Keeping Cows out of Feeder???? Help!!

[Roger]

Current setup.

T posts and hog wire about waist high. 30' diameter. They walked through it like it wasn't even there.

I don't see how 3 strand barbwire works at all, but if you keep them out with that then they must have plenty other groceries to eat.

the place i hunt is in eastland, tx

30 foot diameter is only 10 yards across. That's a really small pen. Unless you have a varmit guard knocking down all your corn, you have to be throwing corn near or over the fence to entice the cows. Even if it falls straight down it's only 5 yards from their nose and mouth. They will go through a fence for that. Any fence. My pens are 2.5 to three times that size out in the panhandle. Not a lot of cow groceries at all on my pasture with the past years droughts, but it's the pen size that keeps them from messing with the feeder. Just my thoughts. A bigger pen would probably solve your problem.

[PK743]

You need some cow be gone!! lol What everyone has said will work unless you just have a stubborn jumper. Put up the hog pannals and run a strand or two of barbed wire around the top. We have feeder pens around all of our set ups at the ranch and it keeps them out just fine. Unless the rancher is depending on your corn to feed his cows. What kind of shape are his cows in?

[Sunnylab]

cows seem to be in good shape.

I will try to just make the pen bigger and see how that works. I will also try using taller hogwire and maybe a strand of barbed wire on the top. What I have now is about waist high....probably too short.

[txdukklr]

i cut cattle panel in half, 14+ is my size. I then run a barb wire about 12 inches above that.

Deer have no problem getting in, keeps most pigs out and zero issue with cows.

[Boomerang]

If the cows tear it up before the deer get to it, run a strand of electric wire. You don't want to leave it on too long as it will shock your deer also. The cattle will leave your wire alone after that, they may need a small refresher every now and then. Pretty determined if they are walking through existing wire, they know there is a good treat.

[Humper]

As a few have said, make your pen bigger. Change the 30 ft to 30 yards and you'd be fine with three or more strands of good barbed wired

[x1jett]

Hog panels and t-posts will keep cows and hogs away from your feeders. As stated earlier, as few as 8 panels will get the job done.

[dustoffer]

I've been successful with 3-strand barbed wire and a 3-sided pen (takes fewer posts). Make it as big as you need to keep the corn inside, but I've not worried about that and so far have had about 99% success.

[crazy8]

I make my feed pens with 14 hog panels in a circle. It's big enough for the deer to feel comfortable and pigs and cows stay out. Like in my avatar.

[zero-in]

Had problems with cows meandering around my feeder as being curious. 60' diameter circle 2 stranded barbed wire with Tposts worked well at minimal cost. Cows choose to go somewhere else now. Sounds like a big deal to put up but really isn't. Get a bud to help you and it will go up fast! Do not have a hog problem so I haven't had to use cattle panel. Wire creates a stopping point as they enter and leave the pen, makes for a great shot as they hesitantly assess whether to duck under the wire or vault over it.

[dpatterson1976]

I had this problem in Hamilton.

Started with hog panels for the hogs. Cows tore it down.

Added 1 strand of Barbed Wire. Cows tore it down.

Added yet another strand of Barbed Wire and several more T-Post...

Yep, Cows tore it down.


Once they got a taste it didnt matter. Plus I dont think they were fed very well.