Anyone have sheep? I have questions...

amysflock

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He/she is polled, large, and has a white face with some gray. I'm trying to remember what the ears looked like and if they had dark hair in them...it's so dirty and matted, and it's back end is a disaster, so trying to see where it urinates from is impossible. (Plus I have to reach across our five foot shared barbed wire/hog wire fence to access it all.) I think it had wool-less legs, definitely the lower legs, but the body is so long and matted that I can't tell if the thighs have wool or are just covered by the body wool. There is wool on the forehead, though, which seem to narrow down my choices. I was thinking maybe one of the Longwools, a Dorset, Cotswold or Montadale.

Looks like the neighbor who told me about the sheep's owner is home, so I'll see if she has any more info about where he is. I think there's another neighbor who knows more, but I don't know that guy well and he always has the gate across his short driveway closed which seems unfriendly to me...I don't exactly want to walk on up to his front door.
 

m.holloway

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Hey lets use ESP and smack that person in the head for doing that!!! :rant
 

hollybird

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i don't know about the lender being owners of the sheep because it's on the property because livestock sometimes fall into different laws than other personal property. i know if it wanders onto your property you can file a lost animal with the local police and i will be yours if unclaimed in the time frame. best to ask the local humane society. never had much luck getting police interested in animal problems. sheep aren't hard to raise. we have had them for years and they are less disease prone than goats. they need worming,shearing, food and usually a wind break or small shelter. they will wear out their teeth and eventually go blind. this could be somewhere in the 12-16 range though. will take a while but you can cut their wool by hand. any other questions just ask. :)
 

amysflock

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I heard from the neighbor's husband that some other neighbors are feeding and watering the sheep, as evidenced by the foot tracks through the gate in the snow we had. Now that the snow is melting the sheep has been out grazing more (and talking more) and seems ok.

Since I'll be laid off I'm going to offer to help feed/water the sheep, too, to lift some of the burdon off. After much more discussion with DH and my uncle (who used to raise sheep), we're just not equipped to adopt it full time, at least for now.

Thanks!
 

Farmer Kitty

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At least you are doing what you can for it's care. Hopefully, someone will be able to give it a good home.
 

1sherman

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Hello. I feel for you and the sheep. I have about 20 head (down from 40 last year) Anyway FIRST....check to see if it is a RAM...still need to save it but need to be a bit more careful. I have two rams. One was really a sweetie till some day workers teased him and now I have to watch my backside when out and about. I have my sheep out with cows and donkeys ..3 goats in there also.
Some of my sheep are natural sheaders and some have to be clipped. We get very hot and humid here so it can be a problem if they are not sheared around Easter. As far as feed and water, throw a bit over the fence as you are doing untill you find out the owner situation. Bank sure doesn't want a sheep I am sure. Animal Control may be helpful. Out here in sunny So. Cal. our animal control doesn't know the difference between sheep and goats SO....they are useless. If you do get it to your place, it will probably just hang out regardless of your fencing once it realizes you will feed it. They are dumb BUT NOT THAT DUMB. Free meals,....sure I'll stay here. Sheep just don't handle copper other than that, mine get hay and that's about all....I don't grain unless I know we have babies on the way.

Hope this is a bit helpful...GOOD LUCK...Keep us posted.

Wandabean
 

Bryan99705

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I've been in a somewhat similar situation. Someone dropped off a ewe in our driveway at night, we found it when the sun came up, sleep against the ram paddock. We sheared it, trimmed hooves, gave it a squirt of selenium and a squirt of minerals and quarantined it while trying to get some info on it. She was malnourished but otherwise healthy so we introduced her to the girls and she has been with us ever since. We and looking forward to some big lambs this spring and wife can't wait to see how the wool spins.

I know it's kind of off the subject but I mean to say is, Do what's right for the animal!
 

Baymule

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Reading old threads like this sure makes me wonder what ever happened to the poor sheep. ARRRGH!! People! Come back and update so our brains don't wander in eternity wondering what the outcome ever was! :\
 

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