How to Splice a Goat Fence

Splicing helps create a sturdy, goat-proof fence.

Goat and sheep fences are often composed of either woven or cable wire that is sometimes reinforced with barbed wire, which works to stop the animals from escaping. If a goat fence gets damaged and you need to make a temporary or long-term repair, or if you need to join together two cut ends of the fence when you are first building it, you can splice the two pieces in order to connect them. There are different methods you can use to splice a fence, including using a pair of pliers or a modern splicing tool that crimps the wire together.

Things You'll Need

• Pliers
• Splicing wire
• Splicing tool
• Crimp sleeves

Instructions

Pliers

1. Loop one of the cut ends of the fence. Use the pliers to firmly grip the wire, then twist your wrist until the wire forms a loop.

2. Twist the loop close. Twisting keeps the wire from unraveling, so twist it at least three or four times.

3. Connect splicing wire to the loop. Thread the splicing wire through the loop, then loop the splicing wire closed using the same method as the cut wire. If you are simply starting another length of wire after the previous one ended, the splice is complete. However, if you are splicing the fence in order to fix a hole of some sort, you need to connect the splicing wire to the other cut wire using another set of loops in order to secure the hole.

Splicing Tool

1. Cut the wire. You do not want excess wire when using a splicing tool and crimping sleeve. The length of both ends of the cut wire should fit into the crimp sleeve without coming out the other side.

2. Insert both ends of the cut wire into the crimp sleeve, which is composed of two attached cylinders. The wire should fit easily into the cylinders.

3. Crimp the sleeve. The splicing tool is actually a crimping tool. Each splicing tool has its own design, so pay attention to the directions that come with the tool. Have someone hold the wire to make sure it stays in the crimp sleeve when you crimp it.

Tips & Warnings

• One crimp with the splicing tool is not enough, especially if you use longer sleeves. Crimp down the entire length of the sleeve to ensure the strength of the splice.

References

• TexasEscapes.com: Cowboy Life on a Small Spread - Barbed Wire Fences
• Sheep and Goat: Facilities and Equipment for Commercial Meat Goat Production
• Swampy Acres Farm: Goat-Proof Fence
• Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service: Meat Goat Manual
• Stay Tuff: Splice the Fence