| Miniature
sheep are primarily kept as pets and for their wool, if for
no other reason. They are small enough for most anyone to
handle. Given a lot of attention, they will follow you around
the pen (like puppy dogs!) and want to be scratched and petted.
Although sheep tend to be skittish by nature, the more time
and attention you give to them the more docile and friendly
they become. You may hear people say “sheep are dumb”,
but I invite you to come and see our sheep - they are far
from ‘dumb’ !! |
| So,
You Want To Know... |
| Index: |
|
Q.
A. |
What
should I feed my sheep?
We feed a mixture of
good quality orchard/alfalfa hay every day, together with
a small amount of 4-way grain/cob w/molasses. The grain
is not a daily necessity however, but it’s relatively
inexpensive and they LOVE it, so we give them a scoop each
day. If you have open grazing pastures they would do well
also as sheep are natural ‘grazers’. They could
also be fed typical grass hays such as timothy or meadow
mix. And don’t forget clean, fresh water each day!
They also require a mineral supplement which we offer as
loose, free choice minerals at all times. Some manufacturers
have a sheep mineral block available. The important thing
to look for here is that the minerals not contain any additional
copper as too much copper is toxic to sheep. Generally minerals
specifically made for sheep are the safest way to go.
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Q.
A. |
How
often do they need shearing?
Most sheep need
shearing once a year, typically in the spring when the weather
warms up and winter snows/frosts are all gone.
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Q.
A. |
What
about worming/hoof trimming?
All sheep require
regular hoof trimming; how often depends entirely on the
individual sheep and the environment in which he/she lives.
Some will have hooves that need trimming every 6-8 weeks;
others every 6 months. Worming is also done on a regular
basis depending on the individual farm and the sheep’s
propensity to contract worms. Damp, humid environments with
free-range pasture grazing may tend to produce a higher
worm population than sheep kept on a dry lot, for instance.
Some farms worm every 3 months, some every 6 months, etc.
It is up to the individual shepherd to determine how often
their animal(s) may need worming.
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Q.
A. |
Can
sheep live alone?
Since sheep are
a flock animal, they really do best with at least one other
of their own kind. However, they also could be raised with
goats with relatively few problems.
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Q.
A. |
What
about vaccinations?
All healthy sheep should be given an annual vaccine shot.
The vaccine is inexpensive and readily available at most
feed stores or veterinary supply stores. Their annual vaccines
help to reduce any risk of contracting numerous diseases
sheep may be prone to get and you should consider their
annual vaccine as a necessary part of your farm’s
animal husbandry program. Newborn lambs are vaccinated before
they leave for their new homes.
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Q.
A. |
What
type of pen/barn structure do they need?
Miniature sheep
are very respectful of fencing [as long as it’s secure
with no holes!] We use 52” hog panels for our pasture
fencing and have had no problems with it. You could also
use chain-link fencing or no-climb fencing; the important
thing is to make sure it’s secure and can withstand
a bad wind storm and protection from potential predators.
Be mindful of dogs, coyotes, wolves or mountain lions in
your area! Housing structures can be anything from a 3-sided
loafing shed or barn to a full-scale enclosed barn. They
do need an area to get out of bad weather elements including
wind, rain, snow and the hot summer sun.
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