| First off, why is barbed wire out,..... The cheapest, most durable fence by far is a strand wire fence like barbed wire, and is also the least labour intensive to put up. 2 strand, 16 guage, barbed wire will last 40 years on treated posts, and at that point in time, the wire, the most expensive part, will be hard, brittle and difficult to work, but still good for another 20 years. Single strand barbed wire won't last as long and can be broken by cattle. Here we use 4 strand wire fences, with 12 inches between strands, 15 to 20 feet between posts, corners braced and tied, stringers every 5 feet to keep the strands supported in the middle, with corner gates constructed of short strands of wire, 4 supporting posts and a simple tensioning latch. This allows neighbors on all sides to recover animals or you to easily move stuff through the property. The horse people here, use 4 strand barbed wire to border their property, ( keeps cattle out, allows wild animals through) with 4 strand 14 guage galvanised solid wire for the cross fences. Sometimes the Horse people use 3 strands of 14 guage galvanised solid wire with a single strand of barbed on top for perimeter fencing. A key element, legally and for impact is to post the property in convention with local traditions. In many areas of the US, a paint blaze, like a orange square, painted on posts, trees and rocks, serves as legal notice that the property is posted, trespassers will be prosecuted, access, hunting and fishing is only with prior permission of the landowner. In other areas, the signage needs to be in plain english, and prominent with certain coverage required. Here, we are required to post on each corner, and midway along the fence, for every quarter section, for a total of 12 signs per full section, (160 acres). |
