SHEEP?

[Welshman]

I have a bit of a unique opportunity and need some advice about keeping sheep. A local animal rescue operation that we are familiar with has taken possession of a number of sheep that have been badly neglected for at least a couple of years. We can "foster" some of these animals and/or "adopt" them at a later date. All of their health issues as a result of the neglect have been resolved. While we have talked about keeping some livestock for a few years, we haven't found the right situation for us. I think this may be it.

We have a four acre fenced pasture, adjacent to a 30 x 30 fenced paddock at the back of our barn (the previous owner had horses). The "fostering" would be for 5 sheep, 2 males, 3 females, ranging in age from 1 to 5 years old.

My questions specifically relate to shelter for the sheep, and their behavior In the back of my barn there are two 10 x 10 stalls, across the aisle from each other, that currently are open - no gates - that I plan on using for the sheep. I can close off the "aisle" to isolate these two stalls. Do sheep need to come in at night, and will they come in on their own, or am I looking at an evening roundup? The rescue operation has suggested that I leave the barn door open so they may come and go as they please, but I've got equipment storage in the barn and prefer to keep it locked. We live in northeastern Ohio, and the winters can get pretty bad at times.

I have other questions, but this is the most important right now.

Thanks.

 

[seymojo536]

Any idea what breed of sheep they are? We raise Shetlands here in central Ohio and they have a nice barn but prefer to sleep outside. Even in the middle of last winter, I would go out and see these mounds of snow in the pasture. Which would then stand up and start grazing. Now some wind and/or rain and they want to huddle inside.

 

[Tor Arne]

The sheep just need a dry place to shelter for rains and Wind and will do so by themself if they have the opportunity. I do not know how the climate is where you live, but I live near the Arctic Circle and the sheep here go outside all year as long as they can seek shelter from the weather and find shade for the sun. Whether you take them in at night is up to you. In theory it holds with a shed with three walls
I would investigate whether the local laws say nothing about the requirements for sheep farming
The sheep that go out all year just gets it wool clipped in the spring.

 

[Welshman]

Thank you both for the replies. I'm not sure what breeds they are - I asked but they just said they were "mixed" breeds although one of them is a "hair" sheep.
seymojo536: Do I take it then that yours are able to go in and out as they please?

 

[mikehaugen]

Could you build another wall within you barn to isolate the stalls from the rest to enable you to secure it?

 

[Citydude]

Thank you both for the replies. I'm not sure what breeds they are - I asked but they just said they were "mixed" breeds although one of them is a "hair" sheep.
seymojo536: Do I take it then that yours are able to go in and out as they please?

My grandfather raised sheep in Northeast Wyoming. He provided shelter however the sheep dictated when they would seek it.

By the way, it's admirable your taking them in. :thumbsup:

 

[rockinmywaypa]

As you raise sheep you'll learn that there is lots to learn yet. When I started out I trained a dog to do the rounding up and bring the sheep to the barnyard each night, then as time went on the sheep just came to the barn in the evening on their own, as each generation replaced an older one they would learn from the leaders to come in. One thing that came out of this was some of the wormiest sheep you've ever seen. So I wormed them and worried about resistance.. Now they are rotated through one or two acre paddocks that they can't leave, after a couple days they are moved to an adjacent square. I have water wagons that follow them and use a forage wagon to provide some shade. As they move along they leave those worm eggs behind and are less likely to get reinfected with another cycle of worm burden so the wormers are needed a lot less. The pastures are in a whole lot better condition too since they eat off everything and regrowth is more even and more plants that I want instead of plants the sheep don't eat until last. And I still have a lot to learn.

 

[Welshman]

Thanks again for the replies. Mikehaugen: I just came back from the barn and think what I want to do is sink a couple of pieces of pipe that I can put in some slightly smaller pipe into and create a "moveable" section of barrier to create one larger stall. This would allow me to have access through the barn even with the stall in place. I'm reluctant to do much permanent construction at this point as I don't know yet how long this endeavor might last.

There is no doubt in my mind that this will be a learning experience, and I'm looking forward to it.

Citydude: Thanks. I've seen pictures of these sheep when they were taken in. Horrible! Hooves over a foot long and curled up - they could hardly walk.

Does anyone know what a reasonable size stall would be for five sheep? Would 10' x 14' be enough?

 

[seymojo536]

Thank you both for the replies. I'm not sure what breeds they are - I asked but they just said they were "mixed" breeds although one of them is a "hair" sheep.
seymojo536: Do I take it then that yours are able to go in and out as they please?

Yep, they have the run of the pasture. One thing you want to do is train them to come in the barn for treats or feeding. That way you can pen them up if they need attention.

 

[Welshman]

Yep, they have the run of the pasture. One thing you want to do is train them to come in the barn for treats or feeding. That way you can pen them up if they need attention.

But are they able to get in and out of your barn on their own? What treats do you use? There is definitely going to need to be some training - them and me.