Author Topic: temporarily penning sheep (Read 2681 times)

lars64 · « **on:** November 24, 2014, 12:21:27 pm »

Question about moving my small flock of sheep. On my smallholding I've got 2 large fields and I fence the sheep in using electric fencing in one area, then move them onto a new area when they've munched that down. It works well, but I'm having a problem if I try to move them to an area that's not adjacent. I don't have enough fencing equipment to make 2 large areas at the same time, so have to take it down and move it. I make the sheep a nice large temporary enclosure using hurdles to keep them in while I do this. The problem is that one ewe will just not put up with this for longer than 5 minutes. The others are as good as gold, but she will try to jump the hurdles. Of course she can't, but is too stupid to realise this. The time before last, she nearly broke a leg, but shows no sign of having learnt a lesson (no surprise there).

Anyone have any ideas how I can stop this daft ewe from hurting herself while I move the fencing?

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #1 on:** November 24, 2014, 01:09:35 pm »

Make the temporary pen much smaller, so she can't get a run up to try for a jump. Basically have them compressed with only just enough room for them all to stand, as they would be in a trailer.

Rosemary · « **Reply #2 on:** November 24, 2014, 01:36:09 pm »

And cull her from the flock. We put up with two nutters (a mother and daughter) for years; culled them this year and the flock is so much easier to handle.

Sweatyfarmer · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2014, 05:43:10 pm »

I agree with both replies - smaller pen to stop her jumping and then cull here. I too have had problems with the influence of a rogue Ewe / Lamb and they quite frankly make easy jobs hard.....

Ladygrey · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2014, 05:55:13 pm »

I agree with the culling part...

Each time I make a gather of say 60 sheep, I have two ewes with will jump and sprint back, often taking half the lot with them, they have made so many hours of extra work, they are now chucked in some rough grazing and will go as culls with any other culls in the spring

The flock is so much easyer to gather and work with without those two

Porterlauren · « **Reply #5 on:** November 24, 2014, 06:01:51 pm »

Sometimes with some ewes, they just don't respect people. A person with a dog and they go quite and act good as gold. Some just know they can take the piss out of you without a collie.

Backinwellies · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2014, 07:56:40 pm »

ditching my 2 wildest ewes was the best thing I've done so far .... the next one to go will be the one that always hangs back when the rest follow the bucket in (ewe lambs then hang back too) .... lose her life will be much easier.