Barb wire fence for sheep?

[Benn]

Tomorrow I have to fence in a field for family member and he's adamant on using barb wire not stock wire
The filed is to over winter my sheep on
He only saying 5 strands, I'm just wondering best heights to space them at??
I've had two or three family members tell me how they would do it(none of them fencers!)
So thought I'd seek advice of the pros on here
Cheers

 

[tepapa]

If you asked me to do it I wouldn't.
You can put up a 7 plain wire fence that will hold stock.
5 barb wire?

 

[Benn]

I'd just whack stock wire up but adamant on barb and there's no changing his mind.
If you had to do it what spacing would you consider???

 

[GTB]

Five strands of barb for sheep?

I wouldn't. The barb will get covered in wool and the sheep will get stuck in it too.

 

[Kidds]

Sounds to me that he doesn't want your sheep in there this winter.

 

[banjo]

But odd, might be cheaper, God knows!

 

[GTB]

It will be cheaper but still a waste of time.

 

[Benn]

He really does want my sheep In there as he wants eaten down as he make hay,runs sheep in there every year but ripped out old fence and putting this new fence in this year,
his explanation as far as I've worked out is the fences runs up along hedge and post are tight in hedge so he's going to let the hedge grow back through the fence.

He's went bought all the barb wire and expecting me to put it up tomorrow or he will do it when I'm off work but I've seen his fencing

 

[Benn]

It will be cheaper but still a waste of time.

No reasoning with the man me and dads tried

 

[jemski]

We have to use it in our meadows - stock fencing just gets washed away in the winter floods each year. 4 strands holds ewes easily and baby lambs. Small, weaned lambs will get though it if they are the escaping type and there is a gap big enough. It's currently holding my ewe lambs and fat lambs fine. Very little wool on it, and never had anything get stuck in it or hurt. 5 strands will hold them fine. I'd start with a 4/5 inch gap and get slightly bigger the higher you go.

 

[Benn]

I got add used to keep cattle and that's how all fences used to be done so I think he sees all stock as "livestock"no matter what size they are.

 

[Benn]

We have to use it in our meadows - stock fencing just gets washed away in the winter floods each year. 4 strands holds ewes easily and baby lambs. Small, weaned lambs will get though it if they are the escaping type and there is a gap big enough. It's currently holding my ewe lambs and fat lambs fine. Very little wool on it, and never had anything get stuck in it or hurt. 5 strands will hold them fine. I'd start with a 4/5 inch gap and get slightly bigger the higher you go.

Thank you @jemski

 

[GTB]

Maybe just try it and see. @jemski seems to get on fine with it but her sheep will be more docile and less tightly stocked than ours.

 

[Grassman]

It will look a right mess in a few years covered in wool. And when it's well covered in wool it may as well be plain wire!

 

[Johngee]

I've got about 3/4 mile of barbed wire fence on a boundary - all up one side of the farm. Dad started years ago when the neighbour there wouldn't cooperate on a shared fence. It's mainly 4 strands, but all on the side of a hedge bank, leaning out at angle. I replace the odd strand or post when needed, but can't afford to replace the whole lot.
As to spacing the bottom 3 strands would need to be fairly close 6-8 inches apart with a greater gap for the other two. If they start rubbing etc. perhaps you could put a strand of electric round the inside?

 

[Benn]

I've got about 3/4 mile of barbed wire fence on a boundary - all up one side of the farm. Dad started years ago when the neighbour there wouldn't cooperate on a shared fence. It's mainly 4 strands, but all on the side of a hedge bank, leaning out at angle. I replace the odd strand or post when needed, but can't afford to replace the whole lot.
As to spacing the bottom 3 strands would need to be fairly close 6-8 inches apart with a greater gap for the other two. If they start rubbing etc. perhaps you could put a strand of electric round the inside?

I'm thinking this for next couple years until/if the hedge grows through the fence .
Cheers

 

[jemski]

Maybe just try it and see. @jemski seems to get on fine with it but her sheep will be more docile and less tightly stocked than ours.

Not always! I've had 220 ewes on 8 acres on a pre tupping diet behind it. And I have some Welsh crosses....

 

[jemski]

It will look a right mess in a few years covered in wool. And when it's well covered in wool it may as well be plain wire!

I promise it doesn't get covered in wool. I will take some pics tomorrow.

 

[Guiggs]

I have a couple of fields with 2 or 3 strands ran in front of the hedge, I've had ewe lambs and breeding ewes in it and so far (touch wood) never had an issue but I always stock light so they don't get hungry...

 

[hillman]

Quite a few of my boundaries that have a hedge behind are barb wire , 5strands plenty , first 2 width of hammer head or slighty more and gradually spacing the other 3 to waist height , covered in wool or sheep caught nope, high tensile barb do if using cheaper forget it
Only way on hedges esp gorse as it fecks up sheep netting