Caring for sheep has the potential to be very rewarding. Some people keep these animals on their properties simply because of how cute they are, but they can also be raised as farm animals.
Whether you’re planning on fleecing them or if you just happen to like sheep, it’s going to be important to keep them in a safe environment. Most people will keep sheep penned in some sort of area using fences.
If you’re new to raising these animals, then you might be worried about getting things right. After all, it would be terrible to find out that the sheep have gotten out of the pen.
Do sheep jump fences? Or should an average sheep not be able to do this?
Keep reading to learn more about the jumping ability of sheep. This should help you to plan properly so that you can get the fencing just right to protect these animals.
Sheep Can Jump Over Some Fences
Sheep aren’t such good jumpers that they can jump over tall fences. However, a sheep is going to be perfectly capable of jumping over a short fence or one that has been damaged and lowered a bit.
If a fence is shorter than four feet, then it’s possible that a sheep will be able to jump over it. This means that you need to be careful about the height of the fence that you’re installing for the animals.
Some sheep are going to be better jumpers than others, too. People have reported having sheep that are capable of jumping fences that are pretty high, but you shouldn’t have much to worry about if you’re using a fence that is at least four feet tall on average.
If you see that the sheep that you’re caring for are especially good jumpers, then you might want to go with an even taller fence. Sometimes it’s better to have a taller fence just to be safe, but it’s also true that most sheep will not try to escape and will be perfectly content to stay with the flock.
The Sheep Should Feel Safe Inside the Fenced Area
When you provide for your sheep properly, it’s going to be easy to keep them in a contained area. As long as the circumstances are normal, it won’t be typical for a sheep to try to jump a fence.
This is because sheep feel safest when they’re in a group. A sheep would have to make a decision to leave the group if it wanted to jump the fence.
Normally a sheep would think that this would be a bad move that would threaten its safety. So long as the fence is maintained properly, it’s unlikely that the sheep will try to escape.
The caveat to this comes into play when the fence hasn’t been properly maintained. If the fence that you’re using to keep the sheep in an enclosed space has been damaged, then the sheep might be able to easily escape.
This could happen due to the fence deteriorating over time, but there are other things that can damage fences such as strong winds and falling tree branches. Do your best to keep an eye on the condition of the fences that you’re using and everything should be just fine.
What Types of Fencing Should You Use?
If you’re trying to prepare the best possible fenced area for sheep in your yard, then you might be wondering what fencing you should go with. There are quite a few options out there and you’ll probably be fine with most of the popular fencing types.
One of the most common types of fencing to use for sheep is woven wire fencing. It’s excellent for keeping sheep in place and you don’t have to worry about the woven wire sagging over time.
You’ll also like that this type of fencing is fairly resistant to rust while also being lightweight. It’ll be possible to install fencing without having to use as many fence posts, too.
This will be a fairly costly option, though. Those who are looking to handle the fencing on a budget might want to look elsewhere.
It’s also notable that some sheep owners choose to electrify their fences to protect the sheep. This can work to protect the sheep in a few different ways.
Firstly, it’ll keep the sheep from wanting to touch the fences because they’ll get shocked if they do. You should have an easier time keeping the sheep from trying to jump the fences if you have an electrified fence.
A fence such as this will also be a good deterrent to keep predators at bay. If you wish to protect your flock, then it’s a good idea to look into electrifying your fence in some way.
Using less expensive types of fencing can work fine for a time, but it might be more likely that the fencing will degrade fast. If you’re looking for an easy-to-maintain fence, then woven wire fencing is the way to go.
You can easily add electrification to this type of fencing if you want to. It’ll be necessary to spend a bit of cash, but it’ll be worthwhile when you care about protecting the sheep.
Final Thoughts
Sheep will indeed jump over fences if the fences are low enough. It’s recommended to use fences that are taller than four feet so that you can keep sheep from being able to easily jump them.
You should also know that there are certain types of sheep that are better at jumping than others. The most common sheep that people care for won’t have an easy time trying to jump a four-foot fence, though.
Maintaining the fence is of paramount importance when you’re trying to keep the sheep in place. If the fence breaks or falls down in a certain spot, then the entire flock could get out.
Try to use a high-quality type of fencing that will be easy to maintain such as woven wire fencing. You can also electrify these fences to keep the sheep from trying to jump them while also protecting them from potential predators.
I have a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When I’m not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, I’m at home with my wife, two daughters and a dog. Outside of family, I love grilling and barbequing on my Big Green Egg and working on projects around the house. Growing up, I had pet dogs, cats, deer, sugar gliders, chinchillas, a bird, chickens, fish, and a goat.