Insane fencing costs?

[maritown]

Hello everyone!

We recently bought a property and want to fence in four 1-acre pastures. We want them connected in sets of two with an aisle in between, so each set of 2 pastures shares one fence line.

Since this property is out of state from our current farm, I'm trying to get fencing up so that we can simply move the goats over when we move.

I am interested in woven wire fencing. It's what we have now, it works great for both our goats and our potbellies. So, I contacted a livestock fencing contractor to get a quote.

Anyway, when I saw it I almost had a heart attack. Just over $25,000.
I'm sorry, what!?

Is it just me or is that absolutely insane? Is that seriously what fencing costs? Woven wire cost $1500. Even with labor costs, gates, posts...can it really be that much, or is this guy just way overpriced? At this point I'd rather try to install it myself, with no experience LOL.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Right off the bat, that seems a bit steep....however, depending on the woven wire chosen, how many posts needed, how many gates desired at what width....and any land clearing needed to install such....the price can certainly fluctuate greatly. Without the specifics it is really difficult to truly say one way or the other. Also, depending on your location in NC there could be some very difficult ground to encounter in putting the needed posts down. Nothing is cheap much anymore, and material costs vary greatly on the wire used, posts and gates....but, labor will always be high.

 

[Baymule]

We fenced in 8 acres with 2"x4"x48" woven wire, non climb horse wire. It was $230 for a 200 foot roll. We used 7' T-posts.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/non-climb-horse-fence-48-in-x-200-ft

You could go for a "work weekend" a few times and get one pasture fenced in, then move. We moved with horses and chickens and dogs.

Here's what we did. There are lots of comments that point out better ways of doing things than what we did on some of it. It's a good thread with lots of input, it might help you.
We have the entire outer parameter fenced (8 acres). There are 4 pastures fenced plus a garden. Our cost was less than half of what you were quoted for 4 acres. It is work, it took us awhile, but we got it done.

https://www.backyardherds.com/threads/non-climb-2-x4-horse-wire-fence.32922/

 

[maritown]

We fenced in 8 acres with 2"x4"x48" woven wire, non climb horse wire. It was $230 for a 200 foot roll. We used 7' T-posts.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/non-climb-horse-fence-48-in-x-200-ft

You could go for a "work weekend" a few times and get one pasture fenced in, then move. We moved with horses and chickens and dogs.

Here's what we did. There are lots of comments that point out better ways of doing things than what we did on some of it. It's a good thread with lots of input, it might help you.
We have the entire outer parameter fenced (8 acres). There are 4 pastures fenced plus a garden. Our cost was less than half of what you were quoted for 4 acres. It is work, it took us awhile, but we got it done.

https://www.backyardherds.com/threads/non-climb-2-x4-horse-wire-fence.32922/

Thank you!
Yes, the issue is that when I say out of state, I mean a solid 15 hour drive. We are totally relocating, so it is not all together feesable to go up on weekends.

That being said, I refuse to pay $25000 for four acres LOL. That's just crazy. Looks like I will be keeping the goats down here until we can get something up.

 

[Alaskan]

We have been having to put up fencing in Texas...and the prices are insane...bad enough that I can't remember the costs.

But down there every single post hole needs to be blasted open ... (almost solid rock...tiny bits of dirt)...so it is understandable.

 

[maritown]

We have been having to put up fencing in Texas...and the prices are insane...bad enough that I can't remember the costs.

But down there every single post hole needs to be blasted open ... (almost solid rock...tiny bits of dirt)...so it is understandable.

This is in NY. It is soft farming ground that doesn't need to be cleared. The guy said he charges $8 a foot, so that is where the price comes from. :-(

 

[Alaskan]

ouch

 

[maritown]

ouch

That is what I thought. I just wanted to make sure I was justified in going a different route. I know my work will not be as good as a contractor, but I just don't see how $25,000 for pretty cheap fencing on a small parcel is even passible.

 

[greybeard]

Acres don't tell us much when you are going to be dividing it up into several paddocks. How much total linear feet of fence will be involved? How many corners and 'H' posts will be involved? You need to state that, because that is how any contractor has to estimate your costs.
I can get fencing done for about $2.50-$3/foot turnkey by a contractor, but that's steel corner posts, tee posts every 10' and 5 strand wire. If the lines need to be cleared of brush it will be a bit more per linear foot. $.50-$1-$2 extra per foot depending if it is heavy or light clearing needed.

If I were going to have a contractor build fence I would use one of 2 contractors.
Here's a link to the webpage of one of them and he travels the country..not just his area.
I haven't used it, but there is a fence material and cost calculator on his website. You just use the map he provides, zoom out and move over to your area, then zoom in to the specific plot you want fenced and put the fence lines in and how much spacing and type wire you want.

https://www.farmfencesolutions.com/

 

[maritown]

Acres don't tell us much when you are going to be dividing it up into several paddocks. How much total linear feet of fence will be involved? How many corners and 'H' posts will be involved? You need to state that, because that is how any contractor has to estimate your costs.
I can get fencing done for about $2.50-$3/foot turnkey by a contractor, but that's steel corner posts, tee posts every 10' and 5 strand wire. If the lines need to be cleared of brush it will be a bit more per linear foot. $.50-$1-$2 extra per foot depending if it is heavy or light clearing needed.

If I were going to have a contractor build fence I would use one of 2 contractors.
Here's a link to the webpage of one of them and he travels the country..not just his area.
I haven't used it, but there is a fence material and cost calculator on his website. You just use the map he provides, zoom out and move over to your area, then zoom in to the specific plot you want fenced and put the fence lines in and how much spacing and type wire you want.

https://www.farmfencesolutions.com/

Thanks so much for the reply and rescources.

It is essentially just 2 two acre pastures split in half to create 4 1 acre pastures.

I'm not sure how to calculate that info. As you can tell, I don't have experience with fencing haha! That is why I was curious if this is actually reasonable for 4 acres.

He also offered us 4 strand high tensile for 12k. I think at these prices I am better off winging it myself, lol.

Edit: As per the contractor, it is 2800 feet of fence. He charges $8 a foot.