The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: FiB on December 17, 2014, 04:34:29 pm

Title: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: FiB on December 17, 2014, 04:34:29 pm
I have a problem... In that a rogue neighbour (I think) keeps putting loose sheep on my field. The first couple of times I though I must have imagined it as they were gone before I could deal with them. Then I thought I must have a hole in my fence.... Nope.   Last week I got up to find the gate between my neighbours field (which said rogue neighbour used to co own) and mine open.... Some of Neighbours ewes in my field, and my mongrel ram lambs off with the rest of his flock..... :innocent:  (Luckily neighbour very understanding and said they should all be in lamb by now...)


Then today, gate perfectly closed, but 3 strange ewes in ( of course no ear tags) and rogue neighbour had been spotted heard ing 3 sheep along road in his pickup with his dog.  I have padlocked the gate and await an explanation..... But so annoyed, I am trying to keep a closed flock and it is outrageously cheeky.  I sort of can't understand, (but on the other hand it is in character, since we've been here he's been done for putting a dead sheep in someone's wheely bin, and has also put a pig in someone's shed and called the police to report them!)  and would love to know what the law would suggest I do.  Of course I will padlock from now on...


Grr


Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: Bionic on December 17, 2014, 04:39:02 pm
I'm at a loss Fi but hope you get it sorted.
Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: pgkevet on December 17, 2014, 04:42:03 pm
Stick a prominent sign on gate:

Grazing fee £15/day or part thereof per sheep - and then bill him.
Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: FiB on December 17, 2014, 04:50:09 pm
Ha! I'm half expecting a visit from the police accusing ME of sheep rustling :-J .   It's kind of funny the things he get up to.... Until you are in the mix! 
Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: Womble on December 17, 2014, 04:53:04 pm
Stick a prominent sign on gate:

"All unattended sheep will be eaten"
 
There - fixed that for you  ;)
 
Also, without any ear tags, wouldn't he have a job proving that they were his sheep that you'd rustled?
Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: FiB on December 17, 2014, 05:09:25 pm
Oh I am extreeeemly fond of that idea! They are probably scraggy old mutton, but I may gather in and have a feel!
Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: bloomer on December 17, 2014, 05:11:08 pm
its more likely dump the ear tag missing sheep then report to the powers that be... quite why well thats another question... sounds seriously mental...



Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: sabrina on December 17, 2014, 05:13:18 pm
I would get them in a trailer and taken somewhere. Let him ask you where his sheep are. Or never give them back.
Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: Anke on December 17, 2014, 06:52:15 pm
Yeah, but the biosecurity issues don't look that nice whatever you decide to do. No idea what I would do, as you probably don't fancy eating them not knowing what they may carry... (and they may well be in lamb!)
Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: Womble on December 17, 2014, 07:15:16 pm
Sabrina - you are a genius!!  :)
Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: babysham on December 21, 2014, 09:43:56 am
Mark them up with your mark and put red tags in. Keep details of what you have done and dates when he "abandoned them" We had this and even sent some for slaughter with our red tags in. Have it all written down and when he tipped up six months later had a bill ready for him so he did one quick. I have let it be known locally if I see him near our farm I will call the police.
Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: cooksey on December 27, 2014, 11:11:46 pm
I have a problem... In that a rogue neighbour (I think) keeps putting loose sheep on my field. The first couple of times I though I must have imagined it as they were gone before I could deal with them. Then I thought I must have a hole in my fence.... Nope.   Last week I got up to find the gate between my neighbours field (which said rogue neighbour used to co own) and mine open.... Some of Neighbours ewes in my field, and my mongrel ram lambs off with the rest of his flock..... :innocent:  (Luckily neighbour very understanding and said they should all be in lamb by now...)


Then today, gate perfectly closed, but 3 strange ewes in ( of course no ear tags) and rogue neighbour had been spotted heard ing 3 sheep along road in his pickup with his dog.  I have padlocked the gate and await an explanation..... But so annoyed, I am trying to keep a closed flock and it is outrageously cheeky.  I sort of can't understand, (but on the other hand it is in character, since we've been here he's been done for putting a dead sheep in someone's wheely bin, and has also put a pig in someone's shed and called the police to report them!)  and would love to know what the law would suggest I do.  Of course I will padlock from now on...


Grr
thanks for the warning wondered why gate higher up the road look like they have been paddlocked message me what truck he has please
Title: Re: The opposite of sheep theft!
Post by: FiB on December 28, 2014, 08:45:52 am
Cooksey.. Mystery solved- despite having spent £5k fencing our perimeter when we first moved.... There is a 5m stretch of stone wall which was deemed high enough and good enough to be ok. Well it seems that they can climb over it from the road, but not get back out.  Shows the importance of not jumping to conclusions ... Sorry local rogue who I had fitted to the imagined crime in my head!  However ther is still an issue with mountain sheep wandering free.... I don't know if sheep keepers have an obligation to keep their sheep contained? Or is it just up to us to keep them out?