Teresa & Mike CHS - Our journal

[misfitmorgan]

it varies depending on how fast they grow but we take them out to 10-14 months old. The one that @Latestarter bought was right a little over 140 pounds when we took him in.

This is kind of old but I'm catching up. Are you saying it takes 10-14 months for the hair sheep to reach 140lbs? Market lambs here mostly suffolk/cross are suppose to be 120-150lbs by approximately 6months old. I realize the diet is much different as your doing mostly pasture fed but I did not think the gain would be that different. Are hair sheep normally a smaller/slower sheep?

 

[Mike CHS]

That post was just referring to the wether that was being processed for @Latestarter . Katahdins are a bit smaller than the Dorper cross that we started with but not all that much. Ours can add almost a pound a day for the first 3 months or so but we creep feed the lambs. Ram lambs don't get but very little grain (just enough to keep them tame). After that they go on straight grass or in our case mainly hay until the grass starts growing again so a lot less gain but we aren't in a hurry to market.

I didn't monitor the weight on the one that @Latestarter got since he was being held for more of a scheduling thing for Joe so I don't know when he hit his max weight or no way of knowing how long he was at that weight. That one was 8 months old. I would have to back and check but I think his wether was 8 months old.

 

[farmerjan]

As a rule, hair sheep do gain a little slower than the "meat breeds" like suffolks... even dorpers will grow a bit more body than meat for the first few months. They are also a little bit smaller, on average except the dorpers. Most people have concentrated on them being more "rounded out" as far as gain with correctness of build, and healthiness and grass based genetics. It's like growing out commercial type cornish-rock chicks compared to "red rangers", that are designed to grow a little slower, utilize pastures a bit better, and have healthy legs to hold up the weight.

 

[Mike CHS]

We need to bring the ewes in to give CDT shots to those that will be the first to lamb soon if the weather will cooperate. It has gotten easier since we bring them in to a crowding pen and give shots on the spot. As they get their shots, we just let them out of the chute on to the "lawn" area outside the fence but leave a gate open back to the pasture. They grab some of the fresh grass on the hill and go back into the paddock on their own so we don't even bother using netting any longer.

I went in and picked up some fire ant killer this afternoon. With all the rain the ants have started building mounds all over the place. We had a ewe rolling on her back yesterday that we couldn't figure out until I saw her put her chest and belly on the ground to try and stop the biting critters.

 

[Bruce]

I went in and picked up some fire ant killer this afternoon. With all the rain the ants have started building mounds all over the place. We had a ewe rolling on her back yesterday that we couldn't figure out until I saw her put her chest and belly on the ground to try and stop the biting critters.

Dang Fahr Aints!
I never considered they would attack the livestock.

 

[Mike CHS]

We haven't used the killer that we got before but we shall find out since a neighbor raves about it.

 

[Rammy]

Poor sheep.

 

[Mike CHS]

About a month ago I was brushing out some mats on Maisy's flanks and I guess she thought I was being overly rough since ever since then whenever she sees the brush in my hand she will walk away. I'll start brushing Thor and when she decides I'm being gentle enough, she will come over and put her head under the brush to tell me I now have her permission. I brush them a couple of times a week but this seems to be her routine now.

It's on the cool side but no rain so the folks to the east coast at least one more day of nice weather.

 

[Rammy]

If you are using a slicker brush with all those little bistles on them you can accidently do whats called "brush burn". Those bristles can scratch thier skin and cause a rash. The matts might pull a little bit on her skin and thats not fun either. Its nice that she lets you know what she likes.


Pointer Sisters....

I like a man with a slow hand
I like a man with a gentle brush
I like a man who understands
And doesnt like to rush
I like a man with a light touch....

( parody a little)

 

[Mike CHS]

Some friends came over awhile ago to pick up our visiting family to take for a horse drawn wagon ride plus three of their kids were also on horse back. Maisy and Thor went nuts when they were coming down the driveway. The sheep had wandered fairly close to the fence but as the horse traffic was on their way back out both dogs ran for the sheep and pushed them toward the middle of the field and away from the fence then went and sat down between the sheep and the perceived threat. They stayed there until the 'danger' was out of sight. When the dogs went on down the fence the sheep stayed bunched up for quite a bit like they didn't know if it was safe to go back to grazing or not.