Started work on our first feeder pen today and it went a little slower than we'd hoped. Encountered a LOT of rock when trying to drive the t-posts. Used a rock bar and shovel most of the day and only got half of the pen put up. Hopefully I can get the other half tomorrow. I've read where some use a hammer drill with a 1-1/2" bit to get through the rock. Any thoughts? Thanks

Rent one of these

We use one of these to drive t-posts. You just need a portable gas compressor. It will break through most of the rocks we run into. Only issue we ever have is the clamp holding the t-post works loose so we have to stop it and retighten. Makes it really easy to drive posts.

Here is an old thread about feed pens. This was how Murph built his pens in very rocky ground.
http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2306325/1

I've done a few
I did not want to have to rent any heavy equipment, generators or compressors to place mine.

I ended up using a hand held rotary hammer/hammer drill that just plugs in to a portable generator.
Bosch and Dewalt make specific Rock bits you can get online. home depot will not usually have what you need for bits

The 5/8" bits cut through solid rock like butter (good for re-bar)
The 1 1/2 " bits for the T-post work but its more work and I would not want to place a long fence using it.
I was placing my t-post in solid rock not just rocky ground. rocky ground would be much easier.

Going into solid rock took me about 5-10 minutes for each 1 1/2 inch hole and about 5 seconds for each 5/8" hole
for the 1 1/2 " holes I ended up making a 5/8" pilot hole then make the 1 1/2/" hole and that made it easier
If you have a dirt/rock mix then placing the 1 1/2 " holes would take just a few seconds.

I found that the 1 1/2" bits take a SDS max hammer drill not a regular SDS drill.
The 5/8" drill bits use a standard SDS hammer drill/rotary hammer


I ended up using the 5/8" for rebar to anchor down my feeders and also for most of the post for the feeder pens with just a few t-post. The rebar worked great for me in solid rock as post for the feeder pen. If you have a lot of dirt and rock mixed then I would stay with t-post.


If you have the equipment as shown above in the previous post, then that is the way to go for many t-post in a rocky/soil type ground.
But I have found the 5/8 rebar works really well if in solid rock

Let me know and I can send you a link to the drill bits I use.

This is the same thing I did with my pen but wired in three places on each end to connect them. It takes longer to put it together and a second person is needed. This works extremely well. The nice thing about it, you get to take your pen with you if you need to move it.

Nice

looked like you didn't make much progress

won't work in rocks

this is the best way that I have found

From what I've seen on rocky areas the professional use a rock drill first then the automatic driver. Of course this helps them get a straight line.
The larger SDS drill will do the same benefit for the feeder pen, get a drill extension for getting deeper. Having a converter hooked up to the battery would eliminate a generator.

puffer bit drill
If you happen to have access to a tractor or skid loader, you can rent one of these and you'll have the job knocked out in no time.
This is what we use when putting in tough stretches of fence. Called a puffer bit. [url=https://youTu.be/a7t1LRYz2-U][/url]

This is what we used. Basically a hammer drill/puff auger, made by Atlas Copco. Wet ground will clog the holes in the bit though. Takes about 1 to 2 minutes per hole.

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Also use this in softer ground.

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Ohhhhh, all these fancy toys, just me and my fence post driver and a drill,
In the construction industry they have a bolt with course thread design to attach items in concrete, use a hammer drill and driver, they are about 1/2" dia. Different lengths. Weld plate (10" square) to bottom of T post or pipe with holes in corners. Another idea same as above but with epoxy and all thread cut to length.

Seeing this stuff makes me appreciate my sandy soil. I'm too danged old to be fighting rocky ground like that.

Not fancy toys, when you are building feed pens for money, you get them done asap. Those in the pics just HAD to be octagon shaped pens. Same with the BellTec, when you have miles of fence to put up and only a few days to do it, it's worth it to get the holes punched asap.

I guess you missed the part where I said it does.

Guess my old hand powered twist auger is too old school, but it works well

My grandpa had one of those and extensions to go deep. My dad had me out helping with that when I was about 6 or 7. I have looked and looked at antique stores, flea markets, estate sales, etc. to find one, but haven't come across one yet. They are great tools for dirt.

This is one for rock, has an auger rock bit about the size of the t=post, little smaller.

I've got those twist types for dirt too, one of the few that will work in muddy ground

I have taken a piece of heavy rebar that was 3/4" or larger and put a point on it. Then drive it in the ground with a sledge hammer for a starter hole. Works pretty good in rocky ground that is not solid rock for setting T-posts.

One of my rancher friends way out in West Texas/Eastern New Mexico favorite sayings is " it beats digging post holes in the rock!"

That sounds like work.

Thanks for all the ideas guys I'll keep em in mind for the next pen.