It's time to put all the pieces together and see what the outside fence will cost you and how many posts you'll need to dig.

 

Initial things you'll need

 

Wood Stakes

White of Florescent Orange Paint (Brightly colored)

Kite String

 

  

A) Mow the property line exactly where you're going to put the fence. This will give you working room, a place to walk, it will let you see the hills and valleys, and it will give you a place to roll out the fence before you stretch it. Cut away all trees and bushes NOW because doing this once the fence is up means you'll be walking around a rather long fence. And if a tree falls on your fence you won't be very happy.

 

B) Purchase several dozen wood stakes from the masonry area in your local hardware store and a can of white or florescent orange paint. (Whichever trips your trigger) 

 

C) Stake all of the corners and turns in the property and paint the stakes. In theory, wherever you place these will be the places you plant a post.

 

D) Using kite string, connect the stakes and pulling the string tight. Doing this will make the straight lines for your fencing. Based on what you see, make any changes and adjustments to your stakes and add more stakes in the places you'll need to turn the fence.

 

If you have never done this before let me add one bit of advice. Stay away from large trees or old root systems. Trying to dig a hole where a tree once stood is going to be very difficult.

 

E) Draw a crude map on paper of what you've just laid out on the ground and using the 100-ft measuring tape, measure the distances and write these on your map as you take them.

 

Time Saver -- since you'll have the distances of the straight runs of the fence, wood posts are planted every 40 feet or closer (NOT FURTHER!); t-posts are planted every 10-15 feet apart (NOT FURTHER). While you have the tape measure and stakes out, pound a few stakes at the proper locations for your posts. Don't pound them deep; you'll be removing them later. Don't forget to mark the places for the added post supports (6-7 feet from every corner or turn)

 

Also, you probably have an idea where you want your gates so mark these also. Remember to properly measure the gate opening needed.

 

F) Count the number of posts and horizontal beams you'll need and add 10% more for waste, mistakes, and things you forgot. Just believe me, you'll use them.

 

G) Count the posts going in the ground. This will be the number of bags of cement you'll need, again, add 10% more.

 

H) Add up the fence distances and add 10% (You will actually NEED this extra fence so don't skimp on this). Divide by the length of the fence you're buying in that roll and round up (Naturally).

 

 

If I were fencing a 100 ft x 100 ft square area with only one 6-ft gate exactly in the middle of one of the sides, I would need the following:

 

Fence = (100 + 100 + 100 + 100) x 1.1 = 440 ft    divided by 330-ft per roll = 2 rolls

Posts =

     Four Corners = 4 x (5 posts per corner. Includes supports and posts)

     Gate Opening = 6 posts (Three posts for each of the terminating ends of the fence)

     Supports between corners = 3 sides x 2 posts each (None are needed on the gate side)

                                      
                    Total Posts = 20 + 6 + 6 = 36 x 1.1 = 40 needed 

 

                                            Posts in ground = 22 + 2 = 24

                    Posts used as horizontal beams = 10 + 1 = 11

 

 

 

Expenses  (estimating high) =         

           Field Fence                  = 2 x $ 140                                              = $ 280

           Barbwire                      = 1 x $ 65                                                  = $  65

           Staples                        = 1 x $ 15                                                 = $  15

           Posts (Wood)    = 

                                              = 11 x $ 7.25 

                                              = 24 x $ 11.70 (Includes concrete and form)

                                                                                                            = $ 366
           Posts (Steel)                = 16 x $ 8                                               = $ 128

           Gate                            = 1 x $ 80                                               = $   80

                                              ________________________________________

                                              Total = $794.05

                                                             +Tax  (Unless you're exempt)

 

 

Using this as an estimator you will pay approx $1.98 per linear foot (that includes a gate)

 

An acre of land is 43,560 sq-ft or a square piece of land 209 ft x 209 ft

This land would need 836 ft of fence around it and at $1.98 this will cost you roughly $1700 to completely enclose it. (There are a few small odds and end but remember the estimation was on the high side)

 

You can quickly see why there is a rather long payback when raising sheep and you don't want to loose a single animal that could have been sold otherwise. However, assume for a moment that the 2 acre fence will last you 10 years (or longer since you did it right the first time). That calculates to $1700 / 10 = $170/yr or $14/mo or $0.47/day to keep ALL of your sheep safe and secure. If you keep 20 sheep on that land then it's $0.023 per day per sheep for sleep insurance.