Sheep Chat Thread

[TwinWillowAcres]

I had two ewes, one wether, and two lambs in one pen that was 16x48 (photo below--they were housed under my deck, so about 16x16 of their pen was covered; the other pen right next to the ewe pen was for my ram, it was 8x32, with 8x16 being covered by my deck). They had gotten rid of the grass within a week or so. So it was just dirt in the pen. They were there for about two months, then the pen sat empty for two weeks and then I moved my new purchased ram in there for a month. The grass had already started growing back after two weeks, but the ram grazed it down. The grass started regrowing after the ram was moved out onto pasture with the ewes. I also have an 8x28 pen that my ram lived in from April thru October, when he was moved in with the ewes. I had two lambs in with him from July thru October. They stayed in there until November and were moved out in the pasture when all the ewes were bred. Because it was so late in the year (Nov), grass hasn't started growing back. I expect it to come back in the spring, unless I move sheep in there.



I know it's kind of hard to see in this photo, but the grass under the deck has grown back, not only that, but greener, too.




My 8x28 pen, the photo shows most of the pen. My ram was the main resident, all the lambs stayed there for about only 2 weeks to be weaned. They were moved out to pasture and then later during the summer the ram lambs were moved back into the pen. So in this pen I had a ram and two of his ram lambs from about July or so to October (ram was moved out to pasture then and the ram lambs were alone for about a month before being moved out to pasture as well).





Now, before my sheep moved to my property, I had them at my neighbor's. There were anywhere from 7 to 40 ewes plus lambs kept on the 18 acres of pasture. No issues, grass kept growing. Mowed once a year every June. Kept the ewes well fed all year, they stayed on pasture all winter long and came out of winter with BCS of 3.5s and 4s. Hay only fed when there was snow on the ground.

 

[theuglyduckling]

I had two ewes, one wether, and two lambs in one pen that was 16x48 (photo below--they were housed under my deck, so about 16x16 of their pen was covered; the other pen right next to the ewe pen was for my ram, it was 8x32, with 8x16 being covered by my deck). They had gotten rid of the grass within a week or so. So it was just dirt in the pen. They were there for about two months, then the pen sat empty for two weeks and then I moved my new purchased ram in there for a month. The grass had already started growing back after two weeks, but the ram grazed it down. The grass started regrowing after the ram was moved out onto pasture with the ewes. I also have an 8x28 pen that my ram lived in from April thru October, when he was moved in with the ewes. I had two lambs in with him from July thru October. They stayed in there until November and were moved out in the pasture when all the ewes were bred. Because it was so late in the year (Nov), grass hasn't started growing back. I expect it to come back in the spring, unless I move sheep in there.



I know it's kind of hard to see in this photo, but the grass under the deck has grown back, not only that, but greener, too.




My 8x28 pen, the photo shows most of the pen. My ram was the main resident, all the lambs stayed there for about only 2 weeks to be weaned. They were moved out to pasture and then later during the summer the ram lambs were moved back into the pen. So in this pen I had a ram and two of his ram lambs from about July or so to October (ram was moved out to pasture then and the ram lambs were alone for about a month before being moved out to pasture as well).





Now, before my sheep moved to my property, I had them at my neighbor's. There were anywhere from 7 to 40 ewes plus lambs kept on the 18 acres of pasture. No issues, grass kept growing. Mowed once a year every June. Kept the ewes well fed all year, they stayed on pasture all winter long and came out of winter with BCS of 3.5s and 4s. Hay only fed when there was snow on the ground.

aw your sheep are so cute.

 

[boxofpens]

I had two ewes, one wether, and two lambs in one pen that was 16x48 (photo below--they were housed under my deck, so about 16x16 of their pen was covered; the other pen right next to the ewe pen was for my ram, it was 8x32, with 8x16 being covered by my deck). They had gotten rid of the grass within a week or so. So it was just dirt in the pen. They were there for about two months, then the pen sat empty for two weeks and then I moved my new purchased ram in there for a month. The grass had already started growing back after two weeks, but the ram grazed it down. The grass started regrowing after the ram was moved out onto pasture with the ewes. I also have an 8x28 pen that my ram lived in from April thru October, when he was moved in with the ewes. I had two lambs in with him from July thru October. They stayed in there until November and were moved out in the pasture when all the ewes were bred. Because it was so late in the year (Nov), grass hasn't started growing back. I expect it to come back in the spring, unless I move sheep in there. I know it's kind of hard to see in this photo, but the grass under the deck has grown back, not only that, but greener, too. My 8x28 pen, the photo shows most of the pen. My ram was the main resident, all the lambs stayed there for about only 2 weeks to be weaned. They were moved out to pasture and then later during the summer the ram lambs were moved back into the pen. So in this pen I had a ram and two of his ram lambs from about July or so to October (ram was moved out to pasture then and the ram lambs were alone for about a month before being moved out to pasture as well). Now, before my sheep moved to my property, I had them at my neighbor's. There were anywhere from 7 to 40 ewes plus lambs kept on the 18 acres of pasture. No issues, grass kept growing. Mowed once a year every June. Kept the ewes well fed all year, they stayed on pasture all winter long and came out of winter with BCS of 3.5s and 4s. Hay only fed when there was snow on the ground.

