How to test a barbed wire fence
You might think that having a barbed wire fence is a good barrier for dogs. That's what I thought too. How wrong I was. I would like to tell you some of the things we have tried and used here on our farm. I will also mention the pros and cons of doing each one. Take a look and see which ones could help you protect your property. These can be to keep your own dogs or cattle in other dogs, coyotes, etc.
It may be that your site has already installed barbed wire fences when it moved. Or it could be that it is the most profitable fencing method for you. Where we live, our options were limited to a barbed wire fence or the construction of a wall. The wall and its continuous maintenance were well above our budget, so it was a start for us.
How to know if your dog is coming out
If you are not sure if your dog is getting out of your wire fence, there are some indicators you should look for. If your dog goes out at night while you sleep, it is possible that the dog will return before it wakes up and then it is difficult to know if it has been at home or wandering around its neighborhood. Some dogs are jumpers, others are excavators and others simply make their way between the wires. To know if your dogs are coming out, there are some different ways to find out.
• Check if your dog has scratches on the sides or stomach area. These are easier to see if the dog has short hair. In our Doberman, these marks are quite clear. Sometimes, these will bleed a little too.
• Look for well-trodden paths, flatten the grass or dig near the wire. Depending on the amount of land you have and how much it is grown, this could take some time.
• Another indication is dog hair caught in the cable. If your dog has long hair, it can be caught where the dog has tried to cross it. Then, even though he / she could have escaped the scratches, a mark was left for you to see.
Using these as a guide will help you to know not only where but also how the dog will come out and then you can plan how to solve the problem.
Barbed wire in stacks or wooden poles
Depending on the quality and availability of the wood in your area, you may be able to obtain it free of charge. The barbed wire in the piles of wood is the most common method we see here. There are many areas of scrub and the wood is easily cut by the locals. Depending on where you live, you may have a free source of wood like this.
The pros have a cost, depending on your area, you may be able to cut this for free. The use of a chainsaw would be a benefit depending on the size of the batteries you require. If you can not do it, hire someone to cut your name. We had a worker cut for us when we needed 6-7 'stakes for our young coconut trees. He was able to go to the scrub land next to our house and cut more than 400 for us. For that purpose, he simply used a machete since they only needed a couple of inches in diameter. Still, all the wood here is hardwood, so it will last a long time.
For use with barbed wire, consider wood that is at least 3 "wide and as high as you consider necessary, remember, it will place them solidly on the ground, at least 2 'deep, so work this out in the decision how high you need them
We still have fences in piles of wood on our outer perimeter. This is mainly used to keep livestock out and to be used as a property line marker.
The disadvantage is that the wood rots and is prone to insects, making it less permanent. It also burns, so if you do a clearing of the ground by burning it, clean a firewall near your fence.
Stacks of wire and concrete
This is how we have most of our fences. When we first moved, we had an uneven land with piles of wood and we had cows that fell below the gap. We hired an excavator and a driver to level the land and then the workers to place the concrete columns and barbed wire. We have cables spaced 8 "apart and have between 11 and 12 runs, that's a lot of cables and batteries in our 8 acres.
The disadvantage of this method can be expensive. The batteries were not that expensive, but if you have a lot to do, the costs increase. Also, with several wire runs and salaries, you can see how the cost can increase.
All barbed wire is not created equally. We live in an area with high humidity and a lot of salty air, and the metal oxidizes very fast. We opted for a good quality cable over the less expensive brand, since we wanted it to last. We also use an inexpensive cable, which was reused from previous fences. Now we have to replace it. Another thing to keep in mind are the comments, how close are they? We have just discovered that some of the cables installed by the previous owner have very few barbs.
Whether your dog is pedigree or mestizo, does not want to leave or that others enter. A good quality wire is essential. Galvanized is the best to prevent it from rusting and breaking.
If you are using concrete piles like the ones we have on our farm, do not forget the cable you use to tie the barbed wire, it must also be galvanized. Part of our cable was not coated or galvanized and is now breaking and leaving sections of fences without support. It is a case of the weakest link. If you have good quality barbed wire but bad quality wire ties, your fence will not be secure or last long.
If you are connecting your cable to wooden poles, you will use the U-shaped fingernails, which are called close-up staples. These should also be galvanized.
Using a Mesh or Network
For our dogs, the barbed wire was not enough. Even with a race in the sand. Another option that we used was plastic mesh. This was something that we had left from the moment we were doing fish farming. Our fish cages were made from several of these strengths. The advantage for us, we already had it here on our farm. This is usually sold by meter and the price will depend on the quality of the plastic. Although he did a wonderful job while immersed in the water, in the sunlight he became fragile and broke. We have a high UV rating, sometimes up to 11, which falls into the extreme category. This is what destroys plastic items that are exposed to light.
This type of mesh can be perfect for the place where you live. It is black so it is discreet and can be joined with bridles. Be sure to place this on top, middle and bottom. You can judge the space that is required. It should be as high as you think your dog can go. I would say a meter (39 ").
Now we have erected some shadow networks in the cable to use them as a barrier. As you can see in the photo. We had also bought this previously to reduce sunlight in our garden. It is woven and it was relatively easy to hook it on the quills with two people. One arranging the top and the other at the bottom. We have also cut to approximately one meter in height. This should be more robust than plastic mesh, as it is designed to be exposed to the sun.
This works in most places, but you must watch to dig. This morning my dogs were playing in the dunes behind our house. They returned under the mesh. Since then, I have secured this with bricks and pieces of tiles to prevent them from digging.
Using renewable sources
The palm leaves woven into the wire are one of the items that we have used, since they are abundant here on our farm. For this, we cut the big wooden end and we wove the most flexible part of the leaf through the wire. If you do not have palms, any flexible branch will work. As you continue to add more leaves or branches, it will be more difficult to work with the wire as you tighten.
We have also used sticks like bamboo. These were hammered on the ground. We left a space between them, but they could sit side by side, creating an impenetrable barrier.
Both the leaves and the canes are more visually attractive if they have the same level. The leaves can be easily cut, but the branches should be cut or cut with pruning shears. The positive side is that this is a renewable source and is often free. However, it can take a long time.
How a dog gets through the wire
Remember that a dog can go under, over or out. I've seen one of my dogs do all three. When my Doberman was younger, he jumped like a gazelle on a lower part of the fence. Between mine and my neighbor's house, we have a section of fences that is low, less than a meter. We use this to climb if we are visiting, instead of walking the longest road. They have wrapped a bit of cloth around the tines so that we do not trap our clothes. I was here, Max jumped.
If the cable is not tight or the dog is thin, they can pass between the wires of the cable. This can also happen if the lashing cable breaks or comes loose.
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