We have been warm here since last weekend. So there is not much frost left in the ground. My youngest sons got to talking yesterday about one section of fence that needed fixed between two fields we have.
We went and look it over right after chores this morning. The posts were shot and the fence was pretty rusty. Not really good enough for new posts with the old wire. So we decided to just replace the entire thing.
We had driven the loader tractor out to look at the fence. So I had them try an pull a post or two to see if there was any deep frost holding them yet. The old posts pulled right out. So they started pulling posts and rolling the old wire up while I walked back to the house. I went to town to pickup four bundles of posts and five rolls of barbed wire.
When we stopped for lunch they had the old fence out and the old wire rolled up. I had the new posts laid out and the ground marked for driving the new posts. Just at 5 PM we hung the gates back on the new corner posts. So we built right at 45 rod of fence in just under five hours. It only took about an hour and a half to drive the posts. I ran the skid steer with the pounder while one of the boys stood the posts up. After we got a few post in the other son started stringing wire. By the time we had all the post set he had the wire ready to stretch and staple.
So with three people it does not take long to build fence. Also the ground is fairly flat and there where not any trees in the old fence line. These fields are pastured every fall so the cows keep most of the brush/grass eat down in the fence. I also spray all the fence lines once or twice each year too.
I have never built fence this time of year before. The post drove easy as the ground was soft. It was not too wet either as we did not make much of a mess driving around. Time will tell if the fence holds up or not.
It took 65 posts and just about all four rolls of barbed wire. We did string six strands of wire on this section. Some times there is standing crops in one field while the other is pastured.
Really a nice day to be working out side. That is real rare for December in North-Eat Iowa
We went and look it over right after chores this morning. The posts were shot and the fence was pretty rusty. Not really good enough for new posts with the old wire. So we decided to just replace the entire thing.
We had driven the loader tractor out to look at the fence. So I had them try an pull a post or two to see if there was any deep frost holding them yet. The old posts pulled right out. So they started pulling posts and rolling the old wire up while I walked back to the house. I went to town to pickup four bundles of posts and five rolls of barbed wire.
When we stopped for lunch they had the old fence out and the old wire rolled up. I had the new posts laid out and the ground marked for driving the new posts. Just at 5 PM we hung the gates back on the new corner posts. So we built right at 45 rod of fence in just under five hours. It only took about an hour and a half to drive the posts. I ran the skid steer with the pounder while one of the boys stood the posts up. After we got a few post in the other son started stringing wire. By the time we had all the post set he had the wire ready to stretch and staple.
So with three people it does not take long to build fence. Also the ground is fairly flat and there where not any trees in the old fence line. These fields are pastured every fall so the cows keep most of the brush/grass eat down in the fence. I also spray all the fence lines once or twice each year too.
I have never built fence this time of year before. The post drove easy as the ground was soft. It was not too wet either as we did not make much of a mess driving around. Time will tell if the fence holds up or not.
It took 65 posts and just about all four rolls of barbed wire. We did string six strands of wire on this section. Some times there is standing crops in one field while the other is pastured.
Really a nice day to be working out side. That is real rare for December in North-Eat Iowa