"Gerald Ross" wrote in message
...
samson wrote:
I'm building a garden fence about 50 feet by
50 feet. I'm setting 8 foot 4X4s two feet deep
in cement. And then I'm using 2in by 2 inch wire
fencing to keep the rabbits out. About how far apart should the posts be
to keep
the fence upright and tight? 10 feet apart looks
about right, but I'm not 100 percent sure.

Thanks,

S.
For rabbits you only need a fence about 18 - 24 inches high, but it has to
have small openings. The rabbits around here can go through a chain-link
fence barely slowing down. Their skull is smaller than it looks, and they
have a flexible skeleton, so where their head can go the body will follow.
They will not climb a fence or try to jump over it. I have successfully
kept them out of flower beds with an 18 inch fence.

Now, if you are talking about jack rabbits or Australian ones, that is
another matter.

Folks around here have a lot of problems with turkeys in the garden. The
buggers will eat anything, not just insects, and they scratch and wallow,
making a mess.

Called my extension agent and asked the best way to protect the garden,
since people with fencing were just putting the creatures on the wing. He
said "turkeys are stupid. They would rather walk than fly. If they see an
obstacle they'll fly over, but a nice electrified wire about ten inches
above the ground never seems to register as anything until they hit it."
Why not run one at four and one at eight and see if that doesn't do for the
bunnies? I don't have a rabbit or rodent problem, having a couple of fairly
large snakes in residence in my compost heap, but that would be my choice.

I find it easier to set T poles in come spring, after plowing and preparing
the soil. I remove them in the fall.

Now deer are another matter. The big ones respond to sight barriers, which
is why I use the polypropylene/stainless electrification. Young ones will
sometimes get in and panic after the first zap. Once only....