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First off I do not own any Starkline Net Fencing.
My evaluations are based on owning Premier and researching Starkline and engaging in chats with Starkline.
The Basics - Short Story
I like the pricing and availblity of Starkline. However, for goat based fencing 42" seems to be the tallest they have. They have other fencing 48" in height, but the gaps in their horse fencing is a bit large, and the poultry netting may prove a problem in larger applications for fence chargers. There is also a lack of pos/neg netting for those people in drier climates.
I also question the practicality of a 164' string of fencing. If you have 150' Premier Permanet fence you know at 150' you are reaching the limit of manipulating the fence by yourself. Maybe, and remember I do not own Starkline, 164' may prove a bit unweildy.
Details
Moving The Paddocks
I moved my paddocks for the first time the other day with Premier fencing. On thing Premier does not have in their videos are the best ways to do to move your fencing. It is not difficult, but until you have done it a few times figuring out the best way cana bit elusive.
I am sure if you were moving dozens of them it is a bit laborious, but net fencing is still the right way to go. So far the best technique I have found is lay it flat, fully extended before picking it up. If there is a way to get a middle string through all those fiberglass rods I have not figured that out. I think if you use a dowel when picking them up you could drag that string through, but I am not sure of the neccesity of it. A string at the top of the fence and one at the bottom in all you really need.
I also attach a sling, top to bottom so I can easly carry it on my shoulder. I am using the PermaNet which is a little heavier than their other varieties.
Always spend the extra time keeping the pins and the tips from getting snagged in the netting. That will make far easier to deploy the next time you use it.
Debris
The biggest problem moving net fencing is the when you drag the net it acts like a huge rake ( A folded 10' section still leaves you dragging 5' of net on the ground ). Twigs, thorns are a major headache moving the fencing. Use GLOVES! It will save your fingers. The cleaner the path you are using, the better. If you can stack the poles in the same sequence the easier it will be to lay it out the next time. That one is not a big deal, it only slows you down a little. I like to organize them on the ground so when I grab one end they will roll out without snagging.
Single Spike vs Double Spike
I have all double spike. South Louisiana has mostly soft ground. However, I have discovered there are more rocks and roots than I would have thought. I think having a block of wood with two nails in it not as long or as thick as the spike but the same distance apart would make using the double spikes easier to install.
However, there is a secondary problem you won't discover until you try to move the fence. I know on the double spikes they can prove a bit difficult to extract. I suspect single spike or driveable ones may prove even more difficult to extract. The nice thing about the doubles is that you can get a tool under the spikes to extract it from the ground if they become too entrenched. You could not do that with a single spike post.
Gates?
I could see where a gate section could be useful. I don't know if the gates allow for power interruption or not. After getting whacked by a Prima Shock 4 (which I recommend as a charger) on my paddocks, I don't think I would be tempted to fool with one while the power is on again! I mean there is a reason why my goats avoid getting within a foot of the fence!
48" Enough
I put one of my sweetest nubian does into the paddock while I got the rest of the herd into the paddock. She pitched a complete fit being left alone, so much so she actually leapt over the fence and was right next to me while I collected the rest of the herd. I didn't think she could leap over that 48" fence, but as long as she has her friends with her she has not tried again.
Generally Starkline's goat fencing is 35" and 42" tall. If you have smaller goats that may be just fine. But my yearling nubian doe had no problem clearing a fence 6" taller than the Starkline when she feels motivated.
Predators?
Jury is still out on that one. We have some loose dogs around and any of them tried the fence I have not observed it. That said, a good goat charger ( and the Prima Shock is a 4 joule fence charger) needs to be stronger than one for a dog. When our dog tried to sneak into the goat's corral and touched the wire, we got the biggest yelp we ever heard and dog switch into full run into the back of the house!
PVC vs Fiberglass Poles
Some of Starkline products for goats use PVC poles, which Starkline calls and industry standard. You can get the PVC poles changed out for fiberglass poles for $5 per pole. That means 16-17 poles maybe another $85. The question is would the PVC poles in hotter climates bend more than fiberglass. But truly, if you do your installation correctly and add either tent stakes of the plastic insulate poles for electric wire, you should be able to prevent poles bending in the heat.
Extra Poles?
You may need them with either system to limit sag or straighten corners. Both companies make them. I use the the step in electric poles Iget at TSC, because they are cheap (less than $3) and do double duty.
Final Observations
Premier is a substantially well built net fence. Like I said earlier I have not seen a Starkline fence and they could be just as well built. Premier went to the extra trouble to install ferrite beads on the strands, which shows attention to good engineering work. Starkline's 42" on goat fencing is less than ideal for my goats. Really though, 150' net string, I suspect, is as much as you would want to carry without machinery. I have the PermaNet system, so if you use a lighter version, which both Premier and Starkline make, you might be able to carry more, but I wanted sturdy and durable that I suspect and hope the PermaNet may supply.
If Starkline every makes a 48" tall goat net fence I will certainly by one to see if it is a viable alternative.
