rockdoveranch
Ridin' The Range
Here is a good Anthelmintics table. I forgot I had it saved with my sheep stuff - http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/antheltable.html
Theawesomefowl~ My Hair Sheep Journal ~ NEW LAMB PICS! YAY!
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- #12
theawesomefowl
Ridin' The Range
Thanks, rockdover!
Well, to update everyone, I called a friend who raises Icelandics and she suggested worming them with Safe-Guard. I'm going to drench them with some this week. Will let you all know how that turns out....
For now, though, they are doing wonderful! I think they're growing....I took Billy-goat for some walks last week as I plan to train him for pulling a wagon or cart. Haven't found time this week however.
The sheep continue to be rather shy; but they will come up and eat grain out of my hand, which I like. Amelia is the dominant bossy girl. Sadie just sort of stands there while Amelia pigs down the grain....
I like my electric fence. I have one 82' Poultrynet from Premier; I can use it in the winter to keep my chickens in.
However, electric fencing definitely has some cons. For one thing, it *zaps* nastily, which may not be the best thing if you are older or have very young children. It also can be a pain in the neck to set up, and you do have to have a reliable source of power i.e. a plugin or a car battery. Plus, electric fencing is a pain barrier, not a big strong physical barrier, so they can get through it if they want to.
But what I like about my fence is that it is easy to move if your pastures aren't well-defined. And a LOT less expensive than a permanent fence!!! This set up only cost me about $200 altogether. I can set it up in about 10 minutes. Getting the animals in it isn't so easy though! I pick up Amelia and Sadie usually follows me with her, bleating indignantly, into the enclosure. Then I round up the goat and toss him in too.
Well, to update everyone, I called a friend who raises Icelandics and she suggested worming them with Safe-Guard. I'm going to drench them with some this week. Will let you all know how that turns out....
For now, though, they are doing wonderful! I think they're growing....I took Billy-goat for some walks last week as I plan to train him for pulling a wagon or cart. Haven't found time this week however.
The sheep continue to be rather shy; but they will come up and eat grain out of my hand, which I like. Amelia is the dominant bossy girl. Sadie just sort of stands there while Amelia pigs down the grain....
I like my electric fence. I have one 82' Poultrynet from Premier; I can use it in the winter to keep my chickens in.
However, electric fencing definitely has some cons. For one thing, it *zaps* nastily, which may not be the best thing if you are older or have very young children. It also can be a pain in the neck to set up, and you do have to have a reliable source of power i.e. a plugin or a car battery. Plus, electric fencing is a pain barrier, not a big strong physical barrier, so they can get through it if they want to.
But what I like about my fence is that it is easy to move if your pastures aren't well-defined. And a LOT less expensive than a permanent fence!!! This set up only cost me about $200 altogether. I can set it up in about 10 minutes. Getting the animals in it isn't so easy though! I pick up Amelia and Sadie usually follows me with her, bleating indignantly, into the enclosure. Then I round up the goat and toss him in too.
Beekissed
Herd Master
Will they follow you if you carry the grain bucket into the area first? My sheep got a little wary of that strategy so I would have to actually place the grain on the ground, walk away nonchalantly and act as if I didn't notice they were sneaking into the new pasture to get the grain...and then quickly close the opening/gate!
They are very smart....don't know where folks get the idea sheep are dumb.
If you are looking for a loose mineral that both your sheep and goat can have, you might look into kelp meal and salt. The kelp meal is expensive but it lasts a very, very long time and it works well for all livestock. My sheep loved it!
I bought a 50# bag for $50 through my local feed store and used it for a cow, calves, 3-5 sheep for 3 years and still hadn't used it all. Finally gave the last bit to my mother for her roses.
Kept everyone sleek and fit....Salatin uses it for his cattle and claims he has had no more pink eye since using it.
They are very smart....don't know where folks get the idea sheep are dumb.
If you are looking for a loose mineral that both your sheep and goat can have, you might look into kelp meal and salt. The kelp meal is expensive but it lasts a very, very long time and it works well for all livestock. My sheep loved it!
I bought a 50# bag for $50 through my local feed store and used it for a cow, calves, 3-5 sheep for 3 years and still hadn't used it all. Finally gave the last bit to my mother for her roses.
Kept everyone sleek and fit....Salatin uses it for his cattle and claims he has had no more pink eye since using it.
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- #14
theawesomefowl
Ridin' The Range
I actually haven't been giving them any salt or minerals yet--and they seem okay.... am I really bad? 
They do get limited access to a salt block sometimes though. Our grass isn't phenomenal (but is a good mix: weeds, dandilions, legumes in the form of sweet clover and birds foot trefoil, and different grasses), but they are doing well on just grass and a small amount of grain every day, mostly as treats. The goat especially is looking wonderful, and I haven't seen any more tapeworm segments in the lamb's manure since worming them with Safe-Guard.
Beekissed, yes, they will now follow me with some grain in my hand!
much easier than chasing them and getting all hot and sweaty.
Hoof trimming was rather interesting to say the least....finally accomplished it since their tiny hooves were overgrown badly. The lambs will be 3 months old on June 26 (Amelia) and July 5th (Sadie).
I'm going to get them bred at the end of November if they weigh enough and are healthy; I'm thinking of trying to flush them with some BOSS and pumpkins like some of you ladies here do with your does. I also might just get them some sheep grain mix; I really want them to be healthy before they are bred, because I am REALLY hoping for twins from Sadie at least. (Her mother twinned in her first year)
Well, I do realize none of this is relavant, but I like to plan ahead! Any thoughts? I may use twinning as an eventual culling criterion some day. Any ewes who don't produce a good crop of weaned lambs will have to go!
