Hello all, I am new to the forum and am writing a paper regarding barbed wire. I was hoping to get some input from the group on how often you put up barbed wire or replace old wire? How many feet a year, month, week, etc. would you say your ranch is adding or replacing? What type of barbed wire are you using? What are the biggest problems with installing barbed wire? I appreciate any assistance you all will be able to provide to me and thanks in advance.
How often do you replace or add barbed wire?
- Thread starter jrlevins
- Start date
allen57
Well-known member
Your welcome. :tiphat:jrlevins said:
TXTibbs
Well-known member
The amount of wire replaced per week/month/year has such a wide variance from ranch to ranch its nearly impossible to put any exact figure on paper. If a ranch has relatively new fences he may go an entire year without replacing any. Also depends on the type of livestock that the ranch is running as some livestock are more friendly to fences than others. I've seen barbed wire fences that are 50 or 60 years old. Granted they are pretty rotten and weak at that point, but were still turning livestock. It depends on the ranch manager's funds and objectives as to when he/she will go about replacing, versus just mending or patching. On average I'd say a well built 12 1/2 gauge barbed wire fence should last for a good solid 20 years. But if an ole bull decides to rub up against it or if an antelope hits it going 60mph then its lifespan is greatly reduced. Gosh and it depends on the posts used (wood, steel, etc..) and which part of the country you live in, with weather, soil types and other factors. There are lots of things to consider that can affect need to "mend" fence. :roll:
I probably "add" more wire to a fence than anything. Especially if the neighbor across the fence is questionable/difficult/negligent/ A five or six strand fence is good insurance. With barbwire $70+ a roll, it's expensive, but not as expensive as Trich. Red Brand is the top seller around here. 2 barb is easier to work with, 4 barb is some serious stuff, most expensive too.
Hedge posts, aka osage orange or bodark. You probably won't live long enough to replace 'em. I go one hedge and three steel. Braces are the most important part of a fence. If they pull, all the wire in the world won't make any difference.
Hedge posts, aka osage orange or bodark. You probably won't live long enough to replace 'em. I go one hedge and three steel. Braces are the most important part of a fence. If they pull, all the wire in the world won't make any difference.
Big Muddy rancher
Well-known member
If i remember correct this place was fenced in 1910 and second hand wire was used then.
We have been using a high tensile barb 4 point. . Most of our fences are three strands but new fence usually 4 strand. I splice lots of breks with used wire.
We have been using a high tensile barb 4 point. . Most of our fences are three strands but new fence usually 4 strand. I splice lots of breks with used wire.
We still have lots of "war wire" that was made and strung during the second world war. With the steel shortage the two barbs are pretty short. We mostly use high tensile now, bu barb is usually 2 strand tree island with 4 point barbs. I doubt we replace 5% a year, but that number can grow in a hurry when a whole fence gets done.
allen57
Well-known member
jrlevins said:
Really don't recollect how much was "replaced" this year. Only what it took to splice things back together. Might have been a hundred feet or so. The only thing "new" in the past 20 or so years.... last year I rebuilt a half mile with 12.5 gauge 5-wire. And the year before that about a mile with 5-wire goucho.
per
Well-known member
Lots of 50+ year fences here with cedar posts that are still good. We add posts in between as necessary and on some add 2 strand tree island 4 barb in between the existing wire. If a fence gives trouble the first major fix might be to isolate a wire and heat it. Many newly built fences don't last near as long as those old cedar post ones. I prefer one wire electric fences in most cases now.
I replaced 4 miles of fence this past year. The fences that I replaced were built by my grandfather when he was a boy back in the 30's. I rebuilt them to be four strand with t posts every 10 feet and pine dancers in between them. Where I am from the elk herd is the worst thing you can have around there is no such thing as a elk proof fence when those suckers start to run.
I have replaced about 3 miles of fence this year,Im guessin most of it was 40 to 50 years old,there are to many reasons for building or not building fence,lotsa times its because a neighbor refuses to work with you,just settled a couple deals like that one neighbor it took me 18 years for him to get it through his thick head.............I wasnt gonna build him a fence PERIOD!!!!!!!!! another I built 1/2 mile and just run my stock to a back pasture and locked the front gate open to the highway,didnt take that (^%&&$% long to build fence.
Its all ways nice to have a good neighbor to share costs on fence that you both need,but there always seems to be someone that tries to wait you out,some fences get mighty old in a case like that................
get 2 hard headed ole geezers workin against each other instead of together no tellin how old that fence will get
good luck
Its all ways nice to have a good neighbor to share costs on fence that you both need,but there always seems to be someone that tries to wait you out,some fences get mighty old in a case like that................
get 2 hard headed ole geezers workin against each other instead of together no tellin how old that fence will get
good luck
the_jersey_lilly_2000
Well-known member
This is a very interesting topic. Not that there's a given amount of wire replaced or put up new in any given area. We've put up some new fences this year....and replaced some as well. But that's the first in 20 years.
I seem to be able to go out almost on a daily basis....and find 1 or 2 places that need patched....year round, on them old fences that were build back in the late 40s early 50s. But most of the wire is still good if it's not on the part of our place that gets under water.
I'd say we patch and repair way more wire damage that's caused by run off water and brush, than we do that's caused by bulls or cows. I do have one fence with a neighbor...he won't patch it for anything.....I will. He knows it. LOL You know the rest of the story. I do it because I'd rather my cows be where they are supposed to be...than to hafta go find em.
I seem to be able to go out almost on a daily basis....and find 1 or 2 places that need patched....year round, on them old fences that were build back in the late 40s early 50s. But most of the wire is still good if it's not on the part of our place that gets under water.
I'd say we patch and repair way more wire damage that's caused by run off water and brush, than we do that's caused by bulls or cows. I do have one fence with a neighbor...he won't patch it for anything.....I will. He knows it. LOL You know the rest of the story. I do it because I'd rather my cows be where they are supposed to be...than to hafta go find em.
Thank you all I didn't expect to get this type of response! So it seems that more time is spent repairing than actually replacing. Sorry to keep on with the questions but this forum has been the best resource I have found yet for people who actually deal with fencing on a daily basis. So with that being said I have a few more:
1) How long does it usually take to repair a 10 ft section of fence (each strand)?
2) What tools are are the best to do the repairs (i.e. for the fence clips and splicing)?
3) What species of animal are you using the fence for?
Thanks again!
1) How long does it usually take to repair a 10 ft section of fence (each strand)?
2) What tools are are the best to do the repairs (i.e. for the fence clips and splicing)?
3) What species of animal are you using the fence for?
Thanks again!
per
Well-known member
For me it depends on the break. If it is a tree down in the wind, cut with chainsaw, splice and stretch, maybe 15 minutes. One wire splice 3 minutes. Finding the hole, straightening out the cattle mix up, visiting the neighbor... hours.
At least a hammer, fence pliers and a piece of wire. There are a variety of stretchers and tighteners that are quite useful.
Bovines to be held in. Low enough that the Moose go over as well as the Deer and Elk. High enough that the young ones can go under as well as the Bear, Cougar and Bobcats. Wouldn't mind if it was Wolf Proof. :wink:
At least a hammer, fence pliers and a piece of wire. There are a variety of stretchers and tighteners that are quite useful.
Bovines to be held in. Low enough that the Moose go over as well as the Deer and Elk. High enough that the young ones can go under as well as the Bear, Cougar and Bobcats. Wouldn't mind if it was Wolf Proof. :wink:
the_jersey_lilly_2000
Well-known member
jrlevins said:
gcreekrch
Well-known member
HAY MAKER said:
Yer GOATS?