Post by AnnB (NE) on May 8, 2008 9:29:23 GMT -5
Thankfully, things are finally falling into place -- we closed on our rental house last Friday, we close on the remaining Florida property tomorrow, and we close on Centreville on the 30th. (Woo Hoo!)
So, FINALLY, I'll have some money and can get to doing the things that need to get done. (double Woo Hoo!!)
First and foremost is fencing.
This place will cost a fortune to fence the whole 65 acres, so for this year, I'm going to enclose a 6-10 acre field behind the barn and a 2-3 acre paddock next to the road. I figure I can fence additional areas each year, as finances allow. The future pasture areas that are unfenced will be cut for hay this year.
I've been pricing fence wire and just can't believe the cost!
Okay, if I use 39", 12-1/2 guage, 6" spacing woven wire with 2 strands of 4 point gaucho barbed on top, it will run $650 per 1/4 mile for just the wire.
If I use 5 strands of 4 point gaucho barbed, it will run $215 per 1/4 mile for the wire, and 4 point "bull" wire will run $325 per 1/4 mile.
The nice thing about gaucho wire is that it's twisted a bit differently, so resists stretching and only has to be handstretched when installed, and it didn't even corrode under Florida's salty conditions -- $20 less per roll and held up much better that the "bull" wire (the "bull" wire started to corrode in 6 months)
I haven't figured out the cost of posts yet, but I figure the cost of posts will be the same either way -- wooden corner posts, and t-posts for the line posts.
I know that I really do need to use the woven wire in the areas where there will be small calves -- I've seen calves walk right through 5 strands of barbed, or lay down on one side and get up on the other.
So the way I'm leaning is to use the woven wire to enclose the smaller area next to the road (also close to the house), and use the barbed to enclose the larger pasture area where only larger animals will be.
I'm also considering running 1 strand of electric inside the 5 strand barbed (solar-powered fence charger), to keep the cows off of it, keep them from reaching through and eventually causing the fence to lean.
I would welcome any comments or suggestions, especially from those that have fenced large areas.
Also wondering about the feasibility of using a 10'X12' steel storage shed as either a chicken house or milking room -- they're on sale for $299, and I can't come close to building anything suitable for that price.
Ann B
So, FINALLY, I'll have some money and can get to doing the things that need to get done. (double Woo Hoo!!)
First and foremost is fencing.
This place will cost a fortune to fence the whole 65 acres, so for this year, I'm going to enclose a 6-10 acre field behind the barn and a 2-3 acre paddock next to the road. I figure I can fence additional areas each year, as finances allow. The future pasture areas that are unfenced will be cut for hay this year.
I've been pricing fence wire and just can't believe the cost!
Okay, if I use 39", 12-1/2 guage, 6" spacing woven wire with 2 strands of 4 point gaucho barbed on top, it will run $650 per 1/4 mile for just the wire.
If I use 5 strands of 4 point gaucho barbed, it will run $215 per 1/4 mile for the wire, and 4 point "bull" wire will run $325 per 1/4 mile.
The nice thing about gaucho wire is that it's twisted a bit differently, so resists stretching and only has to be handstretched when installed, and it didn't even corrode under Florida's salty conditions -- $20 less per roll and held up much better that the "bull" wire (the "bull" wire started to corrode in 6 months)
I haven't figured out the cost of posts yet, but I figure the cost of posts will be the same either way -- wooden corner posts, and t-posts for the line posts.
I know that I really do need to use the woven wire in the areas where there will be small calves -- I've seen calves walk right through 5 strands of barbed, or lay down on one side and get up on the other.
So the way I'm leaning is to use the woven wire to enclose the smaller area next to the road (also close to the house), and use the barbed to enclose the larger pasture area where only larger animals will be.
I'm also considering running 1 strand of electric inside the 5 strand barbed (solar-powered fence charger), to keep the cows off of it, keep them from reaching through and eventually causing the fence to lean.
I would welcome any comments or suggestions, especially from those that have fenced large areas.
Also wondering about the feasibility of using a 10'X12' steel storage shed as either a chicken house or milking room -- they're on sale for $299, and I can't come close to building anything suitable for that price.
Ann B