Fence Your First Pasture the Right Way
You don't need experience. You just need the right starting point. Everything a first-time homesteader needs to fence their property — explained step by step.
Start Here: Map Your Fence with Our Free Fence Builder
Before you buy a single post, use Kencove's free Fence Builder to draw your fence line on a satellite view of your property — and get an automatic materials list.
Everything You Need to Get Started
Follow these steps in order. Each one builds on the last — skip ahead and you'll be backtracking.
Corner & Brace Posts
Every fence starts at a corner. Corner posts take the full tension load of your fence line — they need to be larger, deeper, and more solidly set than your line posts. A proper H-brace assembly connects your corner post to a secondary brace post, distributing the load and preventing lean.
Line Posts
Line posts run between corners and support your wire. T-posts are the most beginner-friendly option — they drive quickly, hold wire securely, and are forgiving if you're not perfectly straight. Space them 8–12 feet apart for woven wire, 15–20 feet for high-tensile electric.
Wire or Conductor
The barrier itself. Match your wire to your animal — this is the most important decision you'll make. Woven wire for cattle and sheep. High-tensile for large perimeters. Polywire for rotational grazing. See the animal guide below for a full breakdown.
Stretch & Tension Your Wire
Tension is what separates a fence that lasts from one that sags within a season. Use a fence stretcher to pull wire tight before attaching it to posts — never attach wire first and try to tighten after. Work corner to corner, one section at a time.
Electric Fence System (If Applicable)
If you're running any electric fencing, you need four components working together: an energizer, insulators, ground rods, and a fence tester. Miss one and the system won't work — no matter how good everything else is.
Gates & Hardware
Every fenced area needs a way in — and gates are used every single day. Think carefully about placement before you start. Consider where you need vehicle access, where you'll walk daily with feed, and where you'll move animals between pastures.
What Fence Does Your Animal Need?
Match your fence to what you're raising. The right wire for cattle won't necessarily work for goats — here's a quick guide.
Cattle & Beef
Durable, low-maintenance fencing that holds up to pressure. Barbed wire or woven wire for perimeters, high-tensile electric for cross-fencing.
Sheep
Sheep push on fences — especially lambs. Woven wire with smaller vertical spacings keeps them contained and predators out.
Goats
Notorious escape artists. If their head fits through an opening, they'll go through it. Use tight-woven wire and consider adding a hot wire at nose height.
Horses
Horses need to see the fence as much as feel it. No barbed wire. Use smooth wire, electric tape, or vinyl rail for visibility and safety.
Poultry & Small Animals
Keeping predators out matters as much as keeping birds in. Use small-mesh woven wire and consider burying an apron at the base.
Rotational Grazing
Flexibility is everything. Polywire and step-in posts let you set up a new paddock in an afternoon and move it in minutes as you rotate.
Everything You Need, In Stock Now
Shop by category or follow your step-by-step list. Kencove has everything a first-time homesteader needs — ready to ship before the season starts.
Wood Posts
Corner and brace posts for a solid foundation.
Shop Wood PostsT-Posts
Fast, affordable, and beginner-friendly line posts.
Shop T-PostsWoven Wire
Field fence in multiple heights and mesh sizes.
Shop Woven WireHigh-Tensile Wire
Long-lasting wire for large perimeter fences.
Shop High-TensilePolywire
Portable electric conductors for rotational grazing.
Shop PolywireEnergizers
Plug-in, solar, and battery options for every setup.
Shop EnergizersInsulators
Keep electric wire separated from posts and ground.
Shop InsulatorsGround Rods
The most overlooked — and most important — part of electric fencing.
Shop Ground RodsFence Stretchers
Tension your wire properly — don't skip this tool.
Shop StretchersFence Testers
Confirm your fence is working before animals go in.
Shop TestersGates & Hardware
Wire gates, tube gates, electric handles, and spring kits.
Shop GatesCorner & Brace Hardware
H-brace assemblies and tighteners for solid corners.
Shop Brace HardwareNot Sure Where to Start?
Our team has helped thousands of first-time homesteaders get their first fence right. Tell us what you're raising and we'll point you in the right direction.
