Shifting Sheep

[Y Fan Wen]

Has anyone designed a one way gate to put in a field boundary?
I have a woodland which is so steep and overgrown we are finding it impossible to get out every single feral sheep.
I was wondering if I arranged for an empty pasture next to the woodland, then they might be tempted by the fresh spring flush to migrate into it and then be unable to return.
Before experimenting, I thought I'd ask if anyone had already done it?

 

[GTB]

Would one of these be any use? I don't know if they'd be bold enough to push through but maybe if you left it open for a couple of days first.......???

 

[Smudge]

Make a large version of a cat flap?

 

[Six Dogs]

if you keep gathering the pasture,why would they want to go back,nice grass v woodlands?

 

[Y Fan Wen]

if you keep gathering the pasture,why would they want to go back,nice grass v woodlands?

Ferals are the ultra crafty of the sheep world. One hint of quad or dog and they've legged it back.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

if you keep gathering the pasture,why would they want to go back,nice grass v woodlands?

Ferals are the ultra crafty of the sheep world. One hint of quad or dog and they've legged it back.

 

[cooksey]

could you not try leaving the gate open and sneeaking to the gate when some are on the pasture? failing that .270 will stop them being feral!

 

[Dry Rot]

There is a similar problem getting deer out of woodland. They build a dog leg into the fence with a ramp, so the deer running along the inside of the fence are encouraged to jump down the ramp, but can't jump back in. Would sheep use something like that or would you end up with a field full of marauding deer?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=d...6vXKAhWL7RQKHXdJCIEQ_AUICSgD&biw=1400&bih=922

 

[Newby]

What does a feral sheep look like? Does it have any saleable value? If not the rifle and a highseat looks a good option.

 

[Old Boar]

Would a funnel work? Fence coming to a point, just wide enough for a sheep to push through but not find the gap to get back?

 

[The Devonshire Bloke!]

What's a feral sheep?! Intrigued!

 

[Purli R]

What's a feral sheep?! Intrigued!

A feral sheep is one that needs a Lead bolus so there is no chance of it spreading Scab.

 

[fcp90]

A flock of quiet handled sheep left with them for a few weeks then a man and good dog to herd them back

 

[Purli R]

I see you've never come across any feral sheep if thats what you think'll happen. They'll smell the dog, (e.g. Not even see it) split themselves off and never be seen again.

 

[GTB]

I see you've never come across any feral sheep if thats what you think'll happen. They'll smell the dog, (e.g. Not even see it) split themselves off and never be seen again.

Agree. Getting the barstewards out of woods is damn near impossible. We do sometimes have a spot of luck, when the mountain is empty in winter we might chuck a feed block inside the gate and leave the gate open. Sometimes they go for the block and if you happen to be at the right place at the right time you can shut the gate. This can take a few weeks though...

Any budding sheep psychologists out there care to tell us why normal sheep lose their herding instinct after being in the woods for just a few months (even weeks)?

 

[GTB]

What does a feral sheep look like? Does it have any saleable value?

What's a feral sheep?! Intrigued!

They're just normal sheep that have got into blocks of forestry land and you can't get them out. They lose their herding instinct very quickly for some reason and there are very few collies alive that are fast enough to head them off before they have scarpered in various directions. They will sometimes be two or three (or more) generations too if they have managed to lamb and/or breed in the woods.

Edit: Forgot to say, they can have two or three years wool on them but will never maggot as there must be something in the pine that keeps the flies off. Unfortunately they can be riddled with scab and being that some blocks of forestry can be tens of thousands of acres,they can come into contact with numerous different surrounding flocks. Having some of your sheep in forestry land is generally frowned upon as it's seen as poor husbandry to let them get in there (but it happens to us all occasionally).

 

[Clive Tee]

A feral sheep according to Google...

 

[Gulli]

Agree. Getting the barstewards out of woods is damn near impossible. We do sometimes have a spot of luck, when the mountain is empty in winter we might chuck a feed block inside the gate and leave the gate open. Sometimes they go for the block and if you happen to be at the right place at the right time you can shut the gate. This can take a few weeks though...

Any budding sheep psychologists out there care to tell us why normal sheep lose their herding instinct after being in the woods for just a few months (even weeks)?

I suspect it's just a bit disorientating so they often lose sight of their mates and just get used to it. Lack of daylight probably doesn't help.
Feral stock are bloody clever.
I reckon they would just hop back over a normal non return gate, maybe if you screwed a couple of perspex sheets onto the gates?

 

[shearerlad]

One thing with feral sheep is that individuals with ingrown horns will die out!!
No more cutting tups horns.

 

[GrannyAching]

They will sometimes be two or three (or more) generations too if they have managed to lamb and/or breed in the woods.

Edit: Forgot to say, they can have two or three years wool on them but will never maggot as there must be something in the pine that keeps the flies off. ..............

I can't find the picture of one we had on our hill which they estimated had been out there 8 years.