacas never challenge a fence. But they push on the fence so hard it will pop the staples out. Make sure it is strong.
Brian.....
Brian and Joy Turner
Our Little World Alpacas LLC
Grafton, OH
http://www.alpacanation.com/ourlittleworld.asp
www.ourlittleworldalpacas.com
(440) 477-4300
(440) 724-7070
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Jane Ferris
27 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2012 : 9:43:33 PM
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Thank you to each and everyone.
Your suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Jane Ferris
The Angel and The Albatross Alpaca Farm
Visit us on Open Herd
Jane Ferris |
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elden harms
106 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2012 : 11:17:45 PM
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"...there are companies that are less expensive if you get all the fencing at once."
Pls list names of these companies. I'll be buying quite a bit of 5' woven 2x4 fencing and would like a good price on it. Is it less than $1.65/foot?
Elden Harms
Token Creek Alpacas LLC
Sun Prairie WI |
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jillmcm
3167 Posts |
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davemartin88
27 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2012 : 08:35:02 AM
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We used Stay Tuff 1348-6 fencing. It's woven, verticals every 6" and has variable spacing on the bottom for better predator control. A couple of other farms locally use it as well that have been at this much longer than we have. If you can find it locally without shipping, it's considerably less than $1.65 per foot but some think the 6" is too wide? Best of luck with getting set up!
Dave M.
Hidden Bend Retreat
Romney, WV |
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bobvicki
2837 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2012 : 08:52:48 AM
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The best fence I ever saw was in Grand Island Nebraska. The entire perimeter fence on this former Llama place was a six foot chainlink fence. Steel pipes were the posts and the fence had 3 cables running through it, top, middle, and bottom. I am not sure if or how far the fence went into the ground. It is the type of fence I would put up "If I were a rich man" !
Instead, where ever I can I use 4 or 5 foot chain link, with lots of parts being found on "Craigslist" and in the classified section of the local newspaper.
Gates, gates and more gates. Wide enough for a truck. One set I had was only used for walk through for most of the eight years we lived there in Iowa except one time when having it wide enough for a truck was needed, saved lots of hassle.
Bob
Bob & Vicki Blodgett
Suri Land Alpaca Ranch
10371 N 2210 Road
Clinton, Oklahoma 73601
641-831-3576
alpaca@htswireless.com
www.alpacanation.com/suriland.asp |
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bturner
181 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2012 : 10:36:55 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by elden harms
"...there are companies that are less expensive if you get all the fencing at once."
Pls list names of these companies. I'll be buying quite a bit of 5' woven 2x4 fencing and would like a good price on it. Is it less than $1.65/foot?
I got a quote from here that was reasonably less than TSC but I could not take delivery of it. If you can have a semi pull in and roll everything off the side, it is worth it. If you have your own trailer that will haul that kind of weight you could pick them up yourselves. They are in Norwalk, OH. Here is a link:
http://www.americantimberandsteel.com/round-fence-posts.html
Also, Kencove is another good source.
I also found a farm on Craigslist that was having the fence pulled up and was selling it. (another reason to have the posts pounded). Again, I had no means to get it so I bought from TSC.
Brian.....
Brian and Joy Turner
Our Little World Alpacas LLC
Grafton, OH
http://www.alpacanation.com/ourlittleworld.asp
www.ourlittleworldalpacas.com
(440) 477-4300
(440) 724-7070
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Christiane
2554 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2012 : 12:40:02 PM
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OOPs, I did mean three feet in the ground for the wooden posts. Heat is getting to my brain. Just put in another one for a gate to a small pasture that I plan to use for weanlings.
Christiane Rudolf
Tanglewood Farm
19741 Victory Lane
Fayetteville, Ohio 45118
(513) 875-2533 |
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KBAR
8 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2012 : 10:48:52 PM
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We put in 6 foot no climb fence around the perimeter of the pastures and used 6 foot high dog kennel panels for the gates. The kennel panels work great, one kennel gives you 4 gates, and you always need more gates. Inside to divide pastures we now use 5 foot fencing, one of our herdsires has no problem jumping the 4 foot fencing.
