Ever build fence on Dec. 26th????

We have been warm here since last weekend. So there is not much frost left in the ground. My youngest sons got to talking yesterday about one section of fence that needed fixed between two fields we have.

We went and look it over right after chores this morning. The posts were shot and the fence was pretty rusty. Not really good enough for new posts with the old wire. So we decided to just replace the entire thing.

We had driven the loader tractor out to look at the fence. So I had them try an pull a post or two to see if there was any deep frost holding them yet. The old posts pulled right out. So they started pulling posts and rolling the old wire up while I walked back to the house. I went to town to pickup four bundles of posts and five rolls of barbed wire.

When we stopped for lunch they had the old fence out and the old wire rolled up. I had the new posts laid out and the ground marked for driving the new posts. Just at 5 PM we hung the gates back on the new corner posts. So we built right at 45 rod of fence in just under five hours. It only took about an hour and a half to drive the posts. I ran the skid steer with the pounder while one of the boys stood the posts up. After we got a few post in the other son started stringing wire. By the time we had all the post set he had the wire ready to stretch and staple.

So with three people it does not take long to build fence. Also the ground is fairly flat and there where not any trees in the old fence line. These fields are pastured every fall so the cows keep most of the brush/grass eat down in the fence. I also spray all the fence lines once or twice each year too.

I have never built fence this time of year before. The post drove easy as the ground was soft. It was not too wet either as we did not make much of a mess driving around. Time will tell if the fence holds up or not.

It took 65 posts and just about all four rolls of barbed wire. We did string six strands of wire on this section. Some times there is standing crops in one field while the other is pastured.

Really a nice day to be working out side. That is real rare for December in North-Eat Iowa

How does that old saying go, many hands make light work? Not many days like this in December, it's nice to make good use of them. Chris

We got 13 inches of snow about Nov 10, on thawed ground. Two weeks of low temps, some below zero, put frost in the ground. Thawed out twice since then, yet ice fishing shacks are on the lake...saw some fresh tillage in several fields today. Dec 10 we tiled, but frost was over 12 inches deep in clay, 5 inches in peat.

In the 90s, there was a New Year"s Eve that I wanted to go discing, just cuz I could, but I tested the field with the skidloader, and had to push myself out with the bucket, cuz it was too muddy. We"re an hr NW of MPLS.

Chris: Having the equipment helps too. IF it had been like years ago with hand digging the hole it would have been a different story. I bought my first bigger skid steer ten years ago or so. They kind of spoil you for smaller machines.

Hope your feeling well???

I thought I was the only person to build barb wire fence with six strands of wire. Have never had cattle go through or over fence built like that. I have to admit that some new fence was built using five strands, though. Glad to hear about your fence.

It's always nice to work with guys that know what your next move is going to be and they know yours. Makes building fence or anything go so much smoother.

Looks to me like you guys work well as a team. Around here it would have been a little greasy on top but I did see a neighbor V ripping stalks yesterday.

When I worked and the farm was young or time to rearrange things, I built fence over the holidays. Weather was usually cool and supportive. Clay was softer and could punch holes easier. I usually worked alone as I had no one to help but learned effective ways to get the job done any way.

What was noticeable was the concrete around the posts. When mounting the posts, the concrete was even with the surface. Along about July or August the ground had shrunk to the point where the surface of the concrete was an inch or two above the surface. After several years it might be 4" above.

Mark

Thanks, feel great!! Go back to the Dr. Jan 7 to check calcium levels. Having to eat 12 Tums/day right now for calcium. Went back to work on Dec. 22&23, no problems. Best wishes, Chris

Reading your story reminds me when my sons were still living at home. It sure was nice having help doing a job such as that. Things went allot quicker.
Although I never forgot the day my youngest son told me "Your the one who wants to be a farmer, not me". That was when he was in high school, he's 34 now. He does have a good work ethic which he learned on the farm.

When a kid at home dad had said that some day he needed to jack up the north side of the old farm house. One of them 2&1/2 stories big square houses. Porches all around. Told dad one day better get the house fixed while us kids(6) are at home to help. Found it fill of termites and nothing to jack on. Tore in down(no machines) and saved the good lumber. Us boys tore in down, girls pulled nails and stacked. Had a new basement in ground in same spot in 4 weeks

I fixed fence and cleaned the chicken house on Christmas eve. I don't take but a couple of days off a year - Christmas is one of them. Still had to do a couple of hours worth of chores, but that's standard this time of year, isn't it?

We've still got so much mud you couldn't get a hedge post to stand up concrete or not. I've never seen it be so muddy in the pens. In some places it will go over the top of your muck boots. Today it is a little below freezing so I am hoping to get a crust on things. It's awfully hard on animals to slog through that mud. Now I will have cattle limping with twisted legs. I can't remember my own knees and hips hurting this much. I am sure it is because of the mud.

"Ever build fence on Dec. 26th????"

No, but I was out in the field plowing on January 10th one year!!!

Maybe not "built fence", but I have repaired it every day of the year at some point or other.

Gene

Started moving 400 ft of fence line 2 weeks after by-pass surgery using a steel bar for making holes and the 'lite' 12lbs maul on posts. Averaged 2 posts a day LOL

I always try to build fence in the Winter,in the Summer its too hot,the ground is too hard and I have a million other things to do.

Was installing drainage tile on a Golf Course in Central Michigan on December 26, 1981 or 82, it was almost 60 degrees, found a Mustang in the ravine between #8 Green and #9 Tee.