Fencing is a HUGE part of the infostructure of the homestead. You practically can’t have one without the other. Like every other project, fencing is an investment, and if you’re like me, something you’ll want to last as long as possible. It isn’t something you’ll want to keep throwing money at, so you want it done right the first time.
Because there are so many applications for fencing, there are a lot of different options available. Some fencing is great for gardens, but awful for animals. Other options aren’t worth the money you throw at them. It gets very frustrating trying to figure it all out, but, trust me, it’s better to take the time now than complete a project and find out that the material you chose is wrong.
We have spent so many hours around the farm redoing fences for one reason or another. They break and need repair, they are the wrong material, or just plain moving them around. I wish I would have taken the time to figure out what each fencing material was actually good for before I put them up. For instance, I would never have used chicken wire for my chicken coop, but I’ll go into why later on.
With so many different animals on the farm, we have a lot of different types of fencing (and more come every year). Horses and cattle, I prefer to have on wire electric fencing, whereas goats, sheep, and pig I have found electric netting works the best for us.
1 Wooden Rail Fencing
When I think of wooden rail fencing the first thing that comes to mind is a horse pasture with a white rail line. It’s ok for large livestock that like cattle (keep in mind it won’t stand up to an animal challenging the fence), but with the price tag associated with it, it is usually used at high end equestrian facilities. Not only does it cost an arm and a leg to put up, but the upkeep is costly too. Repairs are constant, it always either needs new paint, loose boards need to be re-secured, or rotten wood needs to be replaced.
2 Woven Wire Fencing
There are multiple different styles of woven wire each with their own strengths and weaknesses. They are strong, secure, relatively maintenance free, and most can be used for any type of livestock. This type of fence is also wonderful for horses, however make sure the mesh is small enough that the hooves cannot become stuck.
Hinge Joint Fencing
This is the most common type of woven wire fencing and can be found at most farm supply stores. The vertical and horizontal wires are held together in a mesh shape by wrapping the vertical wires around the horizontal. Because of it’s construction it is given more lateral strength, but since the joint is not secured from moving along the horizontal wire animals can work openings. For that reason, it is not ideal for sheep or goats.
S Knot Fencing
Also known as square knot or stiff-stay joint, this is a very strong and versatile containment fence. The joints of the mesh are secured by a separate wire both horizontally and vertically leaving no play in the joints for them to slip or let loose. This is a wonderful option for all pstured livestock.
Fixed Knot Fencing
As the name implies, this is anther type of woven fence where the joints are secured both vertically and horizontally. Because of the unique knot that secures the two wires it can boast increased strength allowing for increased post spacing.
3 Welded Wire Fencing
The joints in this fencing style are welded together so there is no movement. The welds are prone to breakage making welded wire not as strong as welded wire, therefore, it is only used for light applications such as small animals, garden fences, and poultry.
4 Barbed Wire Fencing
This style of fencing consists of two strands of wire twisted together with barbs ever 3 to 5 inches. Relatively inexpensive, it is normally recommended only for large livestock, such as cattle or bison. It is not recommended for horses due to risk of injury, nor is it recommended for use with goats, sheep, llamas, or alpacas.
5 Electric Fencing
This is a great option for any large livestock. If an animal brushes against it a small shock will be felt and the animal will avoid in future. However, this is only a psychological deterrent and a headstrong animal can challenge and escape. The fence is usually run with 4 to 5 strands of durable high tensile wire that is electrically changed with either a solar or a plugged-in energizer. Because of the electrical component you do need grounding rods and insulators to prevent it from shorting out. Even though it sounds complicated it is easy to install, easy to repair, and the upkeep is low, mostly only consisting of keeping weeds off the lines. This is also a very economic option when compared to the initial investment of other types of fencing.
6 Cattle Panels
Cattle panels are so easy to use. There is no stretching or pulling needed, and conveniently, these panels come in a variety of different lengths. The panels are much more durable than the other types of fencing because they are made from a thicker wire. It is seriously just a lift and stick fence. Although I would love to use cattle panels in every fencing project I have they are crazy expensive when compared to other options, making them better suited for small projects.
7 Chicken Wire
Chicken wire is the bane of my existence. I have absolutely no use for this product in a farm application. It is made of very thin wires that create a hexagonal pattern. Up front, it is a very inexpensive option, however, you will be repairing and replacing it in the next 5 years. It rusts out pretty quickly. It is common knowledge, in the chicken world, that chicken wire is only good to keep chickens in not predators out. It’s best application is for craft work or travel cages.
8 Electric Netting
This is a relatively new style of fencing when compared to the other options. These tend to be on the more expensive side, so it’s not usually used in large pasture areas. If your planning to rotate pastures this is an excellent option since it is easily moveable. There is a nettings available for all types of livestock and poultry.
9 Primitive Fencing options
There are a lot of options that have been used in the past but are less popular now because manufactured fencing is so easy to obtain and install. Stone or twig fencing are excellent options if you have the time to devote. They truly are stunning and would add a lot of character to any property. They are great for keeping low impact animals such as geese or ducks contained, they are not great at keeping out predators, so make sure that your animals are secured at night.
Planning your fencing can be extremely daunting, but let’s face it, nothing good comes if you don’t plan for it. It is a job that you don’t want to be redoing year after year. So, it’s better to bite the bullet, plan your fencing, and make sure it’s done right. All good plans start with a little bit of knowledge. Now that you know what types of fencing your looking at you should be able to plan correctly for any application you can think of.