new to sheep

newton the goat

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My family and I have decided we would like to try and get a small herd of sheep. We have found a breed we like that can survive in to weather we experience most, katahdin, and have found a few breeders in our area willing to sell to us. Is there any advice you could share with me? Or any sites you would be willing to point me towards? Anything is great.
 

luvmypets

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Katahdin are primarily a meat breed. They are very stocky and come in all kinds of colors. They do not actually have wool but rather hair that they shed off in late spring.

Something no one told us when we first bought sheep was that you need to feed them loose minerals. I use Dumor Sheep mineral and buy it in 50lb bags. Also do you plan on breeding?

I suggest before your new additions home you research a lot of different things. I read tons of articles ranging from rare diseases to supplementing and diets. You can never know to much and there is always something new to learn :)
 

newton the goat

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Katahdin are primarily a meat breed. They are very stocky and come in all kinds of colors. They do not actually have wool but rather hair that they shed off in late spring.

Something no one told us when we first bought sheep was that you need to feed them loose minerals. I use Dumor Sheep mineral and buy it in 50lb bags. Also do you plan on breeding?

I suggest before your new additions home you research a lot of different things. I read tons of articles ranging from rare diseases to supplementing and diets. You can never know to much and there is always something new to learn :)

We would like to breed and eventually build up our flock. We have researched a ton on different breeds and decided on this one because it is a heartier breed and the plus is we don't have to shear them. Any minerals in specific you have found are needed the most? Or anything I should look out for on the sheep we buy?
 

luvmypets

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We would like to breed and eventually build up our flock. We have researched a ton on different breeds and decided on this one because it is a heartier breed and the plus is we don't have to shear them. Any minerals in specific you have found are needed the most? Or anything I should look out for on the sheep we buy?
The Dumor Sheep Mineral is a mixture of all the essential minerals to the sheep. I feed free-choice(available at all times) and they nibble on it as they need it.

ETA: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dumor-sheep-formula-50-lb
 

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Katahdin is a popular meat breed, as is the Dorper. I hope to pick up a small flock of Katahdins and cross them with a Dorper ram. Both are hair sheep so don't need (much) shearing. There may be some small areas that need cleaned up but not too bad from what I understand. Hope you'll post some pics when you get them!
 

newton the goat

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Katahdin is a popular meat breed, as is the Dorper. I hope to pick up a small flock of Katahdins and cross them with a Dorper ram. Both are hair sheep so don't need (much) shearing. There may be some small areas that need cleaned up but not too bad from what I understand. Hope you'll post some pics when you get them!

I will I've found two breeders who's lines have never crossed one with a ram born before new years and the other with young ewes around the same age as him. It's been suggested to me that I start with a flock that's all around the same age.we are going to see the ram Saturday and if all works out I'll post photos :weee
 

Baymule

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I have Katahdin/Dorper cross ewes and a Dorper ram. I am on my second lambing, so basically I am a newbie too. I have had no trouble selling the lambs.
 

newton the goat

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I have Katahdin/Dorper cross ewes and a Dorper ram. I am on my second lambing, so basically I am a newbie too. I have had no trouble selling the lambs.
Over here katahdin lambs are going for around 250 a peice depending on the size... even the smaller ones are going for 220... my father and I want to steadily build up a herd and potentially make some money off of them in the future, mainly I'm just here to raise them... he's the buisness one lol.
 

Baymule

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Are you going to raise them for slaughter lambs? Or are you going to raise registered stock? I would suggest "grade" lambs to start with. If you kill one or a few with ignorance or because things go all wrong, it will hurt, but it won't hurt as much as losing major $$$$ that you paid for registered stock. Way too many of us know the pain of loss, but we pick ourselves up after crying our eyes out and keep going, looking forward to the next lambs or kids or whatever we are raising.

https://www.backyardherds.com/threads/baymules-lambs-2nd-lambing.34888/

My next ram will be a registered Dorper and I plan on adding a few registered ewes too. Right now, I am happy to have my cross bred sheep to learn on. It will be hard to give up my present Dorper ram, he is a sweetheart, VERY good natured, calm and not mean at all. He butted me a few times because he wanted attention so I chased him around the pen yelling and scared the bejeebers out of him. He is being good.....so far LOL Never turn your back on a ram.
 

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