Electric Netting & More Fence Options for Sheep

[@waykeeperfarmandnerdery]

⚠In the video I mentioned "Welded Wire" but it should be "Woven Wire" - this is the better option and the one we had installed for our fence. It lasts longer and holds up to more wear and tear. Thank you to @escapethecity for helping pinpoint that mistake! See how we rotationally graze with electric netting in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZWrZpiieq2NirM

[@TheOldMayfieldPlace]

We've used woven wire for our cattle and horses and have had good luck with it. It is a bit more expensive than the woven wire but lasts much longer, especially if you have animals that want to push against the fence and may pop those welds.

[@waykeeperfarmandnerdery]

@@TheOldMayfieldPlace That's great to hear! So far our sheep haven't push against the fence since it's still so new, but it's good to know they won't break it ;)

[@quailjailss]

I LOVE how much effort you put into your videos, it shows!! The quality is amazing and these videos are perfect for newbies wanting to get started in sheep or goats. 2 things!!! One huge risk with the netting is getting animals tangled in it (especially clumsy lambs that like to bolt). I know many have no issues with it, but several have lost animals from them getting tangled in the netting. The poly wire is much safer, but if you have any problem animals they will just jump right through it. Wouldn’t hold lambs either I’m sure, depending on the spacing I guess. Another thing!!! Welded wire breaks down so much sooner than woven wire! And it is not strong at all- it can’t hold up to the animals trying to climb or push on it. So I agree it can be used along with some sort of electric wire, but I definitely wouldn’t use it alone. Now woven wire can be used alone, it can last a lifetime, and will be the most expensive. Again, I appreciate every video you share! Love those little lambs!

[@waykeeperfarmandnerdery]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience with these - I hope everyone reads the comments because I think there's gold in here :) I totally hear you on the risk of animals getting stuck in the electric netting. We had to train our lambs to it - and our first year we did have a lamb get stuck, but luckily we were close by and were able to get him unstuck quickly. And thanks for mentioning the downsides of welded wire too. I just confirmed with our fence installers and what we have installed is actually woven wire - I completely confused the two, crap! I'm going to put a big warning about that as a pinned comment. Thank you!!

[@TwoBirchHomestead]

We just got 3 lambs (our first time ever) and they spooked and bolted, knocking down the electric netting and going out into a field last night. still trying to get them back. We are completely stumped. So many homesteaders use the electric netting and we have no clue what we should have done differently. The netting was hot when they went in so we are certain they were getting zapped but they still plowed it down. Any advice??? We are newbies to this and this was our first dip into any kind of livestock and it has been so discouraging.

[@waykeeperfarmandnerdery]

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry to hear this happened to you! How old are the lambs? When we introduced our sheep to the electric netting they were already adult sheep and they only got zapped once or twice and knew not to touch it. For younger baby lambs we introduce them to it under our supervision... and usually with their mothers, so they can also learn from them. I also wonder since you mentioned that you just got them - it might be worth keeping them in a barn or really enclosed area until they are more familiar with their new surroundings. We do that when we get new sheep at our farm, so they can get to know us and trust us a bit and are less likely to get scared (hopefully). Hope you're able to get them back!

[@TwoBirchHomestead]

@@waykeeperfarmandnerdery they are three 10 week old feeder lambs. It is our first time ever doing livestock so we have learned a lot in the last 48 hrs that we were not previously aware of (fence training, training them to adjust to you, etc). We have them in a secure pen (we don’t have a barn). We were able to catch them Monday. We are working with them to get used to us. The pen in 16x16 and mobile so we are moving them to fresh grass often. Feeling a bit nervous about using the netting with these ones since they bolted through it pretty fast, even if we do try to train them.

[@crystalaber1836]

We are having the same worries about using the moveable electric fencing. We are getting a few lambs and a donkey and will be keeping them in a barn at night

[@hitman1421]

A coyote can jump a 6 foot fence no problem

[@waykeeperfarmandnerdery]

Thanks for sharing that, it's amazing what coyotes are capable of. We've been successful or just lucky with our electric netting and hot wires so far. We even had a neighbor tell us they saw a coyote circling our sheep's electric netting in the middle of the day, but they left without trying to jump the fence. It probably also helps if you've got mature/large sheep and not lambs that are easier prey and worth trying to catch. Knock on wood?!