What are your thoughts. I need to pen 4 feeders. I'm thinking six but don't want them to be to small.

Enough panels to keep all the corn inside your pen. I would not use less than 10 panels per pen. I would buy a bundle of 50 panels and use them to make the 3 pens IMO. The larger the pen the more deer can get inside it and feed with some space.

I agree although I do have a couple of 32x32 pens (8 panels) and they seem to do ok. I would NOT go any smaller and like stx said,,bigger the better..

I have 10 panels around mine and I still noticed a drop in my deer activity at that feeder.

10-12 panels

minimum

I use about eight configured in a circle vs square. Just overlap your panels a foot or two and wire all the panels together. Then, shape in a circle and begin driving your t-posts. Put your posts in alternating from on side and then the opposite side and keep the tension against the pen. The circular shape is stronger and holds up better against livestock and hogs pushing on it.

I use about eight configured in a circle vs square. Just overlap your panels a foot or two and wire all the panels together. Then, shape in a circle and begin driving your t-posts. Put your posts in alternating from on side and then the opposite side and keep the tension against the pen. The circular shape is stronger and holds up better against livestock and hogs pushing on it.

I am sure that bigger is better but I have 4 on my ranch and they each have 6 panels and the deer have no problem with the size as long as it is round. 6 panels seem to be big enough but I would not use any less than 6 for sure.

7

Have 2 with 7, if I redid them it would be 8

The more the better but six is a minimum for me. I also trim them down with bolt cutters and they seem to like that better.

I was using (10) 16' panels for a while and the deer activity was okay inside the feeder pen with deer still walking around the exterior of the feeder pen. I added 3 more 16' panels to the original 10 made it 13 panels round and the number of deer going in the feeder pen seemed to double. Seems like the deer that were walking around the outside of the pen now jump in since I made it bigger

Nothing less then 10 in a circle.

I have built my last two with 9 in a round pen. More the better.

Recommendation from the Ag Extension service:

exclusion fencing around feeders:6: 16'x 34" panels; 12 t posts, 28' diameter circle; $175

I used 7 and although deer jump in, it seems most are hesistant. Would recommend more than 7. But like most have already said, make a budget and go as big as you can afford.

10 is a pretty good number. Also we cut a little hole for the Fawns to get in since we have water for them in the pens. We dont have hogs so may be harder for others to do this.

just curious ... where do ya'll buy hog panels in bulk? and what kind of price are you having to pay?

everywhere I've looked, like Tractor Supply, McCoys, Home Depot, American Fence, etc. about the cheapest I have found was in the $21-25 each range ... I even search all the central TX area Craigslist for used or surplus.

I'm about to build 2 pens for some protein gravity feeders, which will also have a small water trough and a mineral lick inside...we have cattle and hogs, so I'm trying to figure out the size of the circle (how many panels - thinking 8-10), and how high the panels should be. I've got some good ideas from what you all have written, but not sure on a couple details...I was thinking of getting 4' high panels, and then maybe cutting down the tops of a couple areas for some of the smaller deer to get it - but i don't want to see it trampled by the cattle. I have options of 4x4, 6x4, & 6x8" sectioned panels...what do you all use?

12 simply works better and keep it as round as possible

I use 6 16' hog panels around my feeders with no issues - deer I see outside the panels always seem to jump in to get the corn. Getting ready to put out a new protein / water station and considering 10-12 panels to improve the chances of getting more deer in to feed.

Sometimes the cattle panel can be cheaper than the hog panel (go figure) and then you can cut out spots to make it the same height.

Check with Tractor Supply or McCoys for the best deals. Feed stores like Mummes, Lyssy and Eckels both in Hondo have good pricing. Last I bought at McCoys were $20 each. Mummes had a 4' precut unpainted Tpost that work great with hog panels. They are much cheaper than a 6' tpost.

I've used 9 panels in the past. After reading this thread - I went to 11 panels on a pen I built today. It seems HUGE! Now I'll have something to compare.

Isn't it amazing how much more room 2-3 panels make! Lots better.