sheep fencing?

[RockyPhoenix]

would 3 or 4 feet tall hog paneling work well for a couple sheep? I am VERY VERY new to sheep!

 

[boykin2010]

I guess it would. But i i think it depends on the unique attitudes of your sheep on whether or not they will escape. I have 6 foot electrified polywire with 6 strands and they dont escape. I dont think they would be able to jump that but just make sure they are very sturdy because they will headbutt it if they feed like it.

Is this temporary? It probably would be best to build something sturdier if you plan on keeping them in there for a longer period of time.

 

[RockyPhoenix]

would puttong twice as many fence posts up help? or can you think of any ways to make hog paneling sturdier?

 

[boykin2010]

probably twice as many posts would help. mabye putting stakes in the ground attached the hog panels would help too.

 

[RockyPhoenix]

Thank you!!

 

[RockyPhoenix]

also how much hay would you feed them if they arent getting a lot of pasture every day?

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I wouldn't use hog panels. They're way too short and the moment sheep feel pressured they'll hop right out. Cattle panels *may* work, but I wouldn't use anything shorter than 48".

 

[RockyPhoenix]

what if i were to put a strand of electric wire over the top of the fence? do you still think they could hop it? im only saying this because we have a lot of hog paneling just laying around and id hate to have to buy new fencing....

 

[Bossroo]

What breed of sheep will also determine their jumping ability. The white faced wool breeds such as Merino (I had semi wild range Marinos jump over my head trying to get away), Ramboulett, etc. usually jump more often than the black face meat breeds such as Hampshire, Suffolk, or Dorset,and Southdown. Barbados and similar breeds will jump too ( my neighbor's range Barbadoes jump 5 ft. fences). Elcetric fences work only if they touch the fence with their nose, otherwise not due to their wool cover which insulates the zap. Hog panels flex sideways so the sheep will rub their sides on them. If you are fencing a pasture a 4-5ft high hog panel fence ( if the hog panels are 3 ft high, I would put one on top of the other) with posts set at 8 ft. apart would work. In a corral not so much as sheep tend to rub their sides on the fence and will eventually loosen the panels ... a 5-6ft high hog panel fence with posts every 4 ft. would work much better.

 

[boykin2010]

agree with boss roo.

I have not had any sheep try to escape from my pasture but then again they have all grown up around electric fence so they know not to mess with it.
They do push a lot with their bodies. The shelter i have they all press against and rub. Good thing i set the post holes in cement.
Sheep are a lot stronger than what most people give them credit for...