The Fence Post

Hinge Joint: A Wide Range of Applications

To enclose a large field safely and efficiently, Bekaert's hinge-jointed field fence comes through. This fence adapts well and hosts a wide variety of animals while remaining economical and extremely durable. Hinge joint field fence is specifically designed to withstand animal impacts: springing back and retaining its shape, therefore saving on maintenance and costly repairs. Another benefit is the graduated spacing it features with smaller openings approaching the ground, which keeps predators and small animals at bay. As for your particular set of criteria, don't hesitate to call Louis Page; we're always ready to assist you in making your selection. Here are three types available:

• Gaucho Pro Field Fence--1075 lb. breaking strength, high tensile wire, pre-installed gripple-action upon request, a variety of protective coatings, appropriate for grazing animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep, coming in an optional height of 78'' for deer exclusion. For professional applications.                                                                                                                                              
• Gaucho Field Fence--630 lb. breaking strength, high tensile wire, gripple-action upon request, Class 3 coating, appropriate for grazing animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep.                                                                                                                                                                 
• Classic Field Fence--a variety of breaking strength options, Class 3 and Class 1 coatings, crafted for economy and efficiency. 

We also have another blog called "Woven Wire Fence Knots" that may be helpful to you in choosing the right style of field fence. 

Here's a helpful video, "Installing Hinge Joint," from our friends at Bekaert:

High Tensile Wire: Impressive Benefits

• Lighter in weight, but stronger (thanks to its tensile strength)
• Won't sag; stays put
• Less need for tensioning 
• Smaller gauge/diameter of the wire is more efficient (especially compared to heavier low carbon wire)
• Though stiffer, ultimately, installation is easier because it doesn't have to be stretched as hard as low tensile wire; tension it and it's ready to go
• Fewer posts are needed thanks to its strength and vertical stay wires
• Springs back with animal impacts; it has give but retains its shape

High Tensile Wire: Thinner is Stronger

As you'll see toward the end of this video, four wires with a similar gauge have very different breaking strength based on the carbon content:

High Tensile Highlights 

A fixed knot fence is effective on challenging terrain and remains rigid between posts. The .64% carbon content steel wire used in a fixed knot fence is noticeably thinner. However, strong as it is, this high tensile wire would be lost without a protective coating. This is why the requisite Class 3 galvanization, with its anti-corrosion properties, is added to offset steel's natural disintegration which enhances its cost-efficiency by delaying repair and replacement. High tensile wire is the choice when a long-term fence solution is required as it remains a strong, versatile answer to a variety of fencing needs. 

Low Carbon Drawbacks

Now, low carbon steel wire is easy to work with as well, (also known as mild steel) but it is prone to sagging, stretching, and breaking more easily than high carbon-content steel wire. The carbon content for low tensile wire is roughly .28%; while this type of fence is common, it remains a shorter-term answer.

Installation

Here's a comprehensive how-to from Bekaert that details the installation of a fixed knot fence:

Helping a tree to establish itself

The Swaying of a Tree

In extreme situations, wind can certainly cause damage but the wind is also one of the building blocks of a tree's development and strength. A tree swaying in the wind stimulates its root system; this stress also prompts the young tree to grow extra bark in the lower trunk. The normal stress of this swaying produces extra fibers which then increase the trunk diameter and therefore, the tree's strength. 

Tipping

Trees that have been grown in a container with a small or restricted root ball may need steadying early on until the roots develop. For the most part, however, the root balls of trees can establish themselves. Certain environments may leave trees more vulnerable to high winds such as new housing tracts and areas with sandy soil. Top-heavy unsupported larger trees with underdeveloped root systems may tip or move, interrupting the establishment of fine roots important for nutrient absorption. Good-sized evergreen trees may be prone to tipping. Staking or guying may be advised in these situations. Consulting a trained arborist for advice is recommended. 

Here's a short video demonstrating some of these principles:

Guiding People

A secondary benefit from staking: visually, people are alerted to a young tree and are at least temporarily barred from approaching the tree.  Plus, those using various types of lawn equipment (particularly mowers and weed whackers) are less like to run into the tree and cause damage, especially in its fragile first year. 

Trees can be subject to unique stresses, particularly in cities or urban areas prone to vandalism, and may be candidates for guying. If vandalism is a concern, then guying does provide a level of security. Trees are not cheap, particularly those that have been carefully cultivated and are worth protecting. 

Flexible and Temporary Protection

The area in contact with the tree--a tree collar is wrapped around the young tree and should be a flexible, woven material that does not abrade the bark. This collar should not stay on too long, usually not longer than a year, as the tree has not been able to strengthen itself by the usual exercise provided by swaying in the wind. Though stabilized, the guying should not be too tight, still allowing for some sway. 

