Sheep

1. 64

   darksideposted 14 years ago

   Anyone have any experience with raising sheep?
   
   We've just been given a sheep (it's a wool producing one, not bred for meat) and her two offspring (they're about 6 weeks old, I think).
   
   Though I lack experience and knowledge, she's looking a little bloated. The previous owners feed her a LOT of bread. We've got a goat and were warned that bread can bloat them. And I know it's not good to feed cows bread.
   
   Any advice and tips from an experienced person would be greatly appreciated!

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   1. 59

      blue dogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      if you're able to find grain, oats or corn or maize (milo), a mix is good.  depending on the grazing available to them, you might want to supplement with some hay.  alfalfa's an excellent one, but it should be fed in small increments.  they, as does most livestock, love it, and will eat themselves sick.  if the hay isn't an option, consider alfalfa pellets.  a protein block will also be beneficial.  the young ones are an exceptional choice of protein when attached to a hot grill.

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2. 70

   Ultimate Hubberposted 14 years ago

   I don't have any experience but love animals. Hope you will write a hub on them someday.

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   1. 64

      darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I might. But only after I've had plenty of experience with them. I've had chickens now for about a year and a half and I haven't yet written anything about them.

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3. 77

   frogdroppingposted 14 years ago

   lol never owned one but my friends husband had a flock and used to talk to me about them. Whether I was interested or not. I will think back and tell you what I know. The sheep dipping is fun. Though three is a lot easire than a flock
   
   Oh and I got involved ... I kinda never knew how to say 'no thanks'.

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4. 64

   darksideposted 14 years ago

   We've got 3 chickens, a rooster, 2 chicks... a goat... and the sheep and two lambs.
   
   I've said 'no thanks' to rabbits, as they're not farm animals. Though the kids thought they'd be cute.
   
   So far I'm not having cows. I would for the sole intention of fattening them up and having them slaughtered, but I've got a feeling my wife would grow too attached to them and we'd end up with however many big fat bovines with no chance of feasting upon their delicious meat parts.

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   1. 77

      frogdroppingposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I'm just on with scribbling stuff down Darkside. And the thing you said about your wife? Sheep can become great pets. I know it sounds a little daft but they can and do become incredibly docile and friendly. Folks just don't realise I guess.

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      1. 64

         darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         The people getting rid of her also got rid of another and its lamb. This one is very friendly. The other, not so much.
         
         These lambs come up and enjoy some attention. Our goat though runs away. From all of us, except from the 11 year old. He likes her.
         
         He (the goat) was fascinated with the new arrivals. I may put them in the same pen, at the moment he's sharing one of the chicken coops with the chicken that has the two chicks. They've adopted him as an uncle. They jump up on his back. I think the mother hen loves the fact that she's got a live in babysitter.

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      AsherKadeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      talk about judging a book by it's cover....I would have NEVER guessed you have a farm....

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5. 61

   Dale Mazurekposted 14 years ago

   Just never seen you as the sheep kind of guy.  More like the guy who wants to eat the cows.
   
   Sounds like you have quite the little hobby farm going there.  I know nothing about sheep other than like Frogdropping said they tend to turn out as pets for many people.
   
   I think you should get the rabbits, this way you have everything else everyone can grow attached to so in the fall you can put that cow in the freezer.

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   1. 64

      darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I never saw myself as a country kind of guy, but we've been out here for two years now.
      
      Up until last week there was 17 cows on the property. Not ours. We started with 4 that came through a break in the fence last year and they've slowly grown into a sizable... tribe. The owners came over last week and took them home but we've got four back again. Maybe they left them as payment for all the grass they've eaten and now I can eat them?
      
      No, I guess not.

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6. 0

   ralwusposted 14 years ago

   I think I will stay away from this subject. LOL
   

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7. 59

   flread45posted 14 years ago

   Baa Baa come over to my place at flread45 and check out my sheep.

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8. 77

   frogdroppingposted 14 years ago

   lol firead then give him some tips

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   1. 59

      flread45posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Just read my hub.

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      1. 77

         frogdroppingposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I shall. and I shall then return to have a natter with you. I'm assuming it's a new one?

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9. 83

   Aya Katzposted 14 years ago

   I've always thought it would be fun to raise sheep, but people have told me they smell bad. Any truth to this?

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   1. 64

      darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I have all of 9 hours of experience and no, they don't smell bad. I wouldn't want one to urinate on me, but other than that there wasn't any unpleasant odor to speak of.

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   2. 0

      ralwusposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      goats are the smelly ones of the family. baaaaad

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10. 0

    Leta Sposted 14 years ago

    We've got sheep just down the road from us...there are a lot of people here who just keep a few animals for fun.  And...I think they just graze around.  That's all I've ever seen them do.
    
    I found this:
    
    http://www.sheep101.info/eating.html

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11. 0

    pgrundyposted 14 years ago

    I don't know about sheep, but when Bill lived farther out in the country his neighbor's goat got into some corn and bloated. Bill offered to help and they were up most of the night with the goat hung from some kind of harness while they tried to get the bloat to pass, but they failed at the goat died.
    
