How to Put Up Barbed Wire & Electric Fences

Gather your materials. Determine the area you wish to contain within your fence and measure its perimeter. Consider the purpose for your fence. A fence that is used to contain large livestock, such as cattle, will require a different number of strands of wire than a fence meant merely to mark the boundary of your property. Multiply the number of strands of wire you intend to use by the perimeter to determine how much wire you will need. Determine how many fence posts you will need by dividing the perimeter by the distance between posts. Electric fences typically need a fence post every 25 to 75 feet, depending on the terrain, while barbed wire fences may require a post every eight to 12 feet, depending on the type of animal being contained. You will need sufficient connectors or insulators to attach each strand of wire to each post.

Set the fence posts, beginning with your corner posts. You can either drive the posts into the ground or dig a post hole and set the posts with concrete. Posts set in concrete tend to be more stable over long periods of time. Measure the distance between the corner posts and set your remaining fence posts at regular intervals between the corner posts. Distances may range from eight to 75 feet, depending on the type of fence and the type of containment required.

Brace the corner posts in the direction of the fence wire.This is particularly important for barbed wire, but is also helpful for high-tensile electric fence wire. The corner brace should be approximately 50 percent longer than the corner post is high. Angle the brace so one end is secured below the top of the corner post, and the other end is buried in the ground parallel to the direction of the wire. Drive a stake into the ground at the butt end of the brace to provide it with additional support.

Attach the wire to the fence posts. Begin with the corner post. Start with the top wire and always attach the wire to the inside of the fence post -- the side closest to the area you wish to contain. Always work from the outside of the fence post, so you're not injured in the event the wire breaks. The type of connectors used to secure the wire to the posts will depend on the type of wire and the type of post. Galvanized staples are appropriate for wooden fence posts, while wire clips should be used for steel posts.

Stretch the wire. Work one section at a time. The tautness of the wire is dependent on the type of wire you are installing. Barbed wire must be stretched taut to provide a sufficient barrier, while high-tensile electric fence wire should only be stretched to approximately 200 pounds, according to the University of Wisconsin Extension. Electric fencing is not intended to act as a physical barrier the way barbed wire is. Electric fencing is designed to keep livestock contained by giving them a mild, but distinctive shock. It should be tight enough to prevent sagging, but loose enough to provide some elasticity if the contained animals push against it.