Fence Building - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find more information on electric fencing for my
specific animal type?
What posts should I use for my electric fence?
Which insulator should I use?
What kind of fence wire do I need?
How many wires should my electric fence have?
I know the acreage of my pasture; but how do I calculate the perimeter fence
length?
What are the pros and cons of temporary versus more permanent forms of
fencing?
I plan to use a permanent high tensile fence. What special guidelines
should I follow?
I raise horses. What special guidelines should I follow?
Where can I find more information on electric fencing for my
specific animal type?
For animal specific fencing information refer to the following links:
livestock (beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep & goats, hogs);
horses; dogs; exotic animals (llamas,
emus & ostriches); predators (wolves
& coyotes, bear); and nuisance critters
(small and tall).
What posts should I use for my electric fence?
Your choice of fence post will depend on the animal
being contained, the lifetime you expect from the fence, and the topography
(flat or rolling terrain). If you still don't know what type of post to use,
the Fence Builder™ Planning Tool will
recommend a selection for you.
Keep in mind that corner and end posts (including gates) carry much of the
strain, so for most applications these need to be sturdier than the line posts.
Also remember post you select determines the type of
insulator used.
For more information, see the post
product information page.
Which insulator should I use?
The Fence Builder™ Fence Planning Tool
will automatically provide a selection of insulators to match the post type
you've chosen. Of these, pinlock, N-series, and poly tape insulators offer the
highest quality.
What kind of fence wire do I need?
Generally, use the most highly visible fence wire you can afford-for the simple
reason that animals can't avoid a fence they don't see. For horses, this almost
always means white poly tape. For other animals, yellow and black
poly wire may do. And high tensile systems
require high tensile steel wire. If you're still uncertain, the
Fence Builder™ Fence Planning Tool
will recommend a wire selection based on the information you enter.
How many wires should my electric fence have?
The type of animal being controlled generally determines the number of fence
wires. Visit our animal considerations pages to find appropriate wire spacings
for livestock (beef cattle, dairy cattle,
sheep & goats, hogs); horses; dogs;
exotic animals (llamas, emus & ostriches);
predators (wolves & coyotes, bear); and nuisance
critters
(small and tall).
I know the acreage of my pasture; but how do I calculate
the perimeter fence length?
Use the following table to determine the perimeter length.
1/4 acre = 417 ft.
1/2 acre = 590 ft.
3/4 acre = 722 ft.
1 acre = 835 ft.
2 acres = 1,181 ft.
3 acres = 1,446 ft.
4 acres = 1,670 ft.
5 acres = 1,867 ft.
10 acres = 2,640 ft.
20 acres = 3,743 ft.
40 acres = 5,280 ft.
50 acres = 5,903 ft.
Note: the distances listed above are based on square-shaped perimeters.
What are the pros and cons of temporary versus more
permanent forms of fencing?
We group fences into four categories: (1) portable or temporary, (2)
semi-permanent or permanent, (3) permanent high tensile, and (4) the Horse
Sense® fence system.
Portable fences often come in kits
that include the fence controller as well as the posts and wire needed for
installation. You can also create an easily-moved temporary system using
steel-rod, fiberglass or poly step-in posts; poly wire, poly tape, or poly
rope; and other lightweight components. Although such fences typically run for
short distances, they cost relatively little, install very easily, yet provide
adequate security for most animals.
Semi-permanent or permanent fences consist of T-posts, rods, or U-posts driven
into the ground and virtually any type of conductive wire. This type of fence
is often used for pastures and cross fencing. The ease of installation can
range from easy to moderate, depending on the terrain and the animal being
contained or excluded.
Permanent high-tensile fences use deeply anchored wood posts to support steel
wire under a high degree of tension. While more time-consuming to install, a
high-tensile fence offers the greatest degree of security; can be used as a
permanent perimeter fence, and can exclude or contain difficult or aggressive
animals, such as bulls or predators. A well-built high-tensile fence requires
little maintenance and can last from 20 to 40 years.
The Horse Sense® Electric Fence System emphasizes
horse safety. Highly visible poly tape and poly rope make it easy for the horse
to see the fence and, in the event of a collision, give way before they can
harm the animal. As a further precaution, white vinyl sleeves and caps cover
the T-posts, U-posts, or wood posts, protecting the horse while giving the
fence a classic white-rail appearance. The Horse
Sense® Electric Fence System
will last from 5 to 15 years, depending on the materials used.
I plan to use a permanent high tensile fence. What
special guidelines should I follow?
Because they operate under high tension, these fences belong in a separate
class from standard electric fences. Refer to the high-tensile fencing section
for details.
I raise horses. What special guidelines should I follow?
Fencing for horses presents its own set of unique challenges. We recommend that
you start by visiting our equine products page.
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