FAQ. Stock fencing - fences24
FAQ. Stock fencing
Stock fencing is cheap and durable. It comes in various sizes. It is perfect for fencing forest areas, fields, orchards, as well as highways and expressways. Due to easy assembly and disassembly, it is also suitable for temporary fencing of construction sites. To dispel any doubts about the humble stock fence, here are the most frequently asked questions about it.
The arrangement of the posts does not have to be as dense as in the case of chain link fencing. In the case of a wire mesh, it is advisable to place posts every 2-2.5 meters. In the case of stock fencing, it is different. The arrangement of posts can be much less frequent – 3 meters between the posts is enough.
How tall should a livestock fence be?
When deciding on stock fencing for a particular kind of livestock, you have to take into consideration its marking scheme. Three numbers are always given in this format:
Stock fencing 160/15/15 made of thick galvanized wire is dedicated mainly to protect crops and orchards against wild animals. It is also perfect for fencing off beef cattle, pigs, goats and sheep.
Use a more solid mesh 200/22/15 for deer breeding, as these animals can grow to be quite big and strong.
You can find detailed guide on how to choose stock fencing for particular animals on our blog.
What is the best fence for goats?
Goats and sheep are medium sized animals that can be viewed by predators as an easy prey. Some of them may have horns. They are rather active – they like to jump and run around the area where they pasture. They are also strong for their size.
When choosing a stock fence for goats and sheep, look for a mesh with denser structure. If the mesh density is too low, the animals can get their heads easily stuck in the net and may hurt themselves as a result. Especially when baby goats and sheep appear in the herd.
For that application we recommend choosing stock fencing that is at least 1 meter high with higher density of the mesh throughout the whole fence.
That way the fence will not only prevent the animals from escaping but will also enable any predators from attacking the herd.
Which stock fence is the best?
Aside from choosing the right dimensions of the mesh, it is very important to buy only solidly galvanized stock fencing. Each fence is usually in contact with the ground and is often buried, so corrosion protection is very important. Many experts advise on additional protection of the part of the mesh that is to be in the ground. Luckily, galvanizing of the whole surface of the mesh is always enough.
What is the average service life of galvanized stock fencing?
Good quality stock fencing will last several dozen years. If it is galvanized and well installed, it can stay in good shape for up to 50 years.
If you want such a fence to keep in good condition for a very long time, you can also invest in galvanized steel posts. They will extend the life of the fence.
If you plan a permanent fencing of the plot, it will be more advantageous to use metal posts. If they are made out of stainless steel or other metals covered with additional galvanization, it will ensure long-term stability. They will not corrode or disintegrate. However, wood does not have to be doomed to failure immediately.
Among wooden posts, the most popular are those made of cheap pine wood. If you decide to use wooden posts, remember to impregnate them properly. Wood is a material extremely susceptible to the effects of weather conditions, such as rains, strong winds or strong sun. Wood that is not impregnated will quickly deteriorate and rot.
As an alternative, you can choose acacia or oak wood. It is more expensive, but it’s characterized by exceptional hardness. Thanks to this it will withstand unfavorable weather conditions without any additional impregnation.
What to look for when choosing a stock fence?
When choosing a stock fence, you should pay special attention to two parameters. First of all, the height of the mesh and the dimensions of the mesh. It cannot be denied that the fence of a given area needs a specific mesh. If the mesh will serve as an ordinary home fence, it does not have to be tall. Everything changes when you want to protect a specific area from other people or animals. Then it is necessary to choose a higher fence – minimum 160 cm.
How to attach stock fencing mesh to steel posts?
When installing stock fencing, always start with the corner post, remembering that the mesh must be tightened well during installation. If you use posts intended for stock fencing, the netting is simply hung on the mounts.
In the case of ordinary posts, you should fasten it, for example with the use of wires for mounting. When attaching the mesh to the posts, remember not to block it on intermediate posts. The net has to have some space for movement, but that does not mean that it can be loose or hanging. It must be well attached to the corner posts.
How to attach stock fencing mesh to wooden posts?
Attaching stock fencing to wooden posts is not much different than in the case of steel posts. The mesh should be attached to the wooden posts with special staples – nails bent in the shape of a letter “U”.
In this article you can find detailed guide on how to install stock fencing.