Chickens in the sheep pen

[EllieMay]

Mine will fly over some fences, too; but for some reason they will not fly over the electric netting surrounding the garden.
I've only had a guinea get trapped inside the garden once the whole year and I had to chase it out.

How tall is your netting, and what did you put it up with for posts?

I bought the netting from Premier1.
I bought two sizes; one is taller than the other.
I ended up returning the shorter netting and exchanging it for the taller one since I saw a rabbit jump over it.
The netting comes with the posts (it's all attached).
All you do is roll it out where you want it to go.
We don't have electricity there, so we bought a solar charger for the fence.

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=20226

Here's a pic of my mom stepping over the shorter netting.

 

[Southdown]

Not the greatest picture, but showing chickens, cats, and sheep together. I think it's great and fun when they all intermingle. They seem to entertain each other too.

 

[Kellykidz]

http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/uploads/5960_100_1497.jpg

Not the greatest picture, but showing chickens, cats, and sheep together. I think it's great and fun when they all intermingle. They seem to entertain each other too.

Our cats enjoy stalking the sheep.

 

[Cornish Heritage]

They do have their place in the big picture

They sure do. Chickens can clean up cow patties faster than anything else! It is great! They also eat any grain expelled by the pigs. NOW if we could just find a critter who likes to clean up chicken poop we would be good

Liz

 

[Alice Acres]

They do have their place in the big picture

They sure do. Chickens can clean up cow patties faster than anything else! It is great! They also eat any grain expelled by the pigs. NOW if we could just find a critter who likes to clean up chicken poop we would be good

Liz

Invite a neighbor's "town dog" out - they love eating any kind of farm Poop!

That short netting - that would never even slow my chickens down
One of my neighbors got some 5 foot netting fence to try and keep the deer out of their garden (they live on a deer highway, I swear). Didn't stop the deer, so maybe I can buy it cheap from them??

 

[Sheepshape]

I have La Fleche chickens amongst my flock and they happily roost in tall trees, so they laugh at fences. (Mine are allowed to go anywhere). My Brahmas are just the opposite....they won't try to fly over a blade of grass due to their weight.

Just thought I'd add a pic. here of some of my sheep with hen and chicks

 

[Southdown]

Cute.
(I love my brahmas.)

 

[meadow1view]

They do have their place in the big picture

They sure do. Chickens can clean up cow patties faster than anything else! It is great! They also eat any grain expelled by the pigs. NOW if we could just find a critter who likes to clean up chicken poop we would be good

Liz

It's the same critter that cleans up any waste product - microbes. They are the true work horses of any successful farming operation. Our utmost concern in farming Holistically is really not about managing animals...... it is about managing the microbes. When they flourish so will your soil, then your grass/vegetation, then your animals, and then you. Never forget the "little man".

 

[Fiberfling]

Ok. I know there aren't huge problems with my chickens in the sheep pen, but I don't want the chickens giving my sheep worms, and I also don't want the extra poop to pick up. Plus, its just plain annoying. They should be in their own spot. And speaking of that, my chickens keep flying over the fence of their garden area, and they aren't supposed to do that. What should I do! The chickens keep going farther away every time, and soon they're going to go too ar and get into trouble! I'm worried. What should I do?? Any ideas?
-shy sheep

I have been raising chickens and sheep for over 30 years. I don't have a problems with them being together unless it is dead of winter and the sheep don't have coats on. The chickens prefer roosting on their backs for warmth instead of being under a heat lamp. Then they crap on the fleece. It takes a while for it to disintegrate. I raise my sheep for their wool. I have that wool spun into yarn every year so I try to keep them jacketed to keep the fleece clean. Otherwise, mixed livestock are no problem unless I don't want to breed or someone is dangerous. I also do not pick up poop. I have a composted floor which keeps the barn warmer in the winter, which I prefer. Raising livestock is not like keeping a house in order.

 

[Sheepshape]

Not just two, but four species together...