    At least, that's the story he told me and he's stickin' to it!

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    1. 0

       Leta Sposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Well, yeah. You know I come from farm country originally (although I'm not much for that my self), and I live with an cattle ex-rancher from Texas.  Seems to me I remember (or he told me...don't remember) there is this procedure where they actually have to 'stick' cows in the stomach(s) who get bloated to relieve the gas, or they will die.
       
       They're ungulates.  They have, I believe, several stomachs and keep burping up grass and re-chewing cud, etc.  Don't think they can handle grain.

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12. 60

    tksenseiposted 14 years ago

    All this, like, talk of flatulence, like, makes me, like, want to volunteer to, like, leave the forums for, like, a while.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    (or maybe, like, I'm just, like, saying that...)

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13. 64

    Mishaposted 14 years ago

    Everybody has her own definition of "while"

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    1. 60

       tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Fair enough!

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14. 0

    Leta Sposted 14 years ago

    Darkside and Pgrundy simply are not in the same sphere as some interesting specimens who follow around like dogs up a sheep's butt who post in the forums...  I don't know for certain, as I've never lived on a farm or in the muck, but that would be my general observation.

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15. 0

    pgrundyposted 14 years ago

    It's interesting though to meet a dog who is offended by flatulence.
    
    How delicate.
    
    Must be one of those lady-dogs.

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    1. 60

       tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Don't tell me you are making sexist comments now...

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          Leta Sposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Actually, I'm sure she's not.  As the specimens in question I'm sure have been gelded or have been made in steers so to speak physically, in real life.  No doubt in my mind.  Though I have to say again, I never lived on a farm, so just a general observation.

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             tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             But she could probably answer for herself.

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16. 77

    frogdroppingposted 14 years ago

    Lita you seem to have found a stray. Or maybe it's the other way around.
    
    And tksensei stop crapping on your doorstep

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    1. 0

       Leta Sposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I've actually had quite a few, .  This one bores me to no end, except that I can come up with some cloaked language which is fun for me....at times.

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          tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          cloaked language = afraid to say what you mean

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          1. 0

             Leta Sposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Poets get away with murder.    Not all are aware, obviously.

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             1. 60

                tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                As I said...

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                1. 0

                   Leta Sposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                   I was a poet by the age of 12, 'stray.'  Nothing will change that, certainly not anything such as you.  Don't think Shakespeare would ever have thought so, either, ...  You don't even know what was said in 'your defense.'  It tickles me to no end, I gotta say.

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                   1. 60

                      tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                      LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!
                      
                      
                      And you read the newspaper, right? That is just fantastic.

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                      1. 77

                         frogdroppingposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                         But then again ...

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                      2. 81

                         SweetiePieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                         What do you want them to do with the newspaper? Are you mad some people read newspapers .

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                         1. 0

                            Leta Sposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                            Anyway...it doesn't matter.  Proof is always in the work.  Nothing else really matters, .
                            
                            *Edit:  And I apologize to Darkside for messing up his thread.  Exiting now.

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                         2. 60

                            tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                            No, I think it's super special and I'm very, very proud of those who boast (constantly) of such prowess.

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    2. 60

       tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Say wha~?

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17. 77

    frogdroppingposted 14 years ago

    lol. Stray. Oops
    
    I'm sure that tksensei is a lovable guy/gal underneath the bluff.

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18. 0

    Leta Sposted 14 years ago

    And I'm sure NOT, Frog.  Too much proof on too many other sites.  And isn't just about me, either..
    
    Anyway, they say most anti-social types are OK underneath all that...bluff.

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    1. 77

       frogdroppingposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Ahhhhh. I don't get out much. Well you never know, maybe tksensei would like to follow me around. I'm a lonely frog and it would be interesting to see if he could raise me from my horizontal disposition.
       
       Doubtful - but I can always hope for a little bit of vertical in my life.

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          tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Something about that sounds wrong.

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             frogdroppingposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Oh bugger. Point it out. I like to know where I've gone wrong

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                tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Just kidding. 'Horizontal' and 'vertical' ya know?

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19. 67

    Pearldiverposted 14 years ago

    Not a good idea to put a billy goat in the same pen as a breeding ewe Darkside You'll end up with a mob of marino goats!
    
    Sheep are cruizy to look after, as long as you watch out for flystrike and hoof rot..... And keep their bums clipped (dagged). Don't feed them bread.. their digestive tracks are not designed for such foods. You can suppliment their food with hay, silage and kibbled corn etc. Make sure the lambs tails are docked off before they get too old (Like now).
    
    This is also a good time to learn their language.

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20. 77

    frogdroppingposted 14 years ago

    wow firead - sheep everywhere! Darkside really needs to read you! I'm only on the first one. You have a whole flock. Bloody brilliant!

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21. 77

    frogdroppingposted 14 years ago

    Evening tksensei. Or maybe not wherever you are. And thankyou, I was up all night wondering ...

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