They do get limited access to a salt block sometimes though. Our grass isn't phenomenal (but is a good mix: weeds, dandilions, legumes in the form of sweet clover and birds foot trefoil, and different grasses), but they are doing well on just grass and a small amount of grain every day, mostly as treats. The goat especially is looking wonderful, and I haven't seen any more tapeworm segments in the lamb's manure since worming them with Safe-Guard.Beekissed, yes, they will now follow me with some grain in my hand!
much easier than chasing them and getting all hot and sweaty. Hoof trimming was rather interesting to say the least....finally accomplished it since their tiny hooves were overgrown badly. The lambs will be 3 months old on June 26 (Amelia) and July 5th (Sadie).
I'm going to get them bred at the end of November if they weigh enough and are healthy; I'm thinking of trying to flush them with some BOSS and pumpkins like some of you ladies here do with your does. I also might just get them some sheep grain mix; I really want them to be healthy before they are bred, because I am REALLY hoping for twins from Sadie at least. (Her mother twinned in her first year)
Well, I do realize none of this is relavant, but I like to plan ahead! Any thoughts? I may use twinning as an eventual culling criterion some day. Any ewes who don't produce a good crop of weaned lambs will have to go!
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- #15
theawesomefowl
Ridin' The Range
...Wow, I was just looking at some old photos of the ladies, and they look so young! They are getting larger, and shedding their lamb coat. And dirtier.
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- #16
theawesomefowl
Ridin' The Range
WELL, I do believe it is time for an update.
All three ruminants are prospering. I haven't fed any hay since May; they're on grass all day and get a small amount of grain at night, when they have a salt block. Haven't wormed them since June either, and they are still looking good. Mucous membranes are still quite pink. I can't believe how big the goat is getting! He is a real pain in the neck, but mostly well behaved. He jumps the 42" fence when he gets tired of the grass inside it, and then the sheep (who prefer not to jump the fence) stand there idiotically, baaa-ing indignantly until I either let them out of the fence or pick up the (quite heavy) goat.
The girls are nearly six months old; I think they are starting to come into heat as I noticed Sadie "humping" Amelia today.
My goodness. I'll take some photos tomorrow. I now know one thing: I officially dislike Dorpers. Sadie, the half Dorper-cross, has the most ugly and irritating partially shedding coat of fur, dotted with snarly burrs. Amelia's coat shed out so neatly!
I promise some photos soon.
These sheeples are so easy when you let THEM do the work as opposed to doing it yourself. They spread their own manure on the pasture, except at night (I'd rather leave them out all night but the goat jumps out if I do), harvest their own feed via grazing and browsing, and don't require tons of daily labor, excepting moving the net fence. TIP to Sheepish Newbies: Always order the longest fence available! I ordered the shorter one and am regretting it immensely as it has to be moved so often.
All three ruminants are prospering. I haven't fed any hay since May; they're on grass all day and get a small amount of grain at night, when they have a salt block. Haven't wormed them since June either, and they are still looking good. Mucous membranes are still quite pink. I can't believe how big the goat is getting! He is a real pain in the neck, but mostly well behaved. He jumps the 42" fence when he gets tired of the grass inside it, and then the sheep (who prefer not to jump the fence) stand there idiotically, baaa-ing indignantly until I either let them out of the fence or pick up the (quite heavy) goat.
The girls are nearly six months old; I think they are starting to come into heat as I noticed Sadie "humping" Amelia today.
My goodness. I'll take some photos tomorrow. I now know one thing: I officially dislike Dorpers. Sadie, the half Dorper-cross, has the most ugly and irritating partially shedding coat of fur, dotted with snarly burrs. Amelia's coat shed out so neatly!I promise some photos soon.
These sheeples are so easy when you let THEM do the work as opposed to doing it yourself. They spread their own manure on the pasture, except at night (I'd rather leave them out all night but the goat jumps out if I do), harvest their own feed via grazing and browsing, and don't require tons of daily labor, excepting moving the net fence. TIP to Sheepish Newbies: Always order the longest fence available! I ordered the shorter one and am regretting it immensely as it has to be moved so often.
Beekissed
Herd Master
I didn't like Dorpers either! Ugly, small faces with that little wrinkle on the top of their noses, squat and short bodies, stubborn dispositions.
And now you see why I love sheep....and wouldn't give 2 cents for a goat! Stinky ol' goats!
Ugly, small faces with that little wrinkle on the top of their noses, squat and short bodies, stubborn dispositions. And now you see why I love sheep....and wouldn't give 2 cents for a goat! Stinky ol' goats!
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- #18
theawesomefowl
Ridin' The Range
Yup. Except I must say I LOVE goats and their flamboyant personalitiesBeekissed said:I didn't like Dorpers either!
And now you see why I love sheep....and wouldn't give 2 cents for a goat! Stinky ol' goats!
but they DO smell--much worse than sheep! - Thread starter
- #19
theawesomefowl
Ridin' The Range
These sheep are so picky. I put them into a fresh spot of nice grass and they eat parts of it down the first day, then they act like they are starving the next day and won't touch it. Anyone else experience this? I find I have to move the electric net quite often to avoid them not being full. I have to admit I often let them free-range.......saves me the bother of moving the fence!
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- #20
theawesomefowl
Ridin' The Range
...Does anyone have any opinions as to which breed I should cross the sheep with? I'd like to breed them their first year. This year.