Doug & Carolyn Lilleyman
Kickin' Back Alpaca Ranch
Markdale Ontario
info@kickinbackalpacaranch.com
www.kickinbackalpacaranch.com |
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Christiane
2554 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2012 : 11:47:07 PM
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Since my property butts against ten acres of woods where the deer and the coyotes roam, I used the six foot high dog kennel panels that an alpaca farm gave me when they no longer needed them for dogs. I put the metal posts that support them in concrete, and it has worked out great for me. Most of my other fencing is four feet high.
Christiane Rudolf
Tanglewood Farm
19741 Victory Lane
Fayetteville, Ohio 45118
(513) 875-2533 |
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Mara DeBoe
52 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2012 : 10:33:30 AM
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Dog kennel panels as gates or fencing. What a great idea. You can always find that stuff on Craigslist.
Mark & Mara DeBoe
Wibotawot Farm
River Falls, WI |
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bobvicki
2837 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2012 : 09:42:32 AM
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Dog kennel door panels can also be used as dividers in your trailer depending on the width & height of the panels and your trailer. I have also used them to make temporary stalls in the barn and barn area.
Bob
Bob & Vicki Blodgett
Suri Land Alpaca Ranch
10371 N 2210 Road
Clinton, Oklahoma 73601
641-831-3576
alpaca@htswireless.com
www.alpacanation.com/suriland.asp |
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Heidi Christensen
4211 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 10:33:42 PM
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Never been a fan of chain link, but am leasing pasture space that is part 2X4 nonclimb horse fencing and mostly chain link. I like  . I had always heard to stay away from chain link because it is a good idea to think with re-sale of the farm in mind, and you are likely going to sell to horse folks, and horse folks aren't fond of chain link. I do know I won't be putting my horse in the chain link part of the farm when the time comes to move in, but it works well for the alpacas. Falling trees and a possible deer getting caught in it and taking down some of the poles has been a problem with the chain link, but at least its easy to repair.
Heidi Christensen
WingNut Farm
Graham, Wa
(253) 846-2168
http://alpacanation.com/wingnutfarm.asp
http://wingnut-alpacas.com |
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pdhmaine
629 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 07:44:15 AM
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Jill, can you explain about not using augered posts in an area with real winters? Our posts are augered in 3+ feet, and after 8 years remain solid and upright. We do have real winters here, except this past one -- we got off lightly!
Pam
Pamela Harwood
Longwoods Alpaca Farm, LLC
135 Longwoods Road
Cumberland, ME 04021
pdh@longwoodsalpacas.com
www.longwoodsalpacas.com
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wirefence
6 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 9:29:14 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by KBAR
We put in 6 foot no climb fence around the perimeter of the pastures and used 6 foot high dog kennel panels for the gates. The kennel panels work great, one kennel gives you 4 gates, and you always need more gates. Inside to divide pastures we now use 5 foot fencing, one of our herdsires has no problem jumping the 4 foot fencing.
I totally agree with this kind of fence,dog kennel panel is strong and could be used for gate,the more important is this gate with lower cost.
Dog Kennel/Horse Fence/Wire Fence
Http://www.skynetting.com
Http://www.apnetting.com
E-mail:luzara2000@gmail.com |
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bturner
181 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2012 : 10:38:22 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by pdhmaine
Jill, can you explain about not using augered posts in an area with real winters? Our posts are augered in 3+ feet, and after 8 years remain solid and upright. We do have real winters here, except this past one -- we got off lightly!
Pam
Pamela Harwood
Longwoods Alpaca Farm, LLC
135 Longwoods Road
Cumberland, ME 04021
pdh@longwoodsalpacas.com
www.longwoodsalpacas.com
Augered and cemented posts could actually have tax implications. If the post is pounded, it can be removed and may not be considered a permanent part of your operation. I don't fully understand all the tax laws, but I think you can treat them different on your taxes depending if they are pounded and removable or cemented and basically permanent. Otherwise, I think its just a preference.
Brian.....
Brian and Joy Turner
Our Little World Alpacas LLC
Grafton, OH
http://www.alpacanation.com/ourlittleworld.asp
www.ourlittleworldalpacas.com
(440) 477-4300
(440) 724-7070
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Edited by - bturner on 05/09/2012 10:39:01 AM |
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Topic |
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Best Fencing???
