![]() For electricity to flow, it must have a complete circuit. It is easy to screw up the installation so the fence will be ineffective at controlling who stays where. Our pasture undulates a great deal, we tried woven wire fence and did not enjoy installing it either!Īlthough our experience with electric fence has been positive, it is not for everyone. We have shallow soil so the woven wire fence will not work for long because the posts will move or push out with frost heaves. ![]() Horns can easily get caught in the woven wire fence. Frequently they can't figure out how to pull their heads back through and, unless we regularly patrol the fence and help them, the sheep will die of stress. Sometimes sheep stick their heads through to get the grass on the other side. Problems with sheep ear tags getting caught in the fence, ripping the tag out and shredding the ear are common. The weight of winter snow load can stretch a woven wire fence big time, and it may have to be retensioned every spring. The bottom wire must be close to the ground to discourage coyotes from digging under, which unfortunately increases the rate of fence corrosion. Pressure treated posts will last a long time, and the woven wire can be held to the posts with galvanized staples. Posts must go into the ground to a depth at least below the frost line. If your pasture is relatively level, the soil relatively deep, and you have a philosophical problem with electric fence, woven wire may work great for you. Woven wire sheep fence has a long history and is very effective at keeping everyone where they should be. Barbed wire has zero effect in keeping the more serious predators out, and very little chance of keeping Shetlands in however sheep can very easily get caught on barbed wire, get torn up and die from the stress. The usual non electric fence used is called galvanized "woven wire". There are many types of wooden fences, but we have never seen one that a coyote would respect. There are basically two types of perimeter fences - non electric and electric. ![]() The only problem is, because of marginal eye sight, they dont always make it over the top wire of the fence, getting tangled and breaking a wire. White tail deer are in and out of the pastures all the time, over the fence. It will take us the better part of a day to patch up the fence after a moose visit. We have found no defense against moose, but fortunately they dont want to get into our pastures very often. They punch a hole in a fence (a real big hole) then cant figure how they got in, so they punch another hole in the fence to get out. Moose are too stupid to understand fences. Usually, once they have determined that the fence is well put together, they will stay away, concentrating their efforts where they have better chances for success. Dogs have a most interesting reaction to getting zapped by an electric fence we cant explain it, you have to see it! Black bears, moose and catamounts are around the area but, with the exception of moose, are smart enough to stay away from a good perimeter fence. Fortunately, dogs have a good memory for electric fences and will not come back after getting a good zap. Dogs usually want to chase sheep for fun or kill them for fun. They will find a dead electric fence, a slight hole under or a lamb wandering outside. Although they are cowards, they are thorough and never give up. Coyotes relentlessly patrol, day and night, looking for their next meal. Our major predator in Vermont is the Eastern Coyote, followed by neighbors house dogs. To accomplish the first priority, we felt we had to build a great perimeter fence. Our first priority is to keep the predators out and the second priority is to keep the Shetlands in. In fact, because of the Shetlands exceptionally long and thick wool, which is great insulation from electricity, a great predator control fence may be only marginally successful as a Shetland control fence if the grass is perceived to be greener on the other side of the fence. Sheep, especially Shetland sheep, are trainable and, unless very hungry, will stay within the confines to which they have become accustomed. They come in many forms and we have very little control over when they will challenge our facilities for a lamb dinner. Predators are constantly on patrol looking for their next meal. This may seem to be two versions of the same thing, but we disagree. Our view is that fences must do two things - keep the sheep in and keep the predators out. Maple Ridge Sheep Farm: Fence Maple Ridge Sheep Farm
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