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Monday, 17 February 2014

Removing Some Old Fencing

I'm trying to get all the fencing done this winter so we'll be free to get some stock if we want to later in the year.
 The only trouble with adding new fencing (besides the cost, effort and time) is removing the old fencing. It's too wet to use a tractor on the field at the moment so I used brute force and ignorance on Saturday afternoon to remove as much as I could.
 It wasn't easy going as the hedge had grown through it in many places and a lot of it was buried with roots through it as well. I cut and pulled out as much as I could.
My main worry with leaving it in was the fact that I'm only fencing one side of this particular hedge. So if an animal gets between the two runs of wire (the old and the new) then they could get trapped and it would be difficult to get them back out, also it's just bad practise to leave it in as you can guaranty that any future work I'd do in the hedge I'd hit some old wire and blunt my tools!
Anyone else doing fencing at the moment?

18 comments:

  1. No fencing occurring here at the moment - but there surely needs to be - your welcome to come and do it if you like!!!

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    1. I've got a bit to finish here first! I've done loads so far. I'll do a big post on it all one day soon.

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  2. Dry stone walling here ! The wind blew a branch onto the wall at the bottom of the field and there is now a large (cow sized) hole to the ground. There are many breaches in our walls, which have pallets across them at the moment. As soon as things dry out we have much to do.
    Your plans and forward thinking are really good
    Gill

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    1. I bet the dry stone walls last a bit longer than some of these posts you can buy. Mind you a bit harder to add new walls in fields though! Not enough stone around here for that, but maybe I could build them out of mud. I've got lots of mud!

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  3. I have a few fence posts that need replacing Kev. Started using sawn tree branches because they last longer than commercial sold posts. Why do they not season wood any more? I use to know a farmer who would throw his fence posts into a camp fire to char them for a few minutes. Some say you can mix creosote with old engine oil and paint the posts. I don't like the idea of livestock licking the posts. Even some Pallets are supposed to be covered in dangerous chemicals. Think it will be weeks and months before the land is dry again.

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    1. I've managed to get posts that are boiled in creosote so they should last a while. I know what you mean about the ones you buy normally they only last a few years before your doing it again.
      I've never had any stock lick the posts yet - and with how strong these smell I shouldn't think they'd do it!

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  4. No actual fencing, but planning fencing, which I find is much easier from the warmth of the house, just looking out of the window :-)

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    1. I planned it for the last couple of winters and decided I need to get on with it. Luckily I've got all the posts in, so it's mainly putting the wire up and hanging gates. It all takes so much time and I can only really spare an odd afternoon here or there at the moment as I've got so much work on.

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  5. Fencing.... Nah sounds too much like hard work to me..another biscuit with my tea? don't mind if I do...

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    1. My wife often shakes her head at me as I have a bad habbit of working longer hours for myself on the weeend (soing jobs like fencing) than I do in the week. I'll have a biscuit though...

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  6. The only reasonable way I have found to remove old fence posts is using a chain and a Hi-Lift jack. This one a pipe embedded in concrete pulled out with some effort.
    http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/528033_3610364861060_1583136368_n.jpg

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    1. These just snapped and puled out. It was the wire that was the problem as everything had spent the last ten years growing through it! my hands got ripped to ribbons.
      I like your expression pulling out the post - I think I would have used the grinder and cut them off!

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  7. I'm on my way to do repairs right now. One of my cows was wandering around in the neighbor's field. He takes it as a personal affront. Considering he's not using the field except to plant pine trees in, I don't see the problem with a little extra fertilizer. :-)

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    1. Can't see it eating much of the pine trees! Having good fencing makes for happy neighbours. Thats my main concern about getting pigs is if they get out!

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  8. We've had cattle get punctured stomachs from wire someone left. ALWAYS get rid of old wire!

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  9. II had to strip some stock fencing from an existing fence (which we wanted to keep). It was SUCH a pain getting the staples out so that I could re-use the stock fencing - they had been hammered in flush. I had to use fencing pliers, and hammer the point under the staple to get any purchase. If I ever use staples in the future, I'll always leave them a few mil proud to aid future removal if neccessary.

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