Offering grazing for sheep.

[Chinchilla]

Following on from the alternatives to poo picking thread, some people said sheep are like hoovers. So, what do sheep need if they are to graze on land, as (iirc) the more species grazed on land the better the grazing becomes ? So it would improve our pasture...and also ngl, not having to poo pick would be bliss.

But do you need insurance if you're offering grazing? Would it be reasonable to expect the sheep's owner to provide escape-proof fencing? Anything else to know?

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Personally I wouldn't have sheep. The increased chance of fluke worm and grass sickness in horses isn't worth the hassle. If it's your own flock that never leave it's not as much of problem but with outside sheep coming in for a while then leaving before a new batch arrives at some point it isn't ideal.

 

[PorkChop]

I get sheep in every summer to cross graze with the horses. Works really well for me as they improve the ground.

I do have stock proof fencing though, not sure whether you would get takers if they had to fence the area tbh. I don't have any extra insurance, we do however have pretty comprehensive house insurance though.

They just need decent fencing and water for summer grazing.

 

[Wimbles]

As a sheep/alpaca owner myself I'm always on the look out for extra grazing. Some breeds of sheep can be kept in well with a couple of strands of good, working electric where as others need proper stock fencing. We have been happy to put up electric fencing and will sort out our own water too.

We already have pretty comprehensive insurance for our livestock and they are well wormed/tested.

 

[Chinchilla]

As a sheep/alpaca owner myself I'm always on the look out for extra grazing. Some breeds of sheep can be kept in well with a couple of strands of good, working electric where as others need proper stock fencing. We have been happy to put up electric fencing and will sort out our own water too.

We already have pretty comprehensive insurance for our livestock and they are well wormed/tested.

Can I message you please?

 

[MotherOfChickens]

not sure if you'd need a CPH number for grazing someone else's sheep? personally have never met sheep that dont wreck electric fencing but then mostly only know blackies

 

[Wimbles]

Can I message you please?

Of course!

 

[teddypops]

My neighbouring farmer puts sheep in my fields over the winter. He checks the fencing and makes it secure where needed.

 

[JillA]

not sure if you'd need a CPH number for grazing someone else's sheep? personally have never met sheep that dont wreck electric fencing but then mostly only know blackies

No, they use their own so long as they are within a certain distance. I've let one field for sheep (and cattle) and the owner deals with the fencing etc. They said my electric wouldn't keep them in so they ran stock fencing all around the perimeter.

 

[ester]

We have sometimes had sheep from the wife of our hay and straw maker/merchant.
We only have post and rail so they bring their own electric fence set up. They only stay for a couple of months and the horses don't go back on that for quite a while after too (as we then let it grow back up to foggage).

We didn't have the herdwicks they went in neighbours paddock the other side of the road to cause chaos