Castlemilk Moorit

[Ukjay]

OK, a long time coming, but started to get the leccy fence around the paddocks for the shhep (will connect in to the top line) - but I have a question:

In the below picture - you can see that we have 3 rails on the paddock fencing, so I have been out today and added a line of polyline electric fencing rope around the paddocks (in between the bottom and middle rail) - so the question is, will this be good enough to stop sheep getting out, as I really do not want to add one on the bottom as it is too low or add wire netteing due to the horses and potential leg entrapment:

Still not decided on breed yet - but once this is done, they will be purchased iminantly, but may pop over to see @spin cycle and his wilts if there still there

 

[Old Tip]

OK, a long time coming, but started to get the leccy fence around the paddocks for the shhep (will connect in to the top line) - but I have a question:

In the below picture - you can see that we have 3 rails on the paddock fencing, so I have been out today and added a line of polyline electric fencing rope around the paddocks (in between the bottom and middle rail) - so the question is, will this be good enough to stop sheep getting out, as I really do not want to add one on the bottom as it is too low or add wire netteing due to the horses and potential leg entrapment:

View attachment 668620

Still not decided on breed yet - but once this is done, they will be purchased iminantly, but may pop over to see @spin cycle and his wilts if there still there

If you get Sheep with not a lot of wool it may work but @unlacedgecko and @neilo are the electric fencing experts

 

[Ukjay]

This is what it looks like with the lower line of leccy rope in place, and the associated Clerk of Works Westie to check the work (and also show height of bottom rail as a consequence):

Clerk of Works:

 

[jemski]

Depends a bit on breed. My welsh would be straight under but highlanders would stay put as long as they didn’t get very hungry.... lambs would be straight under.

 

[Pasty]

Problem I find is if the lambs get out the ewes will try to follow if they can.

 

[An ancient git]

If you want something quiet to learn the ropes try Lleyns ! I've got no dog / no quad and they are really easy to drive in (and I NEVER run after anything) . I can wander around after up to about 120 ewes and lambs with no hassle . I split bunches so that is the max in any bunch . Had Cluns / Mules / Welsh (dog a must !) / Hamps / Wensleys .....
These white ewes are the best in 45 years ......

 

[Ukjay]

Depends a bit on breed. My welsh would be straight under but highlanders would stay put as long as they didn’t get very hungry.... lambs would be straight under.

Problem I find is if the lambs get out the ewes will try to follow if they can.

There will not be any lambs just yet, just something to mow the paddocks.

 

[Old Tip]

Where are you based @Ukjay may be good to support a local rare breed if you want Bly want a few. We have Castlemilks and they look amazing and are fantastic mums but are not the easiest things to handle.
The other option is to let a local shepherd graze your paddocks with his sheep so you can learn the ropes.

 

[Ukjay]

Where are you based @Ukjay may be good to support a local rare breed if you want Bly want a few. We have Castlemilks and they look amazing and are fantastic mums but are not the easiest things to handle.
The other option is to let a local shepherd graze your paddocks with his sheep so you can learn the ropes.

Hi OT,

We are in Leicestershire - whereupon we do actually let a local farmer graze some of our land, but not the horse paddocks. We would like a few of our own for moving through the paddocks so that we can keep the paddocks under control at all times, as the farmer takes has fo example taken his stock back to lamb, so the grass is getting too long, and we really want ot reduce the need to get the tractor onto the paddocks to avoid major compaction.

 

[Old Tip]

Re read the thread and your original thoughts, as many have said Wilts would probably be ideal for you especially if they come from a small flock. @JP1 used to have them and one of our friends has a flock locally and they are good sheep.
May be worth contacting the RBST as they will have knowledge of local breeders

 

[Ukjay]

Re read the thread and your original thoughts, as many have said Wilts would probably be ideal for you especially if they come from a small flock. @JP1 used to have them and one of our friends has a flock locally and they are good sheep.
May be worth contacting the RBST as they will have knowledge of local breeders

thanks OT,

I have been reading RBST to locate local breeders etc

 

[Pasty]

If you want Wilts, @TimW might be able to point you to someone. I have them and they are my breed of choice going forwards. Just no hassle at all and they have handles on them as well!! Probably Exlana would be more profitable for me but on my scale I just need something to keep the place tidy and maybe produce a few lambs every year with minimal cost. Can't be arsed with shearing / docking and all that. I've had Wilts for going on 2 years now and I think aside from time seeing them, which I do whilst walking the dog, they have cost me the thin end of nothing in meds, shearing, feed or anything else.

