Putting up a sheep fence

Good fencing makes good neighbours.  This time of year, when the new lambs are getting a bit stronger and a lot more adventurous, it’s an opportune time to turn our thoughts to getting those fences repaired or if necessary, putting up new ones.  Here at the Dandy’s, in Derrynoose, we have a real appreciation of a strong sturdy fence. We have all the equipment you would need at a price that won’t break the bank to fence a little bit further than you might have thought and save money in the long run.

A lamb proof fence will keep all the young sheep where they are meant to be or protect your crops from little nibbling mouths. And if a good fence can keep those jittery little divils in, then you will have no problem with even the most wandering ewes or rams.  Fencing is a task that you need to prepare for.  And once you have the tools and equipment you need, and a good dry day, it’s one of the most satisfying jobs on the farm.  Well, that’s our opinion of it anyway!

The first job to tackle is clearing the track of the fence line of all weeds and brambles, so you can get a clean working area. It might seem like a wase of time, but you don’t want briars growing up over time and pulling the fence down. A good sheep wire, like the Moreda brand, is ideal for containing sheep or protecting that vegetable garden. It looks fantastic and yet, it’s the cheapest ‘life time fencing’ that you will ever erect. We stock it in many lengths and have had great feedback on it over the years. It is used in conjunction with Black Octoposts, that come with an impressive 25-year guarantee. Mind now that you lay the fencing wire out properly and don’t hang it upside down. No insult intended, but this is an easy and common mistake that has had many a farmer tearing their hair out looking at a good mile of fencing hung the wrong way up. The bottom of the fence is well-marked, as the lower wires are closer together than the top. This will stop little heads poking out and small hooves getting stuck, so make sure your small squares are at the bottom.  Strain and staple up the top first and work downwards after that. Take along a measuring stick to get the right height and the correct spacing for the wire. Use large posts and place heavier ones for corners or bends where the wire will be put under pressure. Build box strainers at the post so the fence is kept tight and the strainer posts you have already laid don’t come out. We have a ten pack of fence strainers at a price you won’t believe to make this part of the job easier.

Try not to skimp on fence posts and put a few more in place where there are dips and hollow. We very rarely get to fence a perfectly square and level field in Ireland. The ups and downs of the land have to be catered for. If the fence line runs into a big dip, then drive a post in the hollow and tie it back with steel wire as you would a straining post. This is to stop them coming loose and popping up out of the ground. Drive a post on both sides of the dip too. When you are pulling and stapling, it’s a good idea to leave the wire slack enough to be forced down and stapled onto this post. Fix and stapling fencing posts on either side of the dip and only then can you stretch the wire down to fix to the post in the hollow. Staple the bottom strand first. It is important not to affix and strain the fence to a gatepost.  Over time, it will come loose so it makes more sense to place a strainer post about 3ft away from the gatepost and to fix in the gap with wire or rails.

Pop over or browse here on the website for all our fencing accessories before you head out to the fields. You can make life a little easier for yourself by investing in the right tools for the job, and with the cheapest prices here at The Dandy’s it will be money well spent. We have everything you could possibly need from post drivers to fencing posts.

Hopefully, you will get the weather you need to get the job done, everything goes smoothly and you can enjoy the sight of your healthy, happy lambs jumping about the a securely fenced meadow.