Guys-

It’s been a long time since I had to fence off my feeders, I’m on a new place this year that has no cattle but guess what? 1000# of corn on the ground, an expensive spinner sheared off, maybe stomped (haven’t been back yet), two very expensive Reconyx cellular cameras and a ton of work later and I’ve learned that cattle are either getting in or being let in. I’m beyond frustrated- I don’t have a ton of free time and none to re-do what I’ve already done once, I’m paying a fortune because I’m flying solo and just can’t seem to catch a break.

We don’t have pigs up here, never have and not concerned that we will, something is keeping them everywhere but here. Maybe soil or mineral content or who knows- they are on rivers around here but not on this particular one and none of the ranchers I’ve talked to knows why but they are sure happy that they aren’t around...me too! All I need is a 3 or 4 strand barbed wire fence for each feeder.

How big do you make yours? I know the bigger the better but what do you do/recommend? Since we aren’t talking pig panels it’s not terribly expensive.

I knew this stuff some time ago but I just can’t remember and because I can’t do it myself or be there I can’t tell the guys I’m hiring to just wing it. Need something to tell them.

While you may think that you don't have pigs, I would not bet against it.

It's frustrating, hog panels are about 34" tall IIRC, few t-post and some galvanized electric fence wire and you are done.

This is how I fence off my cameras, but I don't use feeder pens either

depending on distance your feeder throws corn, make the pen big enough to contain how far it throws ... my 6vdc feeders 30 feet square, my 12vdc feeders 50-60 feet square ... round pens seem to be better but using barb wire makes it difficult to keep the wires tight.

"How big do you make yours?" Three 16 foot, overlapped panels per side if square. 11 if round. Whatever you use as a gate and if spossible, do not put it between your feeder and your blind.

T-posts anchored by angled T-posts (and one tree), four strands of barbed wire. I climb over without any problem. The wire is not super tight, but tight enough.

I would make it just big enough to protect your feeder and allow you access to fill it as needed. I highly doubt a pig did the damage without leaving obvious signs behind. Don’t overthink it, if it is cattle then 3-4 strands of barb wire isn’t even going to slow them down getting through to it imo. On the size I use 13 panels, please update when you get it figured out.

I've used four strands of barbed wire for five years, and it keeps the longhorns out. The only difficulty was when it the ground was very soupy and my posts were falling down. Had to re-set my t-posts.

I sure hope your feeders are throwing a bigger radius than that. My stand and fill feeder with 12v motor throws 25-30 feet in any direction.

I’ve never been around longhorns, Angus will laugh at 4 wires

ha, 30 feet per side square and 50-60 feed per side square ... not 30 square feed or 50-60 square feet ... that's 15 feet and 25-30 feet from the center of the feeder ... feet square NOT square feet

How i did mine with 6 panels and 12 t-post

How i did mine with 6 panels and 12 t-post

12 panels with a little over lap makes about a 60 foot circle. We used a 30 foot rope and mark a circle on the ground, then started placing T posts and panels, leaving one to be opened as a gate. One T post where the panels join, and one in the middle of each panel except the gate panel. A 7 foot 2x4 with a mark in the middle works good as a marking gauge for placing the T posts.

Because I have cows I overlap the last 2 squares of the panels and wire them together. Then T posts at the ends and the middle of the panels. If you wire the ends you lose some length, but they will pretty much stand up by themselves and the T posts add that much more strength.