Fencing for the sheep's winter pen
Pigs in wool clothing are such babies
Every year I need to make a pen for the sheep that gets them closer to the power source so the water will not freeze. The little pigs have fairly pointy feet and you would think they would have learned how to tap dance on the ice to break it so they could access the water. BUT NooOOooo, they have to have a heater in their water, so the pen is extended to the chicken coop where the power outlet is.
I did have this pen extend up the hillside, but they busted the fencing down so I have reduced the size to just the bottom, level portion. The closer pen also makes it a shorter distance for me to roll the hay bales, which in snow can be a major benefit.
The pigs sit and stare as I work, bleeting as if they are starving. They think they will be getting into the pen soon, BWAH HAH HAH, little do they know they have to wait till I am good and ready to let them in.
It is all the low growth that the piggies like to devour. Sheep have an ability not unlike goats, to decimate every growing thing in their pens. If you want to clear under growth, goat and sheep are the way. I prefer sheep for the taste and ease of keeping as they are less destructive than goats.
The large dead bush in the middle was killed by the goats that we had 5 years ago. They liked the flavor of the chokecherry bushes/trees that had been in that place for many years. I was a little bit upset at first, but then upon further inspection, they just finished it off as it was not long for this world anyway.
And yes, the siding is still not fully up on the coop. I'm a slacker, I know.
I finished off the fence with chicken wire as I did not have a short piece of the horse fence. I try to use trees as my fence posts in as many places as possible. Why pay for a post or use on if I don't have to. There is nothing for the piglets to try and eat on the other side of the fence anyway so the chicken wire will be fine.
In the next week or two I will make their water trough out of the last 50 gallon drum I have. It will get a big hole cut in one side, set on its side, then filled with water and a tank heater. I think 50 gallons will last nearly a week in the cold weather with the number of sheep I have, but we will see before too long.
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Fleming Family Farm
FLEMING FAMILY FARM, LLC
Sustainable & Organic Methods | Heirloom Produce
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Good post thanks. Have you thought about constructing a hot compost pile at the side of the water to keep it from freezing? ITs free and self maintaining for a number of months.
Great post! You really do know a lot about keeping the animals safe in harsh climates. It sounds like a lot of hard work, but I'm sure it's worth it.