Here's a step by step instruction video that helps illustrate the process:

Coronavirus at the Zoo

A strange predicament for the Bronx Zoo, already under stress for lack of revenue and inconsistent staffing during the phenomenon of Covid-19, was the infection of one of their tigers, named Nadia, at the beginning of April 2020. The Malayan tiger showed symptoms of loss of appetite and a dry cough which was sustained long enough to get the staff curious; they began the difficult procedure of testing the wild cat. The test came up positive for the coronavirus. By the end of April, four other cats at the zoo tested positive. The suspicion is that an employee of the zoo infected the tiger. Nadia, who was bred and born at the zoo, is part of a program to breed the endangered Malayan tiger. This news reverberated around the world, alerting other zoos about changing how the animals in captivity are treated. So strange as it may seem--tigers were added to the list for social-distancing. Apes and a variety of smaller animals are most likely susceptible as well. (Here is a recent video that shows Nadia doing well.) 

Sadly, more recently and after having been tested for covid a month prior, 3 snow leopards have died at the Lincoln Children's Zoo in Lincoln Nebraska. 

Zoos: Dependent on Admissions

Unlike other establishments, zoos can't simply shut their doors--they've got mouths to feed and a mountain of general care to manage. Zoos are a cultural joy and an expensive habit. Most zoos in the U.S. and across Europe have been closed but are progressively reopening with reservation systems, some social distancing, and masking guidelines slowly being altered. They are, as always, dependent on the community at large to support their existence.

The majority of a zoo's budget is supported by:

• ticket sales
• concessions/refreshments
• gift shop--especially souvenirs 
• even stroller rentals

The expense of feeding, keeping staff, and maintaining the programs that make up the running of a zoo is, well, mammoth. Add medical costs and the situation became dire. Imagine a budget of up to $30,000 a day to pay the bills. Zoos across the country have had to lay off sizable percentages of staff, both full and part-time. At one desperate moment, unthinkable as it may seem, it was suggested that when they run out of food that the smaller animals would be sacrificed to feed the larger animals. Just the idea of this reveals the strained thinking. One director said that shouldn't be likely and that it may simply be necessary to move animals to other zoos, though this was to be considered drastic and to be avoided.

A Sad Departure

Because of inconsistent food supply issues at the Calgary Zoo, two pandas have been returned to China as of November 2020. The two pandas, "Er Shun" and "Da Mao," required around 170 pounds of bamboo a day, of which the zoo struggled to find sufficient quantities; also experiencing delayed deliveries, much of the bamboo they did receive had rotted en route. These prized pandas cost the zoo upwards of 20 million dollars and preparations for their arrival took six years.  

Responding to Other Needs

A challenging by-product of all this was keeping animals occupied without the usual stream of visitors. To offer stimulation for various animals, they visited other parts of the zoo or were being taken on outings, as this video shows:

On the positive side, Le Le and Ling Ling at the Hong Kong Zoo have, after eleven years, used the peace of lockdown to successfully mate and are possibly expecting a happy event.

If you have a local or favorite zoo now is the time to offer your support. Many zoos are conjuring up fundraising programs to stay afloat flogging T-shirts and such. It may be worth inquiring what the current plans are or simply offer hard cash.

Cage Ideas for a Healthy Bunny

Wire Mesh and Your Bunny

Your bunny's health depends on sturdy galvanized wire mesh. The right gauge and openings are critical for airflow, hygiene, and the safety of your bunny's paws, and more. To begin, the cage should be at least 4 times the size of your bunny. Two feet by three feet for a bunny that weighs up to eight pounds; for larger bunnies, cages should be two and a half feet by three feet at least.  The height of the cage should be ample enough so that your pet can stand up on its hind legs and stretch out. 

Recommended for sides and top of the cage: 14 gauge, 2" x 1" galvanized wire mesh

Your Bunny's Cage 

A big drawback for your pet's health is the flooring materials. Waste and urine contamination of flooring materials, particularly a pen using straw, is a poisonous combination for your bunny. Prolonged interaction with pellets and urine can bring difficulties such as parasites and the resulting ammonia and contact with puddling urine is toxic. 

Flooring Options

It seems that a mix of flooring is the best option, though studies show that bunnies seem to prefer clean and dry wire, spending most of their time on the wire mesh part of the cage .A section of the cage's floor should be a resting board, plexiglas (or another surface that can't be chewed) and the other half wire mesh so waste pellets can drop through. The resting board can also be a piece of marble, which is cooling in the summer. Do not be misled to think that these docile creatures are easy to keep and can simply stay in their cages. Your rabbit needs out-of-cage time or its muscles will atrophy. The best times to target outside or house play is when bunny is most naturally active--in the early morning and at dusk.  

• their feet becoming inflamed
• thinning of bones which means they are broken more easily
• a weakened heart, and as a result, poor muscle tone
• difficulties with urination and difficulty defecating
• troubling behaviors--chewing the cage, lethargy, chewing its own fur, becoming aggressive

Recommended for flooring: 14 gauge (or 16 gauge for smaller breeds), 1/2" x 1" galvanized wire mesh

Security: A Priority

It is very important to consider the wider needs of your pet rabbit. In a natural habitat, much of a bunny's day is spent in retreat in a burrow underground. Hence, for a domesticated rabbit, security is a priority and quite rightly, this is something that is up to you to provide consistently. During out-of-cage time, if you let your bunny roam in an enclosed space outside, make sure that there is protection from predators as just the approach of a strange animal can overwhelm a bunny that has no means of escape, with the ensuing panic possibly causing a heart attack.