Input on the easiest way to do it is much appreciated!!

Going to put up 10 panels, they are 16' long each, so this is my train of thought, please chime in on better ways to do it.

Each panel 16' long X 10 equals 160' - 6" per panel overlap = 60"/5' - 160' = 155' circumference for the round pen.

Diameter of 155' circumference is 49'.3" ÷ 2 to get the radius or center of the circle would be '24.65".

So I guess the obvious is to determine where I want the center of the pen to be, drive a steak there then come out basically '24.5" and start driving T Post.

Does this sound right or am I missing something?

Appreciate any and all help getting this done right.

BTW I have 21 T Post, using three on the first panel, then two on each panel after, that way there is on on each end and one in the middle.



16’x34″
.225″ Rod Diameter
4 Gauge Rod
34 lbs.

You seem to have that very well planned out. I can not say I was as precise when building mine....

Stand them up and zip tie together, then run your t-posts.

Put a stake in the center of where you want the pen, tie a string to the stake at 24.5' long. Use it to set your posts in a circle. I use three posts per panel.

bing, bing, bing

Overlap the panels a foot or 2' if you don't want the hogs to find a way to push in eventually.

I would overlap the panels about a foot and wire up five panels all layed down flat on the ground . You and you buddy can now begin to raise the panels up to form a half circle. These panels will stand up by themselves provided you have a T-post on the first panel. Now start adding the rest of the panels until you have all of them in a circle (your buddy will have to hold the last panel wired.) Now with all of them up, you can start putting in the rest of your T-posts. Before you start adding the T-posts, you can shift the pen over to your exact location by just pulling on the panels.

can i make a strong recommendation not to build a circular pen, especially if you have cattle on the place as its really tough to run barbed wire strand around a circular pen as the panels are bowed to form a circle yet the wire goes from t post to t post in a straight line so doesn't follow circumference of the pen. Id build a dodecagon and just lay the panels on the ground with the bottoms touching in the shape you want to build. In not sure a big overlap is necessary so long as you wire the panels to the t post in 4 or so places. We've done this shape as well as circular pens and there is no comparision IMHO...

This is the way I do it also.

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How does one person get them to stand up?


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No cattle on the place and I have thought about that layout before (dodecagon) would be a little easier not sure how you would get the panels to lap over though?
Bet the deer would not be deterred by it.

Lay them on the ground in a circular pattern so that they overlap on the bottom one column. Drop a T post on the ground in the middle of each panel and one at the junction of where two panels will overlap. Precut bailing wire into 12" pieces. (do the math for qty). Drive a middle post. Stand up panel, wire it to post top, middle and bottom. Go to the end of the panel, drive a post inside leaving one column of the panel beyond the post. Stand up the next panel, bring it to meet the other and wire each end to the post so that one column for each panel overlaps. Repeat, repeat, repeat...........No barbed wire needed.

Everybody has their way, most of those mentioned above will work as well.

Actually, it's easier if you set the first t-post, then tie the first 2 together on that post and go from there tying up the rest. I've done the last 4 pens alone.

That is how I do it, but use a string to keep the circle. I also have done all my pens by myself this way. I have one panel that I keep "temporary" wired, so I can drive my buggy inside the pen to fill feeders.

Don't over think it- The feeder pen police are not going to come in and grade it to make sure it is perfectly round or if your feeder is in the center perfectly. Lay your 10 panels in a rough circle, put one post in the ground at the center of one panel and stand the panel up and tie to the post. Go down to your next panel, stand it up and overlap a couple of squares, and tie together- they will hold themselves up long enough to go to the third panel and repeat. Start curving into a circle and repeat until you have them all tied together into a circle. Before you put any more posts in place you can move it around until you have it like you want it then drive all your posts in- one at each overlap and one in each panel's center. Instead of using wire I will suggest using stainless steel tie wraps- they aren't that expensive and you can order off Amazon and I think I also saw them at Harbor Freight

This is how we did it worked well and you can do it by yourself if need be. Ours don’t overlap at all over 5 years and the only hogs in are the ones small enough to get through the pan el holes.

I did this on one panel so I could drive in it if needed and not have to cut wire.

So you have to unscrew four pipe clamps to get in? Why not just use three wires (top, middle, bottom) and hand-twist them, leaving the ends long enough to untwist without having to cut or use pliers?

Because they would not be as strong and ultimately wear out from metal fatigue. Cordless drill and this opens in about 30 seconds.

I've had a pen up at my place for roughly 8 years and use wire at the top and bottom and think I've only had to replace the wire once.

That's once more than I want to.

The oval is your friend, two on each end and 3 on the straights

Ntxtrapper, that’s great if that works for you, but with all due respect, I would NEVER do those clamp things.
Like others have said, I use a wire at top and bottom that’s long enough to grab easy and twist it 3 times. I actually use what I guess is electrical wire. It’s got a 14 on it so I guess that’s the gauge. It’s limber enough to twist but stiff enough to stay. I use that stuff for everything. Discovering that wire was one of my better finds and I wont go anywhere without that and duct tape.
Also, on the stainless zip ties-I don’t remember the cost but I thought they were way too costly. We have 11 pens with 13 panels each so that’s a lotta zip ties.

Electric fence wire is great for building pens.

Yep, the electric fece wire is what I use.

Is that because they are coated and will not rust, or just easier to handle?



Why Oval vs Round?