Sheep Chat Thread

What is your favorite kind of sheep?

  • Cross-Bred

    Votes: 7 7.4%
  • Hair

    Votes: 29 30.9%
  • Meat

    Votes: 14 14.9%
  • Wool

    Votes: 36 38.3%
  • Dairy

    Votes: 8 8.5%

  • Total voters
    94
Pics
I have another question. My sheep got their safeguard pellets yesterday, dosed by the vet. Today they're laying down most all day and when disturbed they freak out, jumpy, stomping, heads down. Not themselves at all, like they're on sheep crack or something. It's weird. A reaction to the med do you think?
 
We have never used Safeguard pellets either. I didn't even know Safeguard made a pellet labeled for sheep.

Has it been warm enough for the insects to be active in your area? Our sheep will get stompy and agitated when the flies bother them. When they are lounging around they will jump up suddenly and throw their heads down, shaking their heads and stomping, and then they usually bolt for another shady place to lay down where they hope that they won't be bothered. It's pretty common to see in the summer time here, but our winter was fairly mild so our bugs are already out in force.
 
BTW- that yarn is GORGEOUS!! Do you use a wheel to spin? How did you learn? I have a drop spindle, but I'm downright terrible at it!

Question for the group- Those who own/use shears- Which kind do you have or would you recommend? I need to bite the bullet and purchase a pair!
 
That's exactly how they're acting. I noticed last night as I was shutting things up that they *could* act normal but then would revert to the twitchiness if I got too close. I guess I just don't know what's triggered the behavior, the medicine or the heat or both... I didn't notice any flies but that doesn't mean they weren't there. It got suddenly hot here, was snowing last week. Now it's sunny and 80. Bugs are coming out. Who knows. I'm going to keep an eye on them. They were acting normal this morning, so far.


Quote: RoyalT
Thanks! I have an antique spinning wheel that I learned to spin on. A couple of years ago my MIL overheard me saying that I wanted to learn to spin but didn't have the money to buy a wheel only to find out I couldn't do it or didn't like doing it. She took me out to the barn and showed me a spinning wheel that used to be a conversation piece in her FIL's living room. All the pieces were there so she gave it to me and I cleaned it up, replaced the worn out leather, found some wool and taught myself how (with some help from youtube
wink.png
). I've been a spinning fool ever since.

ETA: I have a drop spindle too but like you, I'm not too good at it.

I'm also interested in hearing about the shears. My small hand shears were crap at shearing quickly. The poor sheep.
 
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For our sheep, "out to pasture" means off hay, out of the winter/sacrifice pen that gets so over-grazed it's practically just mud and out on grass. I don't lock up my sheep, they have a little shed and a covered space to keep them out of the weather, but they aren't shut inside all winter.


What worms are you treating for? If you got a fecal float and you know what you're trying to knock down, different meds work better than others, and if you're just doing a broad-spectrum de-wormer, you'll want to switch every other year or so to assure that the worms don't become resistant to your favorite go-to med. 


I wouldn't have locked up sheep in a barn all winter, nor would I leave them without shelter - so no I don't think you did anything wrong. Everyone with dedicated 'winter pens' knows how disgusting they get in a winter season. It's just the nature of the rotational grazing's sacrifice pen. 


All animals (including humans) have what's called an "acceptable parasite load" meaning we always have parasites in/on us. They only become a problem when we are immunocompromised (often caused by stress or other illness) and the parasites become over populated. That's the only time the parasites need to be dealt with. If you are just de-worming blind, I'd run some fecals through the Vet and see what all you actually need to be treating for, if anything :)


I will be attending a FAMACHA certification/training this weekend and I'm excited about everything that there is to learn about parasites.

http://guides.wikinut.com/How-to-use-the-Famacha-system/1.5x_7yc/
 
That's exactly how they're acting. I noticed last night as I was shutting things up that they *could* act normal but then would revert to the twitchiness if I got too close. I guess I just don't know what's triggered the behavior, the medicine or the heat or both... I didn't notice any flies but that doesn't mean they weren't there. It got suddenly hot here, was snowing last week. Now it's sunny and 80. Bugs are coming out. Who knows. I'm going to keep an eye on them. They were acting normal this morning, so far.


Quote: RoyalT
Thanks! I have an antique spinning wheel that I learned to spin on. A couple of years ago my MIL overheard me saying that I wanted to learn to spin but didn't have the money to buy a wheel only to find out I couldn't do it or didn't like doing it. She took me out to the barn and showed me a spinning wheel that used to be a conversation piece in her FIL's living room. All the pieces were there so she gave it to me and I cleaned it up, replaced the worn out leather, found some wool and taught myself how (with some help from youtube
wink.png
). I've been a spinning fool ever since.

ETA: I have a drop spindle too but like you, I'm not too good at it.

I'm also interested in hearing about the shears. My small hand shears were crap at shearing quickly. The poor sheep.
Maybe I should look into getting a spinning wheel... there's a man right across the creek from me who repairs them, maybe he'd know of someone selling...

I will be attending a FAMACHA certification/training this weekend and I'm excited about everything that there is to learn about parasites.

http://guides.wikinut.com/How-to-use-the-Famacha-system/1.5x_7yc/
Hey there's a good system! I'd love to hear your feedback on the training :)
 
Fantastic pics all!!! I too can't wait to hear about what shears you all are using! as my son says mine pull his hair, so I surely don't want to use them on my sheep babies LOL
 
That's exactly how they're acting.  I noticed last night as I was shutting things up that they *could* act normal but then would revert to the twitchiness if I got too close.  I guess I just don't know what's triggered the behavior, the medicine or the heat or both...  I didn't notice any flies but that doesn't mean they weren't there.  It got suddenly hot here, was snowing last week.  Now it's sunny and 80.  Bugs are coming out.  Who knows.  I'm going to keep an eye on them.  They were acting normal this morning, so far.


BTW- that yarn is GORGEOUS!! Do you use a wheel to spin? How did you learn? I have a drop spindle, but I'm downright terrible at it! 


Question for the group- Those who own/use shears- Which kind do you have or would you recommend? I need to bite the bullet and purchase a pair!


Thanks!  I have an antique spinning wheel that I learned to spin on.  A couple of years ago my MIL overheard me saying that I wanted to learn to spin but didn't have the money to buy a wheel only to find out I couldn't do it or didn't like doing it.  She took me out to the barn and showed me a spinning wheel that used to be a conversation piece in her FIL's living room.  All the pieces were there so she gave it to me and I cleaned it up, replaced the worn out leather, found some wool and taught myself how (with some help from youtube ;) ).  I've been a spinning fool ever since.

ETA: I have a drop spindle too but like you, I'm not too good at it. 

I'm also interested in hearing about the shears.  My small hand shears were crap at shearing quickly.  The poor sheep. 

Maybe I should look into getting a spinning wheel... there's a man right across the creek from me who repairs them, maybe he'd know of someone selling...

I will be attending a FAMACHA certification/training this weekend and I'm excited about everything that there is to learn about parasites.

http://guides.wikinut.com/How-to-use-the-Famacha-system/1.5x_7yc/

Hey there's a good system! I'd love to hear your feedback on the training :)

The training was unbelievable!!!!!!! I learned so much. They let us look at sheep poop under the microscope. They showed us how to collect it, how to mix the poo, how to put it under the slides and what to look for. It was amazing !!!!!!!!! It is just so much to tell. I am so glad that I went to that training. They talked about parasites, grazing, when to move your small ruminants to different pastures, de-worming, and sooooooooo many other practices. If there is ever that type of training in your area, I would advise anyone to please attend. I left there with so much valuable information that will help me better care for my sheep.
 

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