[wrekin wanderer]

Hi there,

This last year has been my first for keeping sheep, although my wife is an ex-navajo sheep herder, and we chose to have some Soay for their hardiness and self-reliance. They had been fantastic up to about three monthes ago. We introduced a new ram and he was amazing looking and had these superb long legs, looked like one of those American Football "jocks". Well with these he would literally hop over any fence in font of him. And not long after, the rest of the flock would follow. So he had to go to the freezer. For a few weeks afterwards things were more tranquil and I enjoyed not having to chase the sheep back onto our land. However recently they have been committing the ultimate offence and getting into the veg garden! After raising the height of the fence and using an electric scare wire failed they have been tethered and are for sale.

So we'll be looking for some new sheep. Our fencing is stock netting 80cms. I don't really want to go any higher or with electric, if I can help it as we don't want to turn our little place - about a hectare into a high security sheep prison. We also have some Kune Kune pigs...

Therefore I wanted to pick your brains. Do all sheep jump to greener pastures given the chance? Our hedges will need another few years to screen these off.

The lambs will be for our family's meat consumption, and ideally we would like more than one lamb off our one ewe and we're happy to have a ram. Interested in Romanov's for their litter like ability for birthing, but hear that they have their fair share of problems. We have someone fairly close by who raises Romonov x Texel, also Romonov x Soay and Romanov x Cameroon. I've heard that Cameroons are pretty good at jumping too, so that perhaps leaves the Texel cross as an interesting option. I've also heard that Suffolks tend to be a quieter breed.

I would be very grateful for your thoughts and recomendations....

[lachlanandmarcus]

You do need at least one wire above the netting to keep in almost any breed, I would think. Trouble is some of the smaller breeds are better jumpers and the bigger breeds have longer legs :-))))

[Backinwellies]

Fence sounds a bit low for any sheep.  (sheep will jump most sheep hurdles if provoked ). 
Hill and mountain breeds are rather more likely to jump than down breeds.

[in the hills]

We have kept Soay for about 3 years. No doubt they can jump but so far    none have chosen to. In fact, in terms of escape or getting where they shouldn't they have been no problem at all. We have standard stock fence but we do have hedges around most of the land as well and where there is no hedge we have added a top bar. This has been sufficient to keep the tup separate from last years ewe lambs as well.


Only time I have seen them try to jump is when they are cornered ie, in hurdled area for handling, and then it's only one or two that would choose to do that.


Lots of sheep make it out up here but think most get through gaps rather than jump.



Can you tether sheep? 

[wrekin wanderer]

Thanks for your replies.

What height fence/top wire would you think would be sufficient?

In the hills: am glad your Soay have behaved themselves. They are just such intelligent sheep, once they've done it once it's carnage! I thought you couldn't tether sheep, remember John Seymour saying he had a sheep that died when he tethered it. However, it was last straw and I reasoned that Soay aren't really sheep anyway - more like a goaty deer. They have been fine, I untangle them every now and again. Anyway won't be for long, people coming tomorrow to have a look...

[in the hills]

That was my first thought when you said they were tethered. One of mine nearly strangled itself on a really quite short piece of baler twine  . Know what you mean about goat like though and yes they are pretty clever. Sorry they haven't worked out for you.


Think our fence with top bar is about 3ft 6 inches or so .

[Bionic]

Ryelands are very laid back and even 80cms would be too much effort for mine to jump

[thenovice]

It has to be southdowns for the ultimate docility in my experience. No need to for extra strand, the height of normal stock netting keeps them in. They are short and stocky, and extremely greedy, which makes herding a lot easier. Twins are the norm, bit they are a woolly breed, so need to be treated to prevent fly strike. Top sheep 

[jaykay]

I'd suggest Ryelands too, very laid back.

When I had Dad's here, the tup looked longingly over the wall where there were ewes the other side, but he made no effort to get to them - my Shetland tups would have been over in a flash!

[wonderwooly]

we have downs too, i have four stands of wight thin (because it cuts through the wool!) eclectic line up and so far they never touch it in fact I only electrify the middle two lines
because there the most likely to touch, so it keeps the earth clean of any weeds and grass and ensures a good crack when they do get accidentally to close. so they don't do it again. as I am sure you know it is completely pycological as I have seen a down knock down a grilled, tensioned fence because it was scared and trying to escape, -a dog ! they are very strong until the point where they raise there heads. with downs thats not too high.
Also it is different in the first years before there first lambing. after they settle and i imagine jumping an electric scare wire with udders is not so appealing...

[Pedwardine]

Makes me wonder. Is it a case of the heavier the breed the less likely they are to jump? Like chickens and flight?

[Raine]

 


Previous people here had Lincoln Longwools and no problem. We get Balwen Welsh Mountain and find the ram can jump a three foot fence from standing, four foot fence with a run and a 5 foot beck!


    You've seen the cross country... Sheep jumps internal three foot fence, lands on about three feet od space, jumps 5 foot beck, runs up field, jumps five foot beck, jumps four foot fence, eats trees in back garden!! That's our Jack!!!! 


 

[petectid]

The farm above me keep a horned breed called lonks, they are the local pennine breed and are massive but they have no problems jumping a 4 foot wall or fence.  I've always found it surprising how high any animal can jump, watching the local Roe Deer just pop the largest fences is amazing, but the other day when I let my Balwens out of the pen one of the lambs easily was six feet in the air just jumping with joy.

[jaykay]

Yeh, Rough Fells and Lonks are mountain sheep - very big, huge fleeces, a lot of bone, and very lively!
I used to have Roughs, and Lonks are closely related.

[Dogwalker]

How about castlemilk moorits.
 
Doug's moorits, that are STILL staying here, are quite content to stay in the field . The ram talks to my neighbours texel and speckle faced ewes through the fence but has never tried to get to them - and there's a stile, he wouldn't even have to jump.
 
Having said that I'll be chasing around a 10acre field tomorrow.
 
They're for sale if you'd like them.