[Jacob-list] Sheep security

[Meg Steensland]

I have had 2 sheep 'escapes' this year and several previous years - one ram got out and back in before I got down the road to find him (in response to a neighbor's report).  This year an adult ewe managed to get out but was waiting by the gate to get back in!
   
  Except for the visible pasture by the road, it is hard for peole to SEE my sheep - have to drive back into the woods or sneak in the back way with an Amish cart.  I think the horned animals are also a deterent to the casual thief, but would not deter someone with experience handling sheep.  Or maybe someone bent on casuing you a trouble is the culprit.
   
  Is it possible that the boy was bragging about how good his sheep was and what it was going to win at the fair and someone was jealous of this and targeted that particular sheep - a theif or rustler might have take more than one.  Maybe quiz your son on who his friends are and perhaps find his sheep taken to someone else's barn.
   
  Keeping a horse, cow, llama, donkey or other 'big' livestock in with the sheep may also deter the casual pasture invader.  Regarding llamas, people are always asking 'do they' bite?' No - but they SPIT!  and stomp and intrude on your space if you don't belong to their tribe.

messen at socket.net wrote:
  I had a sheep disappear years ago and never found any trace. There is not 
much any law enforcement can do unless the thieves keep stealing more 
animals. Eventually they will get caught. This does you very little 
good. I finally got same keyed padlocks for all of my gates. I am not 
sure that clearing any brush, shrubs, and trees will do any good. There 
was a cattle theft ring here a few years back and many of the thefts were 
in the open with witnesses; people just thought that the farmers were 
having somebody haul some cattle. The thieves finally got caught selling 
at a sale barn. The one disadvantage that thieves have is that they are 
usually lazy and not very bright. 
Some people around here have also set up security cameras and post signs 
that the premises are under the watchful eye of cameras. I think the 
knowledge that cameras are there are a pretty good deterrent. 
----------------------------------------------------

>From : Joy Thomas, SonRise Farm 

To : jacoblist 
Subject : [Jacob-list] Sheep security
Date : Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:33:31 -0700 (PDT)

> Kids went out today to do mid-afternoon water check!

> It's HOT here. My son's ewe is gone. Vanished. NO

> trace - no wool, blood, footprints, etc. He is

> devastated! I'm ANGRY! Sheriff came out, and I filed a

> report. He was not encouraging. Also called local

> animal control in case someone turns in a strange

> "animal".

> 

> Question - what do ya'all do to protect your flocks

> from human predators? We've discussed wolves, coyotes,

> bears, dogs, foxes, etc. but not humans!

> 

> I don't have enough acreage to keep a herding dog

> "busy" enough, I don't think. They are with a horse,

> although not running with him right now.

> 

> I will definitely clear the fenceline between paddock

> and street of brush to make things more visible.

> 

> 

> I will also take photos - front, right & left sides of

> ALL my sheep and put them in a notebook. Had to

> scramble to get photo for Sheriff's deputy that came

> out to take the report and information.

> 

> Lesson learned, I guess!

> 

> Joy T.

> Son Rise Farm - Creedmoor NC

> Home of The Fiber Flock

> www.shepherdofspots.com

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

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