[firemansam]

Are badgers a problem to sheep or lambs? I have a big set in the 3 acre paddock I have just aquired.

[SteveHants]

Can be. I lamb in april outdoors and have never had problems, but I think the situation is somewhat different if you lamb when food is scarce.

[Hazelwood Flock]

The stripey divils will also raid creep feeders! 

[Mallows Flock]

I guess they are pretty lardy, these furry-friends, so would struggle to squeeze through stock fencing so you should be ok... I have never had a problem with foxes or badgers tho.. touch wood. My main 'pain' is crows pooing in the trough. Dirty rogues!

[firemansam]

Im more likely to fence them in than out! They are smack bang right in the middle of the paddock.

[SteveHants]

I guess they are pretty lardy, these furry-friends, so would struggle to squeeze through stock fencing so you should be ok... I have never had a problem with foxes or badgers tho.. touch wood. My main 'pain' is crows pooing in the trough. Dirty rogues!

They will push up stock fencing like it isn't there....


Badger fencing is buried a foot deep.

[Mallows Flock]

Well that must be why I have no problem... mine is buried in (previous owner) and has barbed running underneath soil. Lucky ole me. 

[tizaala]

Stuff one of the set holes full of old straw soaked in old sump oil and diesel , aim for a nice slow burn to smoke them out  , do this on a regular routine and they will soon move away.

[lachlanandmarcus]

Stuff one of the set holes full of old straw soaked in old sump oil and diesel , aim for a nice slow burn to smoke them out  , do this on a regular routine and they will soon move away.

I do have to point out that to do this would be completely illegal.....:-O
Not saying whether I think it would be a bad thing, since I disagree with the uniquely blanket protection they have from any control and Im sure a badger could take a lamb easily....I believe sheep can also catch BTB, not just cattle.
 

[SallyintNorth]

Badgers absolutely will take lambs, including quite large ones if weakened.  With larger lambs, you can often tell when it's been a badger - the carcase is skinned, you may find the skeleton with the skin still attached, inside out.

[khajou]

Agree with Sally. We had a rogue badger once and I reckon he ate a third of our lambs one lambing a few years ago! The ewes were penned up individually with their new arrivals. Next time on checking either one lamb missing or all! It was a nightmare. Big badger set in one of the paddocks. I don't rent that place anymore.

[woollyval]

Agree with Sally.....unfortunately its illegal to displace them 

[omnipeasant]

Yes!!! badgers will take lambs. They will also eat poor little baby rabbits after digging them out of their nests. Saw it on spring watch.

[SallyintNorth]

Oh!  And they take chickens too 

[katyd1991]

hi,
badgers are a problem to sheep...
a badger will kill what ever is in its track
over the past two years we've lost 12 sheep to them.... and the worst thing is they dont eat the sheep like a fox would they just take the heart.