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The 10 Most Commonly Asked Questions about Raising Sheep |
10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Raising Sheep
1. I'd like to buy some sheep; what should I do first?
Make sure you have good fencing. If your acreage/property is
fenced, walk the perimeter and check for loose posts, gaps, rusting
wire, etc. If not, decide how you want to keep your sheep in and
predators out (wild and domestic), and get to work. Whether you
opt for woven field fence, high-tensile electric fencing or strands
of barbed wire, this will be the most important part of the process.
2. What kind of sheep should I raise?
Choose breeds best suited to your region and climate. Contact
breeders and farmers in your area (connect with them through county
fairs, or through county extension services) and find out what
they raise (for wool or meat). Certain breeds do much better in
some areas than others.
3. Someone offered me a free ram and a couple of old ewes
to start out with...is this a good idea?
Well, it would be a great idea for the person giving the animals
away! You, however will face the immediate dilemma of having to
separate (by distance and good fences) the ram from the ewes,
or prepare for the arrival of lambs in five months; if you do
split the ram off, you will need to find him a companion (sheep,
goat, llama), as sheep do very poorly in a solo setting. Plus,
those old ewes might bring along the unwanted baggage of no teeth
or lambing problems. The best sheep in life are not necessarily
free! A better "starter" group would be three yearling
ewes, or three weaned wethers (castrated ram lambs).
4. Since sheep are grazers, will they mow my lawns and stay
out of my flowers?
Don't count on it. Sheep like to browse and nibble on more than
just grasses. They will happily deadhead a perennial or vegetable
garden, or your collection of dwarf conifers, or even toxic plants.
If you want them to mow and fertilize your lawns, fence them in
with portable electric netting.
5. How much veterinary care do sheep need?
It depends on the sheep and the circumstance. Start with healthy
animals, and you will save yourself work. All sheep will need
some type of feed, water, and salt. Ideally, all should have hooves
trimmed at least once per year, and should be wormed on a regular
basis. Bred ewes need certain vaccinations to prevent nasty diseases
of newborn lambs. Talk with a local large animal veterinarian,
or other experienced shepherds, and ask what they recommend.
6. How often do sheep need to be shorn?
Generally once per year, though some breeds benefit from a more
frequent schedule. The timing of that is a matter of choice, determined
by factors such as weather, shows, lambing time and shearer availability.
Finding a good shearer (or learning from one, for those who want
to learn how) is almost as important as putting up good fences!
7. Do I have to coat my sheep?
If you raise wool sheep, and want the cleanest, non-sunburned
fleeces, coat your sheep. But this is not a decision to make lightly.
You will need to make or sew many sizes of coats, and wash and
mend them, and watch your sheep more carefully to make sure the
coats are on, not off, and not twisted around a tree trunk, or
flapping around a woolly neck and terrifying the rest of the flock.
8. Is it true that sheep have no personalities?
Not true. Although many people describe sheep as "intellectually
and emotionally challenged", you can develop a relationship
with some of them (the sheep, not the people). Some are friendly
and inquisitive, some are playful, some are reserved, some are
wild. Think of a kindergarten class, plus manure and more mud.
9. Is it profitable to raise a small flock of sheep?
That depends on your definition of "profitable". If
you mean "making lots of money", then the answer is
no. If you mean "will anyone in my family or my children's
family ever make money with sheep", then the answer is probably
not. I recommend a more attainable goal: to someday lose less
money.
10. Will sheep bring me peace of mind?
Absolutely. Especially if they belong to someone else.
Note: Two good sources for more information are the following
publications:
"The
Black Sheep Newsletter" (503)621-3063
"Sheep!"
magazine (920)648-3770
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