Who is responsible for the fencing up-keep? Who is responsible for any now-needed barn repairs? Who will make any repairs caused by the sheep? Will he do any cross-fencing, to allow for resting a portion of the pasture? Will he check on them daily, weekly, when? (And are you comfortable with the idea that he can come on your property at any time?) Do you want to set limits on when he can come - which might fall apart if an emergency arises. What responsibilities, if any would you have for the sheep, and how can you reach him, or a responsible "other", if he isn't available, if you see a sheep in trouble? Will he have a "guardian animal" with them, be it LGD, donkey or llama, and who looks after it? (As an aside, how will your dogs react to it?) Are you on a well - how will the sheep be watered, is there a stream or pond, how will access to that be managed, if watering them from a tub, where will that be placed? Have you been mowing the pasture, and if so, will that continue, depending on weather, so you can keep any weeds down?

And last but not least - how will your dogs react to the sheep, and what limits can you place on their going into the pasture? This is not so much a liability issue for him, but may be one for you. Can you take your dogs to his farm to introduce them to the sheep, before you sign any agreement, so you have some idea as to their reaction? And how they will react to any guardian animals if he has any? Just a few thoughts, off the top of my head. I am sure that more will come your way....

Thanks for your input dibbit. You have given me alot more to think about. He doesn't plan on a guardian animal, which has concerned me because we definitely have coyotes and a number of other predators here. My dogs have a fenced acre in my backyard so they shouldn't be able to access the sheep. That said, one of them is a Border Collie, who would have a new obsession. He plans to fill a tank for watering and pay us for the water. We are on municipal water. He would be checking the sheep once a week and as there is a second driveway to the pasture he wouldn't have to disturb us. I hadn't considered the fencing and repair issues. I was also worried about what to do if a sheep became ill or injured. Hmmmm, maybe it's not worth it.

Fencing makes good neighbors especially when they're dogs and sheep. How is the pastured fenced right now? Good fencing will prevent many of the already mentioned potential problems. Will you need additional liability insurance? Tom

The pasture has regular farm fencing, I think the squares are approximately 10 inches. There is a strand of barbed wire across the top. We put the backyard fence in in August. It is also farm fencing but with 6 inch squares. The dogs have never escaped so far, but they haven't had the temptation of sheep. The pasture and the backyard are seperated by another acre of leaching field. Good question about the liability insurance I will definitely look into that before making a decision. Thanks.

We raise a few sheep and personally, I would expect him to check on them more frequently than weekly.

Here in Utah, there is either a shepherd with the sheep, or a guardian animal, or both... and they are tended to on a daily basis.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shari's Gone Country

Thanks Shari. I have never raised livestock, except for my four Rouens and was unsure as to what was involved in caring for the sheep. Even to the inexperienced a week seemed like quite a stretch. I help rescue, rehab and rehome abandoned and abused dogs. I wouldn't be willing to contribute to poor animal husbandry or neglect on my property and I'm not willing to care for someone elses livestock. Which is what would happen if they were here. I wouldn't be able to help myself.

I would have qualms about his planned rate of inspecting the sheep also. How many sheep, and on what acreage?

What size tank of water? I don't know the rate at which sheep drink, but I do know that for horses, you need a taller, Rubbermade tub (about 3' tall and 4' long) for 2 horses for about 4-5 days. In any case, for most horse owners I know, the tank gets emptied and refilled about every 3-4 days, both to scrub out the algae along the sides, and to dump out the mosquito larvae before they hatch. How is he planning to deal with such? For the algae, you CAN ignore it for the most part, and scrub out once a month or so, but mosquitos need to be dealt with. Tethering a Mosquito Dunk on the far side, so the sheep can't get at it, might work.

The other water tank problem is that a mouse, squirrel or 'possum can climb up to drink, fall in and drown in a night - at which time the tank needs to be emptied! Putting a few pieces of wood in the tank, so any animal that climbs/falls in has a place to get out, at least of the water, and maybe out of the tank, is a good idea. But, once a week is too wide an interval to check on water availability - every few days would be better, and daily best. Checking for injuries also needs to be done more often than weekly - a full-blown infection can be raging in a week.

I grant, you can't enforce his inspection schedule, esp. if he will be accessing the property through another driveway. But once a week, esp. if there will be lambs, is too long an interval, IMO.

Thanks to everyone for all of your input and advice. I've decided that the small amount of money for the rental fee just isn't worth the trouble. I don't want to compromise my ethics and I don't want to be responsible for someone elses livestock. Great advice from everyone, thanks again.

Wise choice. This will preserve any relationship you may have had with this individual.Until he can provide you a complete plan that meets humane standards and provides good stewardship of your soil, it's best he not rent your property.

We spoil our sheep, feeding them twice daily. However, they are penned and not on any pasture.

Our neighboring sheep farmers feed once daily and either have automatic watering sources or provide water twice daily.

They move the pastured sheep frequently to prevent over-grazing, thus preserving the health of the pasture.

The pastured sheep are checked daily. At this time of year, there are still plenty of lambs not yet weaned.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shari's Gone Country

One of the biggest problems many people get into with livestock is infrequency in checking on the stock. In a small pasture, he might be thinking he can get by with fewer checks, and he is also counting on you to let him know what is going on. (As the landowner, that isn't your job, and your not ever going to be paid what it is worth to do it for him.) ANY livestock needs to be checked on at least once daily, if not twice. Besides the issues of illness, feed and water, you also have the problems of animal attacks, and escape.

To me you pasture fence does not sound adequate for sheep or goats. The woven wire with a ten by ten spacing is too large for goats, sheep and even hogs with pigs. The dog yard fencing would be more suitable for anything, but what you described on the rest of it okay for cattle or horses, but not much else.

One of the biggest problems you would have had was the sheep trying to reach through your fence to get grass outside of the pasture. With the size wire spacing you have your fences would have been under constant attack from the sheep and by the end of the summer a complete shambles.

IMHO tell your neighbor that you don't want to rent out pasture, but you will work with him on having it cut for hay if he wants. Even if you give him the hay it saves you the cost of running a mower to cut it at least a couple of times this summer.

Kevin