Thank you so much!! The info I'm getting about compaction is from very intelligent people, except they have never actually had sheep. I'm so happy to hear from people who actually have experience.

 

[chooks4life]

@boxofpens:
Quote: Yes, copper is a large component of what hair/fur is built of, so lack of it has noticeable effects, and an overdose in an animal that has no such need for it is another issue. I haven't checked out Pat Coleby's Natural Cattle Care book, but will have to. It's great that she's known over there, she collected and published some lifesaving info.

I recall that "spectacles" is one issue vets always noticed on dark-coated cattle that were copper deficient, where the hair became paler due to lack of copper; the dark coated animals would drop dead for lack of copper while the whites or pale coated animals thrived.

Lack of vitamin D can also cause coat 'staring' or curling at the ends, in fact a few things can. Lack of a vital constituent of flesh, skin, hair etc will of course make these structures weaker. Australia has a lot of prematurely aged individuals with certain diseases like pulmonary and cardiovascular issues, etc which are traced back to our lack of copper. Same things happen to animals lacking copper. Humans and animals in other countries generally do not have Aussies' copper deficiency, but it can be quite harmful. All down to the soil, as always, if the soil's deficient you can't make the foods (plants or animals) you grow on it yield the expected nutrition levels the foodstuffs are usually expected to contain.

Best wishes.

 

[postalpoultry]

Just a thought, I believe you need to consider the individual animals before you could say if would be ok to keep them together. Earlier reply said horses notorious for harming sheep, really just means it has been known to happen. Each animals temperament should be considered and the introduction is key to success! I have ALOT of livestock lol as I type this I am thinking of one particular "herd" that runs around here, it consists of a Thoroughbred, welsh pony, jenny (donkey) a ram and his ewe and a mixed breed tom turkey!!!! Now keep in mind all these guys have plenty of their own kind to run with but this is their "herd of choice" lol

Have fun

 

[Penny Hen]

Just a thought, I believe you need to consider the individual animals before you could say if would be ok to keep them together. Earlier reply said horses notorious for harming sheep, really just means it has been known to happen. Each animals temperament should be considered and the introduction is key to success! I have ALOT of livestock lol as I type this I am thinking of one particular "herd" that runs around here, it consists of a Thoroughbred, welsh pony, jenny (donkey) a ram and his ewe and a mixed breed tom turkey!!!! Now keep in mind all these guys have plenty of their own kind to run with but this is their "herd of choice" lol

Have fun

Throw in a dog and you could have the Brennentown musicians with the Tom taking the roosters part.

 

[chooks4life]

Quote: That was my comment you referred to and I used the word 'notorious' because it's been quite common in my experience and those of people I know, not just something that's "been known to happen" i.e. "happened to a friend of a friend of a friend of mine" style anecdote.

But I do agree, and myself and others did mention that as you say, it really does depend on the individuals. I know a few horses which only have sheep or deer or goats or whatever for company, nothing of their own species.

Best wishes.

 

[postalpoultry]

OH MY so sorry I certainly did not mean to offend! I just think websites and such tend to make blanket statements like "never keep dogs and cats together" or "turkeys CAN"T be raised with chickens" you know things like that I have seen written and I think it sometimes scares people from trying something. Guess I've always had a problem with someone telling me I CAN'T do something LOL

As you said things certainly do depend on the individual and I believe it depends greatly on HOW it is done, thats all I was trying to say! Please accept my apologies if I seemed to misquote you!

 

[chooks4life]

OH MY so sorry I certainly did not mean to offend! I just think websites and such tend to make blanket statements like "never keep dogs and cats together" or "turkeys CAN"T be raised with chickens" you know things like that I have seen written and I think it sometimes scares people from trying something. Guess I've always had a problem with someone telling me I CAN'T do something LOL

As you said things certainly do depend on the individual and I believe it depends greatly on HOW it is done, thats all I was trying to say! Please accept my apologies if I seemed to misquote you!

You're fine, I'm not offended. Sorry that you may have felt so.

I understand your position, you're only trying to be helpful, and in general what you said does apply.

Best wishes.

 

[Penny Hen]

The conversation reminded me of a mustang mare I used to have. She was a Super Mom! None of the adult sheep DARED share her feed bucket or risk a stomping but she would let the lambs eat with her.