The Poultry Keeper

nigel · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:57 am Post subject: Sheep

OK so I'm slowly getting to grips with goats. So I'm thinking that maybe I'd like some sheep. Just a small flock, enough maybe to provide 4-6 lambs a year. What should I know?

- I've never done any shearing - how difficult is it?
- Are rams friendly?
- Do they need to be moved indoors at night like the goats?
- I don't suppose they will respect electric fencing like the goats do
- Can sheep and goats mix in the same fields?
- I like the look of the more primitive breeds are these easier or more difficult?

The only real thing I remember about sheep from the smallholder course is that

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

i love sheep ,i've lost one she got cast on the moor ,we had one close call with ccn ,when my daughter noticed that she looked like she was grazing but wasn't ,i think in a larger herd that it wouldn't have been noticed
but with a couple of jabs she was right as rain
we have used electric fencing with sheep ,we kept the front of the fleeces clipped so they could feel it ,only break out when they where chased by somebodies dog in the village ,they are really tasty when you grow your own ,
rams shouldn't really be trusted,any male animal can be dodgy Wink

there are some that are nice though,
depends on where you live and what sheep ,suffolks here are brought inside in bad weather ,but the hebs ect are fine outside in all weather ,
goats and sheep carry the same worms ect so grazing them together can work then rotate the pastures
the goats tend to improve the grazing for the sheep who eat different weeds and grasses ,got a really good articale on research done in the 50's on this ,no idea on shearing as we have orphan lambs and they go the year after ,although deb will add a lot more as she has talked me though the in's and out's of sheep ,

unfortunatly it was a sad day here yesterday as we are not keeping anymore sheep when these 2 go ,i will again one day but with the eid and everything else that is happening ,it's getting way to expensive and impossible here
when i can buy sheep off debs oh for a lot less than it costs me to rear them
the goats are now going to be pets and we will breed now and again ,and eat a few we were thinking of selling them Shocked

but i just couldn't part with them Crying or Very sad

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1615 Location: Clawddnewydd

Yes, I had one that insisted on dying right in the middle of the only public footpath on the place despite my best attempt to persuade it otherwise Embarassed

Primitives are generally more hardy and tougher than lowland breeds
No, they dont "HAVE" to come in at night....... (depends on your breed, some want to be in at the first drop of rain Rolling Eyes

others, you cant get in for love nor money Laughing

)
Most rams are friendly, depends on your commitment to taking the time to get to know them, whether yo have food on you and also can be a bit breed dependent ie blues exceptionally friendly, mountain sheep slightly less so...
No, they dont usually respect electric!! Be prepared for mass break outs if you get bloody minded ones Laughing

As far as I can see, they do mix although there is a disease that goats can pass to sheep but which one it is escapes me at the moment. You can vaccinate your goats against it though
Oh, and most primitives self shear given enough time Wink

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

i must admit that gills are freindly ,
they are primitive's
mine are blackies ,
what type are you thinking of getting nigel

nigel · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:39 pm Post subject:

debcat · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:32 pm Post subject:

I have a few blackies, some texel x's, some suffolk x's, a charolais x and a pure bred suffolk
the suffolk lives out but has places for shelter, they all go on the common grazing in the summer but the lambs are at home for the winter and getting fed.
You'd need indoor room for lambing if the weathers cold and wet
my goats go out in the same field as the sheep - 5 acres
you don't need to do their feet as often as goats, some of mine never seem to need doing,
Primitives are generally hardier and have been bred for that particular area
Shearing's not too hard, the whole fleece will loosen when it's ready. with only a few sheep you just use dagging shears. they won't win any any medals for looks but it grows back really fast
I put mine in with the OH's rams for tupping , thier friendly enough, you just have to give them a bit of respect

I love the ones in that picture, they look really hardy

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1615 Location: Clawddnewydd

Oooh, Storms on the forum again!! Laughing

Sorry, I digress, they look like Balwens with horns, nice looking sheep Nigel! If they are as hardy as Balwens you should do fine Very Happy

debcat · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:48 pm Post subject:

forgot to say, they tend to be addictive Laughing

I started with one now there's 12 with 6 in lamb Rolling Eyes

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

i'd listen to the above Wink

nigel · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:24 pm Post subject:

I'm going to be very very strict over numbers Laughing

I'm assuming sheep have twins so I'd be looking at one ram plus two or three ewes total. No more, definitely the maximum.

There is a local herd of the Helsingland about twenty miles away. They are looking for new owners to keep small flocks as there are only 40 of them left, so they want as many small herds across the country as possible in case blue tongue or anything strikes. At the moment one outbreak could wipe them out.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

i ment bb and deb ,they both have a lot of experience with sheep Wink

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1615 Location: Clawddnewydd

You'd think wouldnt you......
Nigel, I was very strict on numbers. I now have close on 200. Well in my defence, I did have over 400 at one point so I am being strict Embarassed

Milkmaid is right, they are extremely addictive and great characters like poultry and goats. I wouldnt be without mine now, they are just part of the family, albeit an extremely extended one Laughing

If you are only expecting twins, dont get blues!! 3 and 4 is quite normal, thank heavens I dont have any quads this year (just 9 sets of triplets Shocked

) Oh well, with any luck, this time some of the singles might oblige and LAMB AT THE SAME TIME as the trips (sorry, just hoping they might be listening Rolling Eyes

)

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1394 Location: Carmarthenshire

I started off with 3 Ryland ewes, they tend to be lazy and don't try and break out/escape, they look like teddy bears and are very docile. Put them to a Herdwick ram last year, got let down with the Ryland ram, and they produce 1 ewe lamb each (they will be in the feezer next month Crying or Very sad

), they gave birth easily and were great mums. I am now the proud owner of a very friendy "coloured" Ryland ram called Harvey, although i don't trust him totally at tupping time, and he has "marked" the 2 older ewes so fingers crossed for spring lambs. He came with "one free", a little wether called Cookie who is a real sweetie that loves to be cuddled. 2 of the ewes came from "coloured" mothers so I am hoping for "coloured" lambs and , eventually, have a "coloured" flock. They are a very old breed and have just come off the endagered list, they are not prone to feet problems and, as long as they have a shelter to go in when wet, they don't need bringing in at night. I do bring them in to lamb though. Considering i only got sheep in the first place to help keep the grass down they have certainly cast their spell on me Laughing

.

Chris

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1615 Location: Clawddnewydd

Thats usually how it starts Wink

Smokey now seems to have joined Storm on the forum Very Happy

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7157 Location: isle of lewis

they are aditive ,i'm going to miss mine ,still deb says i can play with hers Wink

,and i have my last 2 till july