Fencing contracting

hoff135

Member
Location
scotland
What like a job is this? Does it pay better than agri contracting?

Have had a thread before but am looking to get away from agri contracting and into something else. Up until recently the plan was an 8 ton digger but that is increasingly looking like another area where too many people are competing for the same work. I'm honestly not interested in running big plant just to cover the cost if running it. Be as well to do nothing or go to the beach ⛱

There are no fencing contractors within 15 miles of me. Mate further away has a post knocker on the back of a tractor seems to be pretty busy.

Half of fencing jobs here involve going out on to hill ground which is too steep or wet for a tractor. Often see contractors coming in from far away to do that type of work.

I can see there being lots of tree planting schemes coming in the coming years. Would selling the ag kit and going straight in with a tracked post knocker be a sensible business decision? I can fence and often get asked to do small fencing jobs which I often decline as I'm probably losing money somewhere else🤣

Good idea or not?
 

Ffermer Bach

Member
Livestock Farmer
They never seem short of work would a digger mounted knocker be better as can do a bit of other stuff with it too and the proper tracked fencing machines are stupid money
fencing contractors round here seem to use a 6 ton machine with a breaker and a cup instead of the spike on the breaker, then a quick fencer on the back of a tractor to run the wire out.
 

tepapa

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North Wales
Pro's
Plenty of work about.
Only need to invest in one machine rather than many different implements.

Cons.
Don't get paid if your not working, standing around doesn't make you any money.
Physical Job that requires you to work in all weathers to get on. That includes heat waves in summer and rain and mud in winter.
Stress of arranging materials in a pandemic with massive shortages and rapidly rising prices.
Customers expect you to be there tomorrow even though they only rang you today and you have months of work booked in.
Customers tell you they will clear lines ready but when you turn up nothing started and materials haven't been delivered/ordered.
 
Last edited:

hoff135

Member
Location
scotland
I'm only asking because its often the case when someone comes here and asks if agri contracting is a good thing to get into they are often told to forget it and try fencing or shearing sheep. Too many young lads sitting in daddy's tractor running about for nothing.

I'm under no illusions about any outside jobs since I've grown up on a farm lambing sheep outside at the top of scotland.

I've done agri contractingbfor a few years and it's certainly no picnic. Smashing kit in peoples fields that aren't fit to plough. Stones not gathered when you are told they are. Cutting fields and straight into a roll of rylock.

Wanted to buy another digger but just like agri contracting there's loads of people at it and trying to undercut someone else.
 

Ffermer Bach

Member
Livestock Farmer
Pro's
Plenty of work about.
Only need to invest in one machine rather than many different implements.

Cons.
Don't get paid if your not working, standing around doesn't make you any money.
Physical Job that requires you to work in all weathers to get on. That includes heat waves in summer and rain and mud in winter.
Stress of arranging materials in a pandemic with massive shortages and rapidly rising prices.
Customers expect you to be there tomorrow even though they only rang you today and you have months of work booked in.
Customers tell you they will clear lines ready but when you turn up nothing started and materials haven't been delivered/ordered.
I think fencing is really hard yakka
 

Tubbylew

Member
Location
Herefordshire
 

Optimus

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North of Perth
In our area there are loads of fencing contractors.some just one squad others have multiple.even with so many about trying to get one isn't easy.they are nearly all running tracked machines.and all will travel a fair distance for work.
 

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