![]() Our sheep eat grass in the summer and a high quality second cut hay in the winter. What do I need to feed my new flock of sheep? ![]() You may want to read my “Living with Rams” post for more information on how we raise our rams. Are all rams aggressive? Certainly not, rams may be gentle as well, but I never turn my back on a ram. Rams can become aggressive and difficult to handle. The only time the ram goes in with the ewes is for breeding season in the fall. Our ram lives with a wether year round in different quarters from the ewes. Some people leave their ram in with their ewes year round. Rams need other rams and do not thrive when they must live alone. If you have a ram, then you also need to have a wether, a castrated ram whose sole purpose is to live with the ram. ![]() Breeding is the only reason to have a resident ram. Whether or not you bring home an intact ram is based upon your purpose in owning sheep. Here she paroles the perimeter of a new pasture. Do other farms have trouble with neighbor dogs or stray dogs harassing their livestock? Are there coyotes in your area? Here are a few blog posts about different kinds of livestock guardians. I would first find out what the predator problem is in your area before bringing home your first flock. You have several options for guard animals, should you need one. Once you narrow your focus and vision for sheep, you can begin looking discernibly at the different breeds. Some breeds are more calm and gentle than others, some make excellent dual purpose flocks allowing you to raise them for wool and meat, and others have no wool at all. There are numerous breeds of sheep and each breed has its own unique characteristics. Do you want sheep to maintain pastures? Do you want to raise them for meat or for fiber or both? Will young children help care for your flock of sheep? How many sheep should I buy? What kind of sheep should I get?īefore deciding upon what breed of sheep you want to buy, you first need to determine your purpose in owning sheep and consider who will be caring for them. You may find it helpful to talk with other shepherds in your area and compare the number of sheep they have with their total pasture acreage. This, however, depends upon the quality of the grass, and the parasite risk factors in your area. I have been told that one acre of land can support 3-5 sheep. You also need to consider how much land you have available for your new flock of sheep. Sheep feel secure and happy when living with other sheep. Sheep can be a companion animal to other livestock, like horses, alpacas, and goats, BUT sheep need other sheep and so you will need to bring more than one sheep onto your property to keep your goat company. I recommend a flock no smaller than five sheep, but have seen flocks of 4 do well. This means that they need to live with other sheep. Here are some of the typical questions new shepherds ask me. I thought I would bring this blog post, written a couple of years ago, to the forefront on tips for starting your first flock of sheep. With summer on our heels, I have had many inquiries from people wanting to add sheep to their farms or homesteads.
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