How to Build Decorative Livestock Fences
When choosing a fence to enclose livestock, safety and appearance are critical factors to consider, especially if your livestock are in a highly visible area. Although barbwire is a common way to enclose livestock, it's unsightly and often dangerous. A safe and attractive fence option is a handmade split-rail fence. This decorative livestock fence will keep the herd in and add charm to your property at the same time. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Logs, 9-to-12-inch diameter
- Small scrap logs
- Splitting wedges
- Sledge hammer
- Measuring tape
- Power saw
- Logs, 6-inch diameter
- Power drill
- Chisel
- Mallet
- Post-hole digger
- Gravel
- Tamping iron
Instructions
-
Rails
-
1
Place a 9- to 10-inch diameter log on top of two scrap logs to raise it up off the ground. Put two more logs on either side of the large log to hold it in place.
-
2
Put a splitting wedge in one end of the large log. Hammer the wedge with a sledge hammer to split the log. Add more wedges as the log splits, until it splits in half.
-
-
3
Set half of the split log up on the extra logs. Split this half the same way you split the whole log. Each split piece is a rail for the fence. Repeat with the other half of this log.
-
4
Repeat steps 1 through 3 to cut more rails for the logs.
-
5
Cut the rails into 10-foot-long lengths using a power saw. This will make the rails more manageable.
Posts
-
6
Select 6-inch diameter logs to use as the posts for the fence. Use a power saw to cut each post to measure 8 feet long.
-
7
Drill a large hole, 6 inches from the top of one of the posts. Drill a second hole, 1 foot bellow the first. Repeat for each post.
-
8
Increase the hole size in each post, using a chisel and a mallet. The finished holes must be able to accommodate the ends of two rails.
Installation
-
9
Dig a post hole at the beginning of the fence line. Dig the hole 2 1/2-feet deep, and 10 inches wide. Repeat every 9 feet along the fence line.
-
10
Place 3 inches of gravel in the bottom of the first post hole to help with drainage. Place a post in the hole. Fill the hole 1/2 way with dirt, then add a 2-inch layer of gravel. finish filling the hole with dirt, then firmly tamp down the ground around the post.
-
11
Add 3 inches of gravel to the bottom of the second post hole. Loosely set a second post in the hole. Place one rail stretching across the top holes in the posts, and one in the bottom. After the rails are in place, finish setting the second post in the same manner you did the first.
-
12
Repeat Step 3 to install the rest of the fence. Only install one 10-foot section at a time.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Use cedar logs to build the fence for lasting durability.
Wear safety protection when operating power tools.
References
- "Back To The Basics"; Abigail R. Gehring; 2008
- "How To Build and Furnish a Log Cabin"; W. Ben Hunt; 1970
- Lowes; Install A Post and Rail Fence; 2011
Resources
- Photo Credit Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
