Well, you have some amazing replies already so I just want to add a point or two if I may.
First, I'm with Backinwellies to restrict the number of ewes you start off with, for the reasons she gives.
Second, any fences you put up are pretty much there for good, so just do the basics initially, then they can be modified either permanently or temporarily as changes occur.
Just to explain a bit: we started with 3 Jacob ewes on our 9 acre holding in southern Scotland. We were then asked if we could 'board' 7 Hebridean ewes for a year, pretty please, but long before the year was up the owners had done a runner, so we had 10 ewes. Then of course we needed two tups. Then we discovered how amazing Primitive sheep are compared to softer breeds such as Jacobs, so we acquired some Soays (which JUMP), then some Shetlands, which come in a variety of colours and patterns, then we discovered that Hebrideans come in a stunning multihorned version so we bought up the best of a dispersing multihorned flock, then I discovered fleece sheep for my fibre crafts so I acquired a small flock of those - all on 9 acres
And don't forget the relevant tups, at one point we had NINE tupping groups, which needed fencing heavy duty enough to prevent neighbouring tups leaping over.
It sounds as if it was mayhem, but in fact it wasn't because I love puzzles so everything worked smoothly, but dearie me, not ideal. We eventually calmed down and concentrated on the multihorned Hebrideans, so we no longer need all those small paddocks, specially as we have now retired with 4 aging Hebbie ewes and a decrepit Shetland wether. We plant trees instead.
However, I do think our example is worth bearing in mind, taking as a warning or something.
The vague pattern we adopted was I suppose a bit like the wheel system, with the big difference that part of our land is on the other side of the road, so is ideal for an all-males area, where there was no chance of fence jumping and our young males could grow to 16 months before becoming hogget, the most delicious way to eat Primitive meat. As well as a wheel idea, we put several gates at the outer edges of each paddock, so there was a way to move animals directly from one paddock to the other. Those gates also allow us to walk the perimeter every day, which we still do.
Even if this isn't very informative, hopefully it will give you a laugh
Good Luck with your new holding!
Recent Posts