 

[pipkins]

I thought I'd make a rare post as I keep North Ronaldsays, Whitefaced Woodlands and as of the weekend, Leicester Longwools. Sounds like you might be leaning towards wilts now which could well be a good choice. I'd agree with most of the other posts that I can't see you getting much pleasure out of CMMs or Soays, or indeed Kerrys, unless you're really careful where you buy them. Balwens might be a good shout though. Be aware if you've got mostly grass the primitive/hill sorts might spend more time looking for weeds than clipping your grass down neat. If however you've got what my horse paddocks had, a a lovely selection of nettles, thistles, brambles and docks, they will be gone before you know it. My paddock was infested with all of them when I took it on but now there's just the annual resurgence of the nettles, the brambles have been completely eradicated and the thistles and docks are just individual plants here and there.

I started with Rons here because they are straightforward- small enough for me to work on my own, definitely no dog though (even the ram can be picked up and plonked where I want him), naturally short-tailed with a tendency towards clean bums so dagging is an occasional job rather than a routine. I've never had one with fly strike (yet) but they are in sheltered fields and shorn late May. You do have to watch the copper content of their feed etc but with good hay as required when the grass (or, more accurately, every weed going) is in short supply they manage fine. Mine are bucket trained so they do get fed a bit but they are dead easy to work with, pen themselves when there's food going. They won't be your best friend raiding your pockets but they will come in and let you do what you need with them without much fuss. I do however have one arsehole that was more worried about running from me than following her lamb so the lamb is on the bottle and the ewe will be on the wagon if I ever catch her. However I've never managed to roo a full fleece so don't fall for the 'primitives don't need shearing' line! They never look as nice a shape as a 'normal' sheep after shearing though due to the way they carry their fat. I have had one or two with footrot I'm afraid as well, bought in and it's going through that line so they are all slowly being weeded out of the flock.They are clever and look after themselves and each other, I didn't worry about them too much in all the rubbish weather as they have enough of their natural instincts remaining to make it easy for me to help them keep ticking over. Llamedos has summed the breed (and most other primitives) up to a tee!

The whitefaced woodlands are much more wary and are bloody big things to be working with as a small female on your own, but they are coming round to my way of thinking. Lovely looking sheep and doing very well on our ground so intend to keep working with them. They worry me with their woolly tails and thick fleeces which is one of the few areas where the Ronnies beat them, However they will make a decent carcase and seem much more sensible (stupid?) than the genius escape artist North Ronaldsays. But they have the same issue as with the Ronnies, being horned, that you can't use electric mesh with them, if you wanted to. However I like the horns on a sheep, much easier with a handle. I've some polled Ronnies as well and you notice the difference when working with them.

If you're ever heading to Birmingham you'd be welcome to come and have a look and have a go at handling both breeds (got some commercials for comparison too) to see what you prefer!

 

[Ukjay]

If you want Wilts, @TimW might be able to point you to someone. I have them and they are my breed of choice going forwards. Just no hassle at all and they have handles on them as well!! Probably Exlana would be more profitable for me but on my scale I just need something to keep the place tidy and maybe produce a few lambs every year with minimal cost. Can't be arsed with shearing / docking and all that. I've had Wilts for going on 2 years now and I think aside from time seeing them, which I do whilst walking the dog, they have cost me the thin end of nothing in meds, shearing, feed or anything else.

Hi Patsy

Thanks for this - how many do you have and what acreage are they covering for you?

 

[Pasty]

Hi Patsy

Thanks for this - how many do you have and what acreage are they covering for you?

About 1 to the acre at the mo! Needs topping but they keep it tidy. I'm building up. Went for Jacobs too but thinking of getting shot of them. The Wilts need nothing if you keep moving them around. Having a sheep re-think and I think it will be Wilts with a better tup this year. I am certainly no expert, hence all my stupid sheep questions on here!

