So, here we go. Sheep, goats, or one of each?

[Beekissed]

I second the opinion on the Katahdins....love browse as much as goats but will keep the lawn evenly trimmed, even the edges. Keeping them on 1/4 acre may be a problem if you have frequent drought conditions, though.

They are the most easy to keep, healthiest livestock I've ever kept, not to mention sweet and funny.

 

[pardygwyn]

I'll put in another vote for Katahdins. I'm really liking what mine are doing for my yard, their hooves are tougher and healthier than the goats I used to have, and they drop lambs like that lady in Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life." LOL

My sheep and chickens all free-range together with no problems, but I could see it becoming an issue with that many animals on 1/4 acre. I've read it's best to have a quarter-acre for each sheep, though I may be remembering that wrong. Personally, I'd plan on supplementing the sheep's grazing with hay/grain, and would split the yard and set up a rotation.

 

[lasergrl]

Hmm, if you have a 1/4 acre, I think two katahdins are going to be too much once the end of july/august rolls around. I have 1/3 of an acre as my backyard (also have 3 acres fenced for the stock) and when I have sheep on it late summer they eat the lawn down to the dirt and kill it. Now its only moss and weeds, I have to totally replant this spring.
Consider 2 soays or two shetlands, since they are smaller. You are always going to have a problem with the grass because in the spring it grows so fast that they cant keep up, but in the summer it grows so slow that they kill it off. Best bet is to be able to rotate them maybe get a length of electric net to section it off. You will have to cut at least once or twice in spring to keep the grass even. You will also probably have to supplement in summer to keep them from eating it down too far.

 

[mom2jedi]

Oops! I suppose I should have said we are definitely planning on feeding them hay/grain anyway. I was mostly trying to figure out which animal would do better with supplementing their diet with grazing.

Edited for spelling...