When I first came to the farm, the only fence there was was a rail fence around the yard to keep the boarded cows out. There were two 14 foot gates. Today there are pens and fences all around the yard. On the south, this spring, the fence for the sheep and goats and the 3 cows was finally finished, 4 years after wishing for it. You see, if one wishes long enough and is also determined, things can happen. The ewes and does are there with their little ones. On the north side the fence to the highway was completed 2 years ago, but the rest to the east was added this spring as well. The rams have more fenced area than they need by far, so the new section is closed and will be kept for the ewes when they are returned to that side if the snow does not come first. It is also an area of heavy bush and small animals could be easy prey. That is where the fox got the baby goat early this summer. The rams would be quite safe from a fox, being much larger and rather agressive if they need to be.
The wood fence that delineates the farm yard from the home yard is mainly to keep the birds in. Last year and this year, the birds reproduced at an enormous rate and towards the end of summer, there were well over 100 birds. This year is the same. I will have to count the chickens, ducks and geese, but I actually know there are 13 turkeys. The two turkey hens produced ten young ones and there is a tom turkey of course. That wood fence is rustic and unpainted, weathering the way it should. I thought I might put an oil stain on it to protect it, but this year I am consumed with moving. Hopefully, painting the outbuildings, maybe the houses and certainly the wooden fence should be possible.
Today I bought two large 19 foot long by 6 foot high chain link panels and my friend Dale helped set them up to create a catch pen for the sheep and goats on the south side. There is one on the north side already, but rather than run them across the yard, this will be much easier. I will close the pen with a livestock panel and clips. It is small, approximately 20 x 20 and the animals should be very crowded in it, which is perfect because they are easy to catch then. The deck chair is still in the wrapper due to my mental block about assembling things, but it would be a great asset for hoof trimming and medication in that pen, so I guess I have to put it together. The pen will also serve as a winter pen for breeding. It is a good size for 3-5 sheep and one ram. There are 2 Jacobs and a ram, 2 Blue Faced Leceisters and a ram, and so on, so there are lots of sheep to choose from. A winter shelter will have to built on skids and dragged into the pen when breeding time comes the first week of November.
The cost of fencing is one that is never recovered. For some, it is a selling point, but for most, they could care less, especially here, since they basically only raise big cows here. Still, for the next few years, the addition of these fences will make life so much easier, the animals so much healthier since they are able to eat fresh pasture and bush all summer and ease the pressure of feeding hay until the snow comes.
Although I did not do any of the wire fencing, I certainly built some of the wood fence myself and my son and I worked together on some of it as well. Do you like it?
The wood fence that delineates the farm yard from the home yard is mainly to keep the birds in. Last year and this year, the birds reproduced at an enormous rate and towards the end of summer, there were well over 100 birds. This year is the same. I will have to count the chickens, ducks and geese, but I actually know there are 13 turkeys. The two turkey hens produced ten young ones and there is a tom turkey of course. That wood fence is rustic and unpainted, weathering the way it should. I thought I might put an oil stain on it to protect it, but this year I am consumed with moving. Hopefully, painting the outbuildings, maybe the houses and certainly the wooden fence should be possible.
Today I bought two large 19 foot long by 6 foot high chain link panels and my friend Dale helped set them up to create a catch pen for the sheep and goats on the south side. There is one on the north side already, but rather than run them across the yard, this will be much easier. I will close the pen with a livestock panel and clips. It is small, approximately 20 x 20 and the animals should be very crowded in it, which is perfect because they are easy to catch then. The deck chair is still in the wrapper due to my mental block about assembling things, but it would be a great asset for hoof trimming and medication in that pen, so I guess I have to put it together. The pen will also serve as a winter pen for breeding. It is a good size for 3-5 sheep and one ram. There are 2 Jacobs and a ram, 2 Blue Faced Leceisters and a ram, and so on, so there are lots of sheep to choose from. A winter shelter will have to built on skids and dragged into the pen when breeding time comes the first week of November.
The cost of fencing is one that is never recovered. For some, it is a selling point, but for most, they could care less, especially here, since they basically only raise big cows here. Still, for the next few years, the addition of these fences will make life so much easier, the animals so much healthier since they are able to eat fresh pasture and bush all summer and ease the pressure of feeding hay until the snow comes.
Although I did not do any of the wire fencing, I certainly built some of the wood fence myself and my son and I worked together on some of it as well. Do you like it?
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