 

[Ukjay]

I thought I'd make a rare post as I keep North Ronaldsays, Whitefaced Woodlands and as of the weekend, Leicester Longwools. Sounds like you might be leaning towards wilts now which could well be a good choice. I'd agree with most of the other posts that I can't see you getting much pleasure out of CMMs or Soays, or indeed Kerrys, unless you're really careful where you buy them. Balwens might be a good shout though. Be aware if you've got mostly grass the primitive/hill sorts might spend more time looking for weeds than clipping your grass down neat. If however you've got what my horse paddocks had, a a lovely selection of nettles, thistles, brambles and docks, they will be gone before you know it. My paddock was infested with all of them when I took it on but now there's just the annual resurgence of the nettles, the brambles have been completely eradicated and the thistles and docks are just individual plants here and there.

I started with Rons here because they are straightforward- small enough for me to work on my own, definitely no dog though (even the ram can be picked up and plonked where I want him), naturally short-tailed with a tendency towards clean bums so dagging is an occasional job rather than a routine. I've never had one with fly strike (yet) but they are in sheltered fields and shorn late May. You do have to watch the copper content of their feed etc but with good hay as required when the grass (or, more accurately, every weed going) is in short supply they manage fine. Mine are bucket trained so they do get fed a bit but they are dead easy to work with, pen themselves when there's food going. They won't be your best friend raiding your pockets but they will come in and let you do what you need with them without much fuss. I do however have one arsehole that was more worried about running from me than following her lamb so the lamb is on the bottle and the ewe will be on the wagon if I ever catch her. However I've never managed to roo a full fleece so don't fall for the 'primitives don't need shearing' line! They never look as nice a shape as a 'normal' sheep after shearing though due to the way they carry their fat. I have had one or two with footrot I'm afraid as well, bought in and it's going through that line so they are all slowly being weeded out of the flock.They are clever and look after themselves and each other, I didn't worry about them too much in all the rubbish weather as they have enough of their natural instincts remaining to make it easy for me to help them keep ticking over. Llamedos has summed the breed (and most other primitives) up to a tee!

The whitefaced woodlands are much more wary and are bloody big things to be working with as a small female on your own, but they are coming round to my way of thinking. Lovely looking sheep and doing very well on our ground so intend to keep working with them. They worry me with their woolly tails and thick fleeces which is one of the few areas where the Ronnies beat them, However they will make a decent carcase and seem much more sensible (stupid?) than the genius escape artist North Ronaldsays. But they have the same issue as with the Ronnies, being horned, that you can't use electric mesh with them, if you wanted to. However I like the horns on a sheep, much easier with a handle. I've some polled Ronnies as well and you notice the difference when working with them.

If you're ever heading to Birmingham you'd be welcome to come and have a look and have a go at handling both breeds (got some commercials for comparison too) to see what you prefer!

Thank you for the detailed post pipkins, it is very much appreciated - as is the offer to come and look at your stock. North Ronaldsays were also in the list as supposed easier for a new starter

Maybe you just want me to get put on me backside by one of your stock

Birmingham is not too far, so if we decide to go Ronaldsay - I may reach out to you for a quick visit.

 

[Ukjay]

About 1 to the acre at the mo! Needs topping but they keep it tidy. I'm building up. Went for Jacobs too but thinking of getting shot of them. The Wilts need nothing if you keep moving them around. Having a sheep re-think and I think it will be Wilts with a better tup this year. I am certainly no expert, hence all my stupid sheep questions on here!

Am I right in thinking you have 25 acres?

Also - I personally do not believe there are any stupid questions, as I too am learning.

 

[Pasty]

About 40. Some woods and scrub included. I'm just a lad with a few chikkins.

 

[Ukjay]

About 40. Some woods and scrub included. I'm just a lad with a few chikkins.

OK, so how many acres are you grazing the sheep over, is it all of it?

 

[Pasty]

OK, so how many acres are you grazing the sheep over, is it all of it?

Yes but in rotation and I'm looking to make a few acres of hay this year so that's locked up at the mo. I've also let a field I own up the road on a grass let as I can't be arsed trucking sheep up and down. So I would say about 20ac grazed by me.