Fence Your First Pasture the Right Way
You don't need experience. You just need the right starting point. Everything a first-time homesteader needs to fence their property — explained step by step.
Start Here: Map Your Fence with Our Free Fence Builder
Before you buy a single post, use Kencove's free Fence Builder to draw your fence line on a satellite view of your property — and get an automatic materials list.
Everything You Need to Get Started
Follow these steps in order. Each one builds on the last — skip ahead and you'll be backtracking.
Corner & Brace Posts
Every fence starts at a corner. Corner posts take the full tension load of your fence line — they need to be larger, deeper, and more solidly set than your line posts. A proper H-brace assembly connects your corner post to a secondary brace post, distributing the load and preventing lean.
Line Posts
Line posts run between corners and support your wire. T-posts are the most beginner-friendly option — they drive quickly, hold wire securely, and are forgiving if you're not perfectly straight. Space them 8–12 feet apart for woven wire, 15–20 feet for high-tensile electric.
Wire or Conductor
The barrier itself. Match your wire to your animal — this is the most important decision you'll make. Woven wire for cattle and sheep. High-tensile for large perimeters. Polywire for rotational grazing. See the animal guide below for a full breakdown.
Stretch & Tension Your Wire
Tension is what separates a fence that lasts from one that sags within a season. Use a fence stretcher to pull wire tight before attaching it to posts — never attach wire first and try to tighten after. Work corner to corner, one section at a time.
Electric Fence System (If Applicable)
If you're running any electric fencing, you need four components working together: an energizer, insulators, ground rods, and a fence tester. Miss one and the system won't work — no matter how good everything else is.
Gates & Hardware
Every fenced area needs a way in — and gates are used every single day. Think carefully about placement before you start. Consider where you need vehicle access, where you'll walk daily with feed, and where you'll move animals between pastures.
What Fence Does Your Animal Need?
Match your fence to what you're raising. The right wire for cattle won't necessarily work for goats — here's a quick guide.
Cattle & Beef
Durable, low-maintenance fencing that holds up to pressure. Barbed wire or woven wire for perimeters, high-tensile electric for cross-fencing.
Sheep
Sheep push on fences — especially lambs. Woven wire with smaller vertical spacings keeps them contained and predators out.
Goats
Notorious escape artists. If their head fits through an opening, they'll go through it. Use tight-woven wire and consider adding a hot wire at nose height.
Horses
Horses need to see the fence as much as feel it. No barbed wire. Use smooth wire, electric tape, or vinyl rail for visibility and safety.
Poultry & Small Animals
Keeping predators out matters as much as keeping birds in. Use small-mesh woven wire and consider burying an apron at the base.
Rotational Grazing
Flexibility is everything. Polywire and step-in posts let you set up a new paddock in an afternoon and move it in minutes as you rotate.
Everything You Need, In Stock Now
Shop by category or follow your step-by-step list. Kencove has everything a first-time homesteader needs — ready to ship before the season starts.
Wood Posts
Corner and brace posts for a solid foundation.
Shop Wood PostsT-Posts
Fast, affordable, and beginner-friendly line posts.
Shop T-PostsWoven Wire
Field fence in multiple heights and mesh sizes.
Shop Woven WireHigh-Tensile Wire
Long-lasting wire for large perimeter fences.
Shop High-TensilePolywire
Portable electric conductors for rotational grazing.
Shop PolywireEnergizers
Plug-in, solar, and battery options for every setup.
Shop EnergizersInsulators
Keep electric wire separated from posts and ground.
Shop InsulatorsGround Rods
The most overlooked — and most important — part of electric fencing.
Shop Ground RodsFence Stretchers
Tension your wire properly — don't skip this tool.
Shop StretchersFence Testers
Confirm your fence is working before animals go in.
Shop TestersGates & Hardware
Wire gates, tube gates, electric handles, and spring kits.
Shop GatesCorner & Brace Hardware
H-brace assemblies and tighteners for solid corners.
Shop Brace HardwareNot Sure Where to Start?
Our team has helped thousands of first-time homesteaders get their first fence right. Tell us what you're raising and we'll point you in the right direction.