Sheep

J

Justfreda

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3 October 2008
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Im after a bit of information on sheep lol, I am contemplating getting some to put on my grass but have no idea of how to care for them and what I will need to provide, also how many sheep per acre do you think is required.

Can they graze happily in the same field as the horses? Do they need any shelter or feed apart from the grass? and what kind of care will they need *laughs out loud* I have no idea!!!

Please HELP!!!!

Thanks
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Our horses graze with the sheep & they seem to stay out of the way of each other. Our sheep just have hedges & trees for shelter. As for feeding them, ours get fed in the winter & they have breeding ewe rolls & sugarbeet pellets & hay.
There feet will need trimming occasionally & they will need drenching & dipping to stop scab & blowfly. Thats about all I know OH is a farmer. Hope that helps abit!
 
I have one and she is about 12 now.
She has her feet trimmed every 14 weeks, she is sheared once a year and has her back end sheared whenever it gets messy to make sure she doesnt get fly blow.
She has a shelter and will eat a large haynet of hay a day if you give her it!
Dont be fooled into thinking they will eat the rubbish grass your horses wont eat as mine wont, she has the best grass and can get to any paddock she wants as she goes under the electric fences!
If she gets onto the yard she makes a right mess as she will poo anywhere and it sticks like the best superglue to the concrete if trodden on!
As lovely as they are when they are lambs (bottle fed mine as she was an orphan) they do need looking after.
Mine is on her last legs now as she isnt as mobile as she was and I am hoping that she will just die one day peacefully in her sleep so I dont have to make the decision to have her pts as I know she will struggle like mad as she does when she has her feet done which I dont want as my last memory of her.
 
that's what i thought, i was told that any cloven-hoofed animal now needs DEFRA permits etc etc. that's why i haven't got any sheep, too much hassle imho!
i think you're probably better asking a local sheep farmer to lend you a few, then they are still his responsibility. sheep are always looking for new and interesting ways to kill themselves, ime.
just be aware that some horses really do not tolerate them and will kill them, they need careful watching in the first few days.
 
My friend had two lambs given to her meant to be for the freezer!! some hope 14 years later they are treated like royalty have their own shelters made come in every morning to listen to Wogan.!!!! Eat horse food in preference to sheep food and polos!
 
Hiya! I'm just starting out with my dad. We pick up our small flock on Sunday. We have decided on Jacob sheep as they are a rare breed and we find them quite pretty! We started by doing a bit of research on the net and then contacting the breed society. If you are just looking for some lawn mowers then you can pick up commercial bred sheep quite easily from farms/farm parks. I have noticed quite few older sheep for sale on freeads recently. You need a Defra holding number to keep sheep. (See Defra website for info). You don't need to own the land to register (we rent ours). There are strict laws about moving sheep, hence why you need to be registered! . They do prefer shorter grass (so I have been told) but can cope with natural shelter. Obviously need a water supply and ours will be fed pellets/mix. They mix well with horses, but need to be regularly wormed/treated for parasites etc. Oh and feet regularly trimmed. They will also need to be sheared. I'm going to a local agricultural college to learn this.
http://www.selfsufficientish.com/sheep.htm This is quite good beginners info.
Good luck and hope you find some nice ones
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Yes if you want to keep sheep on your land infact any farm animal I think apart from equines you need a small holding number from DEFRA. Also if you want to borrow some from a local farmer to tidy up the paddock you still need a small holding number
 
It doesn't cost anything for a holding number though, not really a hassle and ours have improved the pasture so much it has been worth the extra care they need.
Here are our latest additions to the flock

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QR
Right,
you need a holding number from DEFRA, the State Vet service registration and then you are ready to go. If you graze sheep alone, it's 6 ewes with their offspring per acre - that makes 1 grazing unit, horse is 1 grazing unit, pony is 0.6 unit, you should have 1 unit per acre of grazing on your land, if you have more than that, you will need to feed in winter.
They can eat sheep nuts and sugar beet (dry or soaked) but you mustn't allow them any horse feed as it contains high level of copper and can be lethal.
They need feet trimmed, but it is easy and you can do it yourself, they need shearing once a year beginning in their second year, they need worming and spraying for fly strike etc. You should also consider vaccinating for Blue tongue.
If I forgot anything, you can always ask.
 
The previous posts have all given really good advice but I would like to add my two pence !!

I have five sheep they are 1 1/2 years old and they are like the Mafia !!
Dont let them eat horses feed !! I cant stop mine they run in to the fields stick their heads in the tub and present the horses with five bottoms in a perfect circle !! Poor bloody horses dont know what to do with bottoms and the sheep are happily eating the feed unaware of the confusion they are putting my horses in, they have sniffed, nibbled and leant on them but the sheep, ha they are oblivious.
I now have to do sheep dog duties and hold them at bay till the horses have finished, what a nightmare to have such wet horses that cant keep 5 wooly little beasts away !
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Just beware some horses look on sheep as a fluffy toys - we have had 3 killed over the years and a few injuries from horses getting too rough. They also like to die or go lame at the drop of a hat and you can guarantee it will be a different foot everyday!!!
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Mine cost more than my horses to keep and time wise required alot of looking after, also the myth that they eat ragwort is true but they normally don't live long enough to show liver disease signs, but if you keep them as pets they will do eventually. It is easier and cheaper to top the pasture regularly than have sheep!!!
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Sheep are very inventive in finding new ways to die.But they do do wonders for grazing.Also,since you will spend a lot of time trying to recapture them when they escape,they will do wonders for your fitness(though not your sanity)
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Don't think you need a holding no to borrow sheep. That's up to the farmer to get licenses etc to send to and from grass keep not he landowner.
(Prepares to be shot down in flames!)
 
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