Sheep Care
If you are considering becoming a sheep owner, here is a little information on what is required for the proper care of your sheep:
Facilities:
Protection of your sheep from predators is an important consideration. These sheep are only two feet tall and require wire fencing that has openings no larger than about 3" by 3." They don't aggressively challenge the fencing but they will lean against it and also stand up on it like a goat if there is a yummy leaf or grass blade on the other side. If you plan to use electrical mesh sheep fencing, I would suggest getting the "poultry" size, as I find that the standard sheep size has openings large enough for these small sheep to fit their head through.
One of the most common predators from which they need protection can be your very own pet dog or your neighbor's dog. My own sweet-as-can-be black lab just goes crazy when it comes to my sheep. When the sheep run from a dog, his natural chase instinct will kick in, and this will be compounded if there is more than one dog. I've heard of many sad stories of sheep or other livestock being killed by neighborhood dogs.
Your sheep will also need a building in which to seek shelter from both hot and cold weather. A deep three-sided shelter would be the minimum if they had a livestock guardian dog to protect them at night. I prefer to put them in a completely closed building at night so that I can sleep in peace and know that if I hear a coyote in the distance, that my sheep are safe. It doesn't have to be a fancy barn, but it need to be dry and safe, have good ventilation, and large enough for the number of sheep to be able to move around comfortably.
Daily Chores:
At the bare minimum, the time required for me to feed and water my six sheep each day is one-half hour in the morning and one-half hour in the evening. They can not be left on their own without this daily attention to make sure their water is adequate and they are safe. I let them out into the pasture area each morning and leave the barn doors propped open so that they can go in and out during the day as they choose.
Additionally, I keep bedding in their barn such as straw or wood chips and every couple of days I completely rake this out and put in fresh material. They need fresh water each day and at night, I also give them some sheep pellets which is a treat to which they look forward.
Health Maintenance:
All of the sheep need to have their toenails trimmed on a regular basis. My pasture is pretty soft with no rocks so they typically need this done every 2-3 months.
They need to be given wormer periodically, usually twice a year. The best thing to do is to take a fecal sample in to your vet to know exactly what product is needed by your particular herd.
They also need a CD&T vaccination once a year.
Other health issues can crop up in various circumstances. I make sure to observe each sheep each morning and evening to make sure they are walking properly and don't have a limp, make sure they are behaving normally, and make sure their fecal pellets look normal. A sheep that is laying down by itself while the others are behaving as a flock can be a warning sign of illness. Of course, a lack of appetite and or diarrhea or clumpy poop (rather than pelleted) are also signs that a particular sheep may need a visit to the vet. Immediate attention to a sick sheep is important as illness can overcome them very quickly causing the sudden loss of the animal and possibly others in the herd as well.
Facilities:
Protection of your sheep from predators is an important consideration. These sheep are only two feet tall and require wire fencing that has openings no larger than about 3" by 3." They don't aggressively challenge the fencing but they will lean against it and also stand up on it like a goat if there is a yummy leaf or grass blade on the other side. If you plan to use electrical mesh sheep fencing, I would suggest getting the "poultry" size, as I find that the standard sheep size has openings large enough for these small sheep to fit their head through.
One of the most common predators from which they need protection can be your very own pet dog or your neighbor's dog. My own sweet-as-can-be black lab just goes crazy when it comes to my sheep. When the sheep run from a dog, his natural chase instinct will kick in, and this will be compounded if there is more than one dog. I've heard of many sad stories of sheep or other livestock being killed by neighborhood dogs.
Your sheep will also need a building in which to seek shelter from both hot and cold weather. A deep three-sided shelter would be the minimum if they had a livestock guardian dog to protect them at night. I prefer to put them in a completely closed building at night so that I can sleep in peace and know that if I hear a coyote in the distance, that my sheep are safe. It doesn't have to be a fancy barn, but it need to be dry and safe, have good ventilation, and large enough for the number of sheep to be able to move around comfortably.
Daily Chores:
At the bare minimum, the time required for me to feed and water my six sheep each day is one-half hour in the morning and one-half hour in the evening. They can not be left on their own without this daily attention to make sure their water is adequate and they are safe. I let them out into the pasture area each morning and leave the barn doors propped open so that they can go in and out during the day as they choose.
Additionally, I keep bedding in their barn such as straw or wood chips and every couple of days I completely rake this out and put in fresh material. They need fresh water each day and at night, I also give them some sheep pellets which is a treat to which they look forward.
Health Maintenance:
All of the sheep need to have their toenails trimmed on a regular basis. My pasture is pretty soft with no rocks so they typically need this done every 2-3 months.
They need to be given wormer periodically, usually twice a year. The best thing to do is to take a fecal sample in to your vet to know exactly what product is needed by your particular herd.
They also need a CD&T vaccination once a year.
Other health issues can crop up in various circumstances. I make sure to observe each sheep each morning and evening to make sure they are walking properly and don't have a limp, make sure they are behaving normally, and make sure their fecal pellets look normal. A sheep that is laying down by itself while the others are behaving as a flock can be a warning sign of illness. Of course, a lack of appetite and or diarrhea or clumpy poop (rather than pelleted) are also signs that a particular sheep may need a visit to the vet. Immediate attention to a sick sheep is important as illness can overcome them very quickly causing the sudden loss of the animal and possibly others in the herd as well.
