Sheep Boarding

[xoxosheep]

Hi backyard farmer friends,

I have a sheep named Sophia. I have been raising her since she was a lamb. She's almost four. I live in the Philadelphia area and am looking for a local farm to board my sheep. I love her very much and would like to find a loving and safe place where she can stay. She is a little bundle of love. She is comfortable traveling and great with people. She's a little shy but very sweet. She's great around goats and dogs. She's never lived with horses and when I've taken her around ponies she hides behind me. Farming has become a passion of mine. I would like to one day start a sheep, goat, and dog rescue that helps raise money for animals and people in need. I've been learning on the fly and would love a place where I can care for Sophia as well as learn more about farming. Any solid leads or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for reading my post.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Maybe you could find a "petting zoo" type farm for her nearby.

Most people raising sheep to sell wouldn't want one that age just to keep around, and many such flocks are "closed" for Scrapies control, so they won't take just any animal

Maybe you could also check for ads from people with small wool flocks who would be willing to board her

She looks like a pretty girl
Is she Katahdin?

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Check out The Barnyard sanctuary in NJ. It's about a two hour ride from Philly, but she will most likely board for you.

http://www.barnyardsanctuary.org/

 

[xoxosheep]

@Chickerdoodle13 @Bear Foot FarmHello guys I've checked with most of the local petting zoos. I don't want her living on farm where they are selling animals for meat. I've posted ads on Craigslist and a number of other sites. Such as farm dreams and woofing. Backyard sanctuary in New Jersey sounds great but two hours is far. I'm going to contact farms and write letters to anyone whom I could help. Thanks so muh guys.

 

[res]

Contact your local county extension 4-H office. They may have a club member with a small acreage/farm that would be willing to help out. Lots of 4-H families have just enough room for a few animals, not huge herds...

 

[WallabyOfChaos]

I suppose if you were really in a pinch you could lease a stall at a horse boarding stable. Just be sure that everyone knows she can't have any horse feed.

 

[xoxosheep]

@res I have contacted my local 4H they said they couldn't take in my sheep. I was interested in joing my local 4H because they work with sheep in the Delaware valley branch. However my first priority had been caring for Sophia and finding a new place for her. Once I find a stable place for ill be able to volunteer. I will ask them if they can post something about Sophia to show families.

@WallabyOfChaos I thought about that but am nervous about her being only around horses. She also has loved her entire life with freedom to go in and out her house. I do have a question which you may know. I found a place that is very close to my house a half hour away. However when I took her there multiple times to try it out it didn't seem to be working. The place has two mini horses, an older horse, and three older sheep. I'm not sure what kind of sheep but they have really short legs and are very plump. The mini horses are young and chased Sophia around biting her. They also ran her into the full size horse who is very gentle but I think due to age became annoyed an tried to bite Sophia and kick. And the sheep kept stomping their feet when Sophia was trying to get near them for safety. It made me really sad and I cried for a while. I know it's animals doing their thing and just like people new comers have it hard. I just worried she could get hurt or get so stressed she gets sick. Any advice on that space and I right or being crazy. Thanks guys this site is awesome.

 

[xoxosheep]

Her favorite salt lick!

 

[Maarfha]

Hi backyard farmer friends,

I have a sheep named Sophia. I have been raising her since she was a lamb. She's almost four. I live in the Philadelphia area and am looking for a local farm to board my sheep. I love her very much and would like to find a loving and safe place where she can stay. She is a little bundle of love. She is comfortable traveling and great with people. She's a little shy but very sweet. She's great around goats and dogs. She's never lived with horses and when I've taken her around ponies she hides behind me. Farming has become a passion of mine. I would like to one day start a sheep, goat, and dog rescue that helps raise money for animals and people in need. I've been learning on the fly and would love a place where I can care for Sophia as well as learn more about farming. Any solid leads or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for reading my post.

@res I have contacted my local 4H they said they couldn't take in my sheep. I was interested in joing my local 4H because they work with sheep in the Delaware valley branch. However my first priority had been caring for Sophia and finding a new place for her. Once I find a stable place for ill be able to volunteer. I will ask them if they can post something about Sophia to show families.

@WallabyOfChaos I thought about that but am nervous about her being only around horses. She also has loved her entire life with freedom to go in and out her house. I do have a question which you may know. I found a place that is very close to my house a half hour away. However when I took her there multiple times to try it out it didn't seem to be working. The place has two mini horses, an older horse, and three older sheep. I'm not sure what kind of sheep but they have really short legs and are very plump. The mini horses are young and chased Sophia around biting her. They also ran her into the full size horse who is very gentle but I think due to age became annoyed an tried to bite Sophia and kick. And the sheep kept stomping their feet when Sophia was trying to get near them for safety. It made me really sad and I cried for a while. I know it's animals doing their thing and just like people new comers have it hard. I just worried she could get hurt or get so stressed she gets sick. Any advice on that space and I right or being crazy. Thanks guys this site is awesome.

Hi, I’m looking for a similar place…small family farm for my 2 sheep and 2 goats. They are all elderly but all pets. Did you find a good place? I’m also in the Phila. area and need something in a 15-20 mile radius of Malvern. I know your post is from 2013. Your Sophia is a lucky girl!