Fixing fence in the winter is absurdly different than fixing fence in the warmer months.
We use alot of fiberglass fence posts. We put them in the ground during the spring and summer.
When those break off because the cows did some dirty dancing or the tractor tires got caught in the zip line, they are almost impossible to get back into the frozen ground. Some people use drill bits to drill them back into the frozen ground. I don't.
This winter I had to get very creative in the middle of a blizzard when 6 of the cows got into some heavy pushing and shoving one day.
They broke 2 of the critical posts that go behind the barn, at an angle, and lead up to the water trough.
I quickly located a broken cinder block under a snow pile and used it to hold 2 posts in place until a more permanent solution could be found.
As you can see it works very well and none of the herd has gone near it since.
A few days later I found another post broken.
This is the area that we need to drive the tractor into to unload the bales of hay into the hay ring for the herd, so a better solution had to be created to fix this high traffic location.
Another cinder block was called into duty and because it was a critical area I used some special "glue" that I had on hand to wedge the post into a solid position.
It is tight, taunt and easy to drop out and to the ground when I drive the tractor in with a roll of hay.
I gave myself 15 extra points for this one...
Got some fencing tips you can share ?
~
Very creative work and photography ~ 'You work hard for a livin' ~ ^_^
ReplyDeleteYou deserve the points and more!
I think you deserve more points than that:) b
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to say I have no fencing tips...Years ago we raised a pair of bulls, Rocky and Bullwinkle. They were forever getting loose, their speciality, devouring clothes off the clothesline...Have a good day, Julie.
ReplyDeleteI tend to use permanent fence with T-posts and woven wire. That kind of fence wouldn't slow my goats down. My cattle have been known to be on the honor system, which works amazingly well. Don't know why.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting subject for a blog, Janis ... I suppose there really is quite a bit that can be written about living and working on a farm. The animals probably provide endless entertainment, if one can look at it that way while doing the work. I love the cattle feeding frenzie in your last post. And fixin' a fence in freezing weather is just plain hard work. You came up with a very creative solution. Love your header image. Really captures the character of the place. Thanks for joining Walk and Click Wednesdays!!
ReplyDeleteVery creative solutions to your problems with the broken posts. Visiting from Walk and Click.
ReplyDeleteBecause of lack of place to put the 30" of snow we got a few weeks back, it landed on the fences. So they are a mess right now. I don't believe I've ever seen them this bad. But fortunately, there aren't animals in them.
ReplyDeleteWe use only sacrifice areas in winter, and those areas are protected from snow removal, for the most part.
We did have 2 casualties dueto the truck's plow: the corner of the chicken pen, and a post in the house yard fence. The house yard fence will wait til spring, and the chicken pen was cobbled so it works.
What a good repair!! Extra cinder blocks are always handy to have around. We tend to use hay twine for temporary fixes around here but we have different fencing.
ReplyDeleteClever! It seems there's always fence to fix somewhere. In NE Texas we're losing lots of trees because of the last 2 years of drought. Any guesses where each & every downed limb will fall? That's right - ON THE FENCE! I believe it's the unspoken ranching law... LOL (visiting from The HomeAcre Hop)
ReplyDelete~Taylor-Made Ranch~
Wolfe City, Texas
www.taylormaderanch.com/blog
Thank you for joining in 'Rurality Blog Hop #4' Hope to see you next Wednesday for #5...
ReplyDeleteJanis, I love your blog! I found it a month or so on the home acre hop and have been enjoying it since. My husband is a Vermonter . We met at uvm several years ago. Now we live in MT and your photos make us homesick. Please keep the tails coming:) we can't wait for a herd of our own! Until then we'll keep enjoying yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words Heidi. I went to UVM too and have always wanted to get to MT. I do understand being homesick for Vermont. I lived in Florida for a while and ached everyday to git back home! I will keep the tails coming! Did you see the post about the Vermont Post office that needs everyone to send them postcards ?
DeleteCan you send a few and spread the word ? Many thanks!
A homesteader's work is never done :) Good work! Thanks so much for sharing this on The HomeAcre Hop! Hope to see you tomorrow for a special hop and a giveaway announcement! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/03/the-homeacre-hop-9.html
Thanks for posting at Wildcrafting Wednesday #78.
ReplyDeletehttp://visionherbs.tumblr.com/post/44705174579/wildcrafting-wednesday-seventy-eight