Cattle Panel Question

[Ruralhideaway]

Open wall is now closed with more barn loft finds. It is officially usable. Well once I clean all my tools and lumber out anyway.

Looking from the hoop into what will be the duck yard.

From duck yard into the hoop.(before door)

 

[Ruralhideaway]

So I have a question. For my duck run, which I might do tomorrow, I'm shooting for super safe for day and night. Due to the possibility of raccoons getting on top of the wire from the barn roof I think I'll have to do a hardware cloth roof.

We all know snow will pulverize that so it'll need good support. It'll be 8x12. What spacing would I need to hold that up? 2x4s good enough you think?

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Duck yard progress underway. I figured this unused stockade fence would be easy to add hardware cloth to.

Duck yard roof panels. Hope they hold snow load ok.

 

[aart]

Looking good!

Duck yard roof panels. Hope they hold snow load ok.

That will be interesting to see.....can you reach them with the roof rake?

What year is that old JD in the background?!
Have had a couple of those, and fixed both many times, still have the older one for a parts tractor. Little beasts they are....for mow and throw!!

Here's a ponder for you. How to economically wire cover a run that's about 20 ft wide. I've considered working something up with tensioned wires from the barn wall to strong fence posts. Then put the 2x4 wire or chicken wire on top of the wires.

Sorry, never answered this, but did think about it.
Pulling wires tight enough could be an issue, posts would have to be hefty(4x4 or 6x6), sunk deep, and concreted well. Even then you might need some supports across that 20' span, at least in winter if the snow starts to gather atop....the old '2x2 sticks jammed in' trick would probably suffice.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Looking good!


That will be interesting to see.....can you reach them with the roof rake?

What year is that old JD in the background?!
Have had a couple of those, and fixed both many times, still have the older one for a parts tractor. Little beasts they are....for mow and throw!!


Sorry, never answered this, but did think about it.
Pulling wires tight enough could be an issue, posts would have to be hefty(4x4 or 6x6), sunk deep, and concreted well. Even then you might need some supports across that 20' span, at least in winter if the snow starts to gather atop....the old '2x2 sticks jammed in' trick would probably suffice.

I don't think I'll get up there easily with a roof rake, it's 8ft high. But I guess I could if really needed. Considering adding some cross pieces from the bottom. Or even maybe a beam to support the middle.

That old JD! Thats my second one and I think could be late 70s. I've spent more hours than I care to count crawling around working on the decks of those old beasts. This one has a replacement deck that someone rigged a bit to fit... well almost fit. That's the problem, corner too hard and it throws the belt. It's still willing to mow but burns crazy oil. I bought a new Cub Cadet reluctantly after my lawn kept getting smaller and smaller due to the breakdown frequency. Too many headaches! I can report they do not make them the same anymore!

I can cement posts in good for the cable but really wondering if I'm missing a better solution. Hmm.

Ceiling installed. Ended up cutting the dog ears off the fence because a gutter I hung today moved my start point over a bit, making the panels not fit as planned. So I just sloped that last one to meet the fence. Should stop a coon or mink. I hope!

 

[aart]

That old JD! Thats my second one and I think could be late 70s. I've spent more hours than I care to count crawling around working on the decks of those old beasts. This one has a replacement deck that someone rigged a bit to fit... well almost fit.

They made the 200 series from ~1977-1988. Started with a '79 214 with mower and snow thrower, rebuilt the engine once(last bore out at 0.003 over) and replaced many other parts. Engine finally blew. Then bought an '87 216, which is still running tho many things have been replaced/repaired...some with parts from older tractor. Was able to do all that because of another fantastic forum with a section that specializes in that series.
A lot of parts you can still buy new....others not so much. The mower decks are hard to find, most the housings have rotted out...mine's in pretty bad shape, needs some welding again.
Love my little JD tank!! Couldn't live here in this snow belt with out the thrower.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

They made the 200 series from ~1977-1988. Started with a '79 214 with mower and snow thrower, rebuilt the engine once(last bore out at 0.003 over) and replaced many other parts. Engine finally blew. Then bought an '87 216, which is still running tho many things have been replaced/repaired...some with parts from older tractor. Was able to do all that because of another fantastic forum with a section that specializes in that series.
A lot of parts you can still buy new....others not so much. The mower decks are hard to find, most the housings have rotted out...mine's in pretty bad shape, needs some welding again.
Love my little JD tank!! Couldn't live here in this snow belt with out the thrower.

I liked my last one better, it was a 185 hydro and flew through tall grass fast. I wish I'd put the money into restoring that one.

 

[aart]

I put Gator Blades on mine long ago, made a huge difference cutting longer and/or thicker grass. Will cut thru ~3/4" saplings too. I let my 'grass' grow pretty high before cutting it, some areas I only cut a few times a year....it takes it all down.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I put Gator Blades on mine long ago, made a huge difference cutting longer and/or thicker grass. Will cut thru ~3/4" saplings too. I let my 'grass' grow pretty high before cutting it, some areas I only cut a few times a year....it takes it all down.

Thata a big sapling to hit with the mower. Pretty sure I've done the same. I used to do a fall cleanup of my horse pastures with the hydro.
Wouldn't even consider that with the cub.

Gotta look into gator blades, sounds interesting.

 

[aart]

Hydro is only the ground drive, no clutch, has little to do with the mower power.
What year and model number is the hydro?
Mines a gear drive, has a clutch/brake pedal for the ground drive.
The older 'Lawn and Garden' tractors have much more torque in ground drive and mower/thrower drive.

The Gator Blades are expensive, but are much thicker(3-4x) than the standard blades.