On our very first day in R.G., we were thrown into the deep end, not of the swimming pool but of the sea. We helped fix a fence on this very day. Now it isn't too difficult and you catch on quite easy but fixing a fence is just one drop in that ocean, the rest came a little slower so here's what I have learned.
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| Monica, the second year. |
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| Sulize, Monica and myself were doing fence checks and found this hole. |
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| Busy, busy, busy. |
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| Before |
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| After. |
Before you can put up or fix or take down a fence there is a whole lot that needs to be done first.
Prepare area
Beacons need to be placed at point A and point B, so everybody can know where the fence is going to be. A line can be placed from A to B so things can be placed in a straight line.
The area is cleared by removing plants and trees that are in the way can be removed or the fence can go around the tree.
The ground is leveled out so the fence doesn't make a wave and doesn't look unneat.
Standards and specifications need to be given to whomever is building the fence so they know how far Y-standards need to be apart and also droppers. They also need to know how high it needs to be, how deep the anchor posts need to be and how far lines need to be from one another. All this detail can only be given if everything is taken into account like what animals need to be kept in or out, what soil you're working with and the climate plays an important role.
The very first thing that needs to happen when boundary fences are worked on, is talking to the neighbour. He needs to know that you will be working on the fence and what you'll be doing. You need to ask him if he has any problems that can be fixed by working specific detail into fence.
Erect a fence
The standards that were given needs to be followed.
The fence needs to be raised between point A and B in a straight line (if not otherwise specified).
If found that very dangerous animals need to be kept in or out, electrifying the fence needs to be considered.
Where difficult parts that need fencing, plants need to be made like a mountain, go around it or over it. River crossing: sacrificial fence is a fence you put up knowing that if the river comes down, the fence is going with it, a folding fence is specifically designed to lift up when the water comes down and go back down when the water resides.
Monitor the fence
Patrols need to be made along the fence by driving along fence or walking. Walking is the most effective of the two options. This way you don't only observe where animals break fences but poachers too. When a broken fence is found, it's location needs to be written down, what is wrong and what caused the incident example, what animal?
Now a report needs to be written about the fence and if it is doing it's job correctly and sufficiently.
Now you will write what you need to get fence up to standard so it can be effective against whatever is breaching the fence.
The neighbour of a boundary line needs to be notified if animals are breaching the fence and how it's going to be fixed.
Maintain the fence
The fence is repaired according to standards given right at the beginning. River crossings are also repaired, following the given standards. If a weakness in fence is found it needs to be repaired by using correct equipment and technique.
Dismantle a fence
A fence needs to be dismantled, NOT by just cutting down wire left and right. The proper way would be to make one cut at a post, detach from all droppers and Y-standards, roll up wire and store so it can be used again.
Preventing
To prevent breaks in fence that occur regularly, due to animals. Preventive methods can be used.
Warthogs, they dig holes under fences and push fence up. Put big stones in these holes and cover with sand so they can't dig through anymore but also put in a warthog highway, it's an iron frame that allows them to go through without damaging the fence.
Animals running into fences can be because they don't see it, you can put shiny elements on the fence for example, old Cd's.
Problems caused by escaped animals
Small animals that go through fences can go into neighboring farms and eat crops, those farmers might then shoot the animal.
Larger animals, example, lions might go through and eat farm animals of neighboring farm or might even attack humans.
To established if any animals have escaped after a break in the fence has been found, speak to neighbors to find out if they have been experiencing any problems or if they've noticed anything strange.
As you can see, many things are connected with fencing and I believe I still have a lot to learn but I'm proud of what I know so far and I love knowing that I, the city girl, can now fix a fence. My time in the bushveld is doing me wonders...
