Why Fencing Deserves Your Full Attention

Good fencing is the difference between a thriving smallholding and a daily battle. Foxes, badgers, mink, and even the neighbour's dog will test your boundaries. Proper fencing keeps your animals safe, reduces stress, and lets you manage grazing and breeding without constant worry. But there is no single perfect fence. The right choice depends on your livestock, your land, and your budget. This guide compares the three main options — electric netting, post and rail, and mesh systems — so you can make a practical decision.

Electric Netting: Flexible, Portable, and Fox-Deterrent

Electric netting is a popular choice for poultry and small livestock. It is lightweight, movable, and gives a psychological barrier as well as a physical one. A pulse from the energiser teaches predators and livestock to respect the fence.

• Best for: chickens, ducks, geese, young pigs, and rotational grazing.
• Pros: quick to set up, easy to move, excellent fox deterrent, good for temporary pens.
• Cons: needs a good energiser, regular voltage checks, and short grass to work well. Not ideal for large livestock or thick vegetation.
• Practical tip: Use a 12-volt leisure battery or mains energiser. Aim for at least 3,000 volts on the fence line. Train animals by leaving them in for a few days with plenty of feed and water.

For poultry, choose netting with small holes (around 5 cm) and a height of at least 90 cm. Bury the bottom skirt or pin it tight to the ground to stop rabbits and foxes digging under. Keep grass topped and check the earth stake in dry weather.

Post and Rail: Traditional, Tough, and Low Maintenance

Post and rail is the classic smallholding boundary. It is sturdy, looks good, and needs little attention once installed. It will not stop a determined fox, but it is excellent for larger livestock and as a perimeter fence.

• Best for: sheep, cattle, horses, and pigs (with extra wire).
• Pros: strong, visible, long-lasting if treated. Good for containing boisterous animals.
• Cons: expensive, time-consuming to install, not predator-proof on its own.
• Practical tip: Use 10–12 cm round posts, set 60 cm deep. Two or three rails for sheep, four for cattle. Space posts 2.4–3 metres apart. Add a strand of electric wire along the top for pigs and goats.

For pigs, post and rail alone is not enough. They will lean and rub. Add a low electric wire and use stock fencing behind the rails. For sheep, a rail fence can be combined with stock netting to stop lambs slipping through.

Mesh Systems: Woven Wire, Hexagonal, and Welded Mesh

Mesh fencing covers a wide range. Stock fencing (woven wire) is the backbone of many smallholdings. Hexagonal netting (often called chicken wire) is fine for birds but weak against predators. Welded mesh is stronger and better for runs and boundaries.

• Best for: permanent boundaries, poultry runs, fruit cages, and predator-proof enclosures.
• Pros: secure, long-lasting, can be buried to stop digging.
• Cons: can be expensive, needs good tensioning, and chicken wire alone is not fox-proof.
• Practical tip: For foxes, use welded mesh with 5 cm x 5 cm holes and a 60 cm buried skirt. For rabbits, 2.5 cm holes. For poultry, cover the run with mesh or netting to stop aerial predators.

Stock fencing with small holes (often called pig netting) is ideal for lambs and piglets. Combine it with a single electric wire at nose height to stop animals rubbing and predators climbing. Always use galvanised wire and strain it properly with strainers at corners.

Matching the Fence to Your Animals

Different livestock need different approaches. Here is a quick guide to keep you on track.

• Chickens: Electric netting for daytime ranging, plus a secure welded mesh run for night. Add a roof or overhead netting.
• Ducks and geese: Low electric netting (60–90 cm) works well. Geese need stronger posts. Keep water away from the fence line.
• Pigs: Stock fencing with a low electric wire. Post and rail for corners. Never rely on electric alone for pigs.
• Sheep: Stock fencing (15 cm holes) with one or two electric wires. Check for lambs getting heads stuck.
• Goats: High fencing (1.5 m) with electric wire. They will climb and lean. Post and rail with mesh is a good combination.

Gates, Corners, and Maintenance That Saves Money

A fence is only as good as its weakest point. Gates should be wide enough for your machinery and hung on sturdy strainers. Corners need diagonal bracing. Use a gate that swings freely and has a good latch.

Maintenance is key. Walk your fence line weekly. Check for broken wires, loose staples, and voltage drops. Keep vegetation strimmed or grazed down. In winter, check for frost damage and earth stakes. A £5 tester will save you hours of chasing animals.

Finally, think about access. Leave gaps for future gates, and do not fence yourself into a corner. A well-planned fence system will pay for itself in fewer escapes, healthier animals, and peace of mind.