Electric fencing

Next steps

Maja 20Aprl17

• buy longer posts
• learn about training the sheep for the fencing
• assemble it and test again

Maja 29March17

• attach wire to the posts properly
• sheep shearing party
• test again
• prepare trees protections (I'm thinking - cylinders of firm netting)

What is going well

Maja 20Aprl17

I did another test. I attached the wire to posts properly, so I got that covered. We sheared the sheep. I tested it first with only Gaffita. She got shocked twice and escaped jumping out. As I thought - posts are too short.

Maja 29March17

We got all the bits of electric fencing necessary. I managed to make it work and now only work and tests divide us from having sheep in the electric fencing system. I feel great about it! I have something interesting to work on and to figure out. Despite few difficulties I had already, I'm still full of enthusiasm and faith. Each difficulty brings me closer to setting this up perfectly.

I'm very excited to have our sheep regain their herd instinct :)

What is difficult

Maja 20Aprl17

It's more difficult than I thought to watch them being shocked. After all I got some too and it was unpleasant but not THAT painful. Gaffita was jumping and running as if it was really horrible.

The posts are too short - she just jumped out after the second shock.

I'm worried about the reaction they get on the shock - jump and run. Once Gaffita jumped up not back and almost landed on the fencing, I was afraid she would get tangled and that would be a very painful experience for her. I don't want to let that happen.

After jumping she runs. If there will be 8 other sheep inside and they will see one of them panicking like that, they will all start running like crazy and then they will either run trough the fence or get tangled in it. Now I understand the importance of training the sheep before leaving them on the field with the fence. (Although I've just read that sheep never learn...)

Maja 29March17

The poles are too short - 65cm above ground. It says in the internet that that is enough, but I'm sceptical. We will try to work with it, if it doesn't work, I will buy longer ones.

I tried to put the sheep in the fencing today - they just went through it, with their head high up, not touching the fence at all, so that they were only touching it with wool. My conclusions are - cut their wool. I will spend this weekend on it with the volunteers, next we will see.

Next week I am going to Barcelona. In the middle of introducing the fencing, such a shame! I would love to have it ready before going, but that is doubtful.

After putting down the fencing and putting it up again the wires were all tangled and I had to spend another hours of putting them in place again. I have to figure out a good way to attach wires to the poles, so that they don't move when the fencing is down. I will work on it on the following days, I do have an idea.

The battery is heavy. I think I will carry it in a backpack, but I don't think I will be able to run with it while taking the sheep up and down, but we will see.

I am still to figure out the best way to walk with them into the fenced area (the time will come to practice some stockmanship!)

And I have to prepare proper trees protections.

Big vision

Maja 29March17

We have a great electric fencing system - easy to move and set up. Our sheep will be happier cuddling on the fields, our slopes will be happier, being protected form erosion, and our fields will be happier being grazed evenly. And we will be happier because of all of above AND it will be less work for us.

Having the sheep regaining their herd instinct, I will practice stockmanship and handling them will be a nice and easy walk, which everyone will be able to do after short time of training.