The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: North Base Farm on March 20, 2013, 11:42:37 am
-
We are hoping to get our first small flock of around 10 hebrideans soon. We need to erect some type of fencing to contain them within an area our property (currently has good stock fencing around the perimeter - just need to section off an area for them.) The area is partially sloped - just wondered if anyone has any suggestion for how high it needs to be or any clever ways to fence, as i understand that they are rather partial to jumping!
Thanks.
-
Ours don't jump :) . Our march fencing is pretty secure though just in case, with a double row of stob and mesh 2 or 3 m apart and a hedge growing in between. They don't jump into the hedge to graze it, or go through it (although in the past Jacobs have). Between paddocks, we use single stob and mesh fencing, but with an extra strained plain wire on the top (ie two). I hate barbed wire with a vengeance - it doesn't stop animals from jumping but rips their bellies when they do, not to mention human hands etc.
The exception to the 'they don't jump' claim is when you are penning them, so an extra tall fence there could be worth it, maybe deer stobs with two lengths of mesh one above the other if your flock is a wild one.
The mesh we use is the slightly taller type - not sure of the exact height, but it's one which is readily for sale. It's best to go for a nice sturdy mesh, not the cheaper flimsy stuff, because when you have a tup he could well use it as a head scratcher and the weaker stuff won't stand up to that.
Well strained high tensile wires are an option, but certainly won't keep lambs in. The downside of mesh is that the lambs go through a stage when they can get their heads stuck. I suppose it depends on how much it matters if they escape and wander around your holding.
The slope - if it very steeply sloping then this would be where they would choose to jump if they're going to, jumping from higher to lower. A few extra top wires at that point would solve it.
Great choice of breed :thumbsup: :eyelashes:
-
The only time our hebs try jumping, and it's usually our tup and one athletic lamb, is when we try and round them up.
And it's usually the sheep gates they try and jump as we move them in to the sheep race, so we move some heras fencing into the corner bit where they can get a run up.
Barbed wire is a bad idea. They'll jump anyway. We also had some chicken wire on a gate which our tup got stuck in on his last attempt and bust his nose. Not good for horns either.
I can't imagine why they'd jump at any other time, unless you have a tup with some nice ewes living next door....
J xxxx
-
I've been looking after some Hebs for a few months. They were all far too chilled out to do anything as energetic as jumping. That said, they are quite mature (old) ewes so that may have had a bearing on things.
So normal stock fencing should suffice - hopefully ;-)
-
Thanks everyone - really appreciate your advice - will just give it a go with normal stock fencing without barbed wire. Even if they get over they should hopefully stay within the perimeter fence - just wanted something to stop them munching on my veg patch! Thanks again. :sheep: :thumbsup:
-
Probably cheaper to put double height fencing just around the veg patch :garden: and any fruit trees - they'll have those :sheep: :sheep: :sheep:
-
mine never jumped, we just had normal stock fencing - either stranded barbed wire or rylock and top wire.