My evaluations are based on owning Premier and researching Starkline and engaging in chats with Starkline.
The Basics - Short Story
I like the pricing and availblity of Starkline. However, for goat based fencing 42" seems to be the tallest they have. They have other fencing 48" in height, but the gaps in their horse fencing is a bit large, and the poultry netting may prove a problem in larger applications for fence chargers. There is also a lack of pos/neg netting for those people in drier climates.
I also question the practicality of a 164' string of fencing. If you have 150' Premier Permanet fence you know at 150' you are reaching the limit of manipulating the fence by yourself. Maybe, and remember I do not own Starkline, 164' may prove a bit unweildy.
Details
Moving The Paddocks
I moved my paddocks for the first time the other day with Premier fencing. On thing Premier does not have in their videos are the best ways to do to move your fencing. It is not difficult, but until you have done it a few times figuring out the best way cana bit elusive.
I am sure if you were moving dozens of them it is a bit laborious, but net fencing is still the right way to go. So far the best technique I have found is lay it flat, fully extended before picking it up. If there is a way to get a middle string through all those fiberglass rods I have not figured that out. I think if you use a dowel when picking them up you could drag that string through, but I am not sure of the neccesity of it. A string at the top of the fence and one at the bottom in all you really need.
I also attach a sling, top to bottom so I can easly carry it on my shoulder. I am using the PermaNet which is a little heavier than their other varieties.
Always spend the extra time keeping the pins and the tips from getting snagged in the netting. That will make far easier to deploy the next time you use it.
Debris
The biggest problem moving net fencing is the when you drag the net it acts like a huge rake ( A folded 10' section still leaves you dragging 5' of net on the ground ). Twigs, thorns are a major headache moving the fencing. Use GLOVES! It will save your fingers. The cleaner the path you are using, the better. If you can stack the poles in the same sequence the easier it will be to lay it out the next time. That one is not a big deal, it only slows you down a little. I like to organize them on the ground so when I grab one end they will roll out without snagging.
Single Spike vs Double Spike
I have all double spike. South Louisiana has mostly soft ground. However, I have discovered there are more rocks and roots than I would have thought. I think having a block of wood with two nails in it not as long or as thick as the spike but the same distance apart would make using the double spikes easier to install.
However, there is a secondary problem you won't discover until you try to move the fence. I know on the double spikes they can prove a bit difficult to extract. I suspect single spike or driveable ones may prove even more difficult to extract. The nice thing about the doubles is that you can get a tool under the spikes to extract it from the ground if they become too entrenched. You could not do that with a single spike post.
Gates?
I could see where a gate section could be useful. I don't know if the gates allow for power interruption or not. After getting whacked by a Prima Shock 4 (which I recommend as a charger) on my paddocks, I don't think I would be tempted to fool with one while the power is on again! I mean there is a reason why my goats avoid getting within a foot of the fence!
48" Enough
I put one of my sweetest nubian does into the paddock while I got the rest of the herd into the paddock. She pitched a complete fit being left alone, so much so she actually leapt over the fence and was right next to me while I collected the rest of the herd. I didn't think she could leap over that 48" fence, but as long as she has her friends with her she has not tried again.
Generally Starkline's goat fencing is 35" and 42" tall. If you have smaller goats that may be just fine. But my yearling nubian doe had no problem clearing a fence 6" taller than the Starkline when she feels motivated.
Predators?
Jury is still out on that one. We have some loose dogs around and any of them tried the fence I have not observed it. That said, a good goat charger ( and the Prima Shock is a 4 joule fence charger) needs to be stronger than one for a dog. When our dog tried to sneak into the goat's corral and touched the wire, we got the biggest yelp we ever heard and dog switch into full run into the back of the house!
PVC vs Fiberglass Poles
Some of Starkline products for goats use PVC poles, which Starkline calls and industry standard. You can get the PVC poles changed out for fiberglass poles for $5 per pole. That means 16-17 poles maybe another $85. The question is would the PVC poles in hotter climates bend more than fiberglass. But truly, if you do your installation correctly and add either tent stakes of the plastic insulate poles for electric wire, you should be able to prevent poles bending in the heat.
Extra Poles?
You may need them with either system to limit sag or straighten corners. Both companies make them. I use the the step in electric poles Iget at TSC, because they are cheap (less than $3) and do double duty.
Final Observations
Premier is a substantially well built net fence. Like I said earlier I have not seen a Starkline fence and they could be just as well built. Premier went to the extra trouble to install ferrite beads on the strands, which shows attention to good engineering work. Starkline's 42" on goat fencing is less than ideal for my goats. Really though, 150' net string, I suspect, is as much as you would want to carry without machinery. I have the PermaNet system, so if you use a lighter version, which both Premier and Starkline make, you might be able to carry more, but I wanted sturdy and durable that I suspect and hope the PermaNet may supply.
If Starkline every makes a 48" tall goat net fence I will certainly by one to see if it is a viable alternative.
