fencing/shelter for calves

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Hello, My son, aged 16, wants to raise beef calves on an acreage near our home. There is no shelter on the property, and no fence. There are lots of trees. How can he build a shelter for the calves, and a sturdy fence, with little money?

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), March 23, 2000

Answers

My hsuband and I have been very successful at contacting major manufacturers for scavanged machinery crates, they are usually delighted to be able to get rid of them without having to pay for disposal. If you pick the right company, you can get some NICE lumber this way, for free. Sheet metal roofing and siding can be had very cheaply if you pick up custom orders that were never claimed.

For fencing, a double strand electric fence made with high visibility tape is the way to go. I have successfully kept newborn calves from roaming with this, you just have to be careful to space the lines so that the calves can't squeeze between the strands.

Good Luck!

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), March 23, 2000.


Connie said it all. I'll just add that you can expand scavanging to large construction projects. If he is willing to do a little sweeping up and trash pickup than the project manager will pay him as well as give him all the scrap ! I think I've hauled several houses and a barn home using this process. The fence is right on the mark for price and effectiveness.

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), March 23, 2000.

Thanks, both of you. My son is industrious and is already looking at a tumble down shed down the street. He's going to ask the owners if he can have it.

Thanks for the advice Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), March 25, 2000.


my sugestion would to use the trees for shelter and steal droppers for a fence you will also need to use some rope and a canvace this is verry cheep and you can use things from home.

-- keira (kgoodrid@alleastas.sa.edu.au), August 29, 2001.

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