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I have a 15x20 area between a shed and a fence on which to build dog kennels. What is the most economical and DIY-able way to create a dry, level 15 x 20' surface? On the property are several kennel panels, telephone poles, railroad ties, railroad tracks, half a pallet of cinder blocks, 1/3...

@secuono know anyone with Katahdins in VA?

Any posters here in Central Virginia with all-white Katahdin ewe lambs in the 50-lb range available? I am super bummed that the farmer 30 mins away with healthy, thick, uniform Katahdins I was excited to purchase only has wethers remaining. Bottle babies, hand-tame, pet-friendly are not what I...

Wow! I was way off with one bundle. I’ve asked the seller and a mentor and they can’t or won’t give me numbers. “Welllll, it depends…” I can’t place an order for “it depends.” You guys gave me concrete numbers. And they matched! 😆 Thank you so much!

How much hay do I need to store for winter per sheep? I have five ewe lambs that weighed 50lbs on average at six months. How much hay do I need to put up for winter in Central VA? One 21-bale bundle of small squares? Online resources are kind of all over the place based on production goals and...

In my community, BBBs have a reputation for being flighty as deer. Dorpers have a reputation for being argumentative. But at least Dorpers bring carcass size to the table. Katahdin/Dorper crosses seem to be a nice cross for some.

Most of the operations I know do not dock their hair sheep. I like the traditional aesthetic but operators in my region do not find it necessary for their katahdins.

Another vote for Katahdins here. There is a reason they are the most popular hair sheep around. If your primary goal is food, it would be cheaper to simply mow and buy a couple lambs from the market each year for your freezer rather than care for sheep year-round. Have you watched Clarkson's...

Hey @farmerjan! I am participating with NRCS/Soil & Water and they fund auto waterers. All of the herding folks I know use plain old troughs with a float since our dogs jump in the water, so I am flying blind here in selecting an auto waterer. The program kinda automatically suggests the Miraco...

What kind of waterers do you all use for your sheep and goats? I'm looking for first-hand reviews of two-ball waterers, post waterers; auto waterers that have pipe run to them. Located in VA with mild winters. I have heard concerns that sheep can't use the two-ball waterers common for cattle.

The purchase price of horses has skyrocketed during COVID, including backyard types as people had more time to spend on hobbies and many white-collar types had the same income with less expenditures. Prices may dip in a month or two for owners who don't have pasture or hay, dead of winter...

The horse market has exploded during COVID-19. Pre-COVID $3000 - 4000 horses are now commanding $8000 - $9000. I would budget at least $7,500 for the purchase price. I suggest starting by finding riding lessons near you. This will get you dialed into the local horse community where word of...

Right. That is a different scenario with a human present. OP is talking about 3 LGDs left to their own devices for a week at a time with a gravity feeder.

Wow! With multiple dogs in this scenario with gravity or timed feeders, how do you manage feeding so they each receive their individual ration? I can see younger/smaller or more timid individuals being pushed away from their food and a bossy dog hogging the feeder/s. Maybe other shepherds have...

I don't know if I would try lambing with once a week visitation. I know range sheep do fine on their own, but few of us can replicate those conditions and some losses are expected on that scale. Tasty lamb trapped in a ten acre field surrounded by 40 forested acres could ring a dinner bell...

I finally have something farmy to report on. Farm Business: I have established an LLC. That feels so adult. Learned bad news and good news from the county commissioner's office. The previous homeowners did not apply for land use. I also missed the deadline for applying for land use this year...

Go to the grocery store? No!:th😅 I hear you. It would absolutely be cheaper for me to buy the amount of meat I eat at a store. Raising my own meat animals will definitely be more expensive. My goal is to decrease my environmental impact and be more responsible for the meat I consume than buying...

@Alaskan good eye! Yes, that farm (not mine: notice the sheep-proof fencing. One day!) has a gorgeous view perched on the side of a valley. There is a quaint white church in the background. Wouldn't call it a town so much.... the church, a tack store, and farms. @Baymule hair sheep. On paper...

New owner of a ~19 acre property in Central Virginia, 30 minutes from Charlottesville. The goal is sheep for competitive sheepdog training as well as raising the kind of meat we like eat. The property is currently fenced in mostly barbed wire that contained beef cattle. A creek running along the...

I'm a first timer so I'm just getting two. Family member gets eight every year. Plan to haul them together to the processor. Ten hogs between three people ain't happening at home. I'm currently on a waitlist for our preferred butcher with an invitation to check back with them in a couple months...