Yeah, I'm sure I'll get some insight from the soil testing... both our pasture and the surrounding pastures are all full of it... it's invasive and very prolific.
Soil testing is being done this weekend! And I agree... we're also in an ag-heavy area, so basing our desired "carrying capacity" off the guidelines that large-scale farming operations use is definitely not the right way anyway.
I would say 80% of what grows here is foxtail grass (foxtail barley) that the sheep seem to eat just fine before it goes to seed. The previous grazier didn't rotate, so as soon as it started to come to a head the sheep ignored it. But I think if we rotate them and have them eat it down...
A couple updates here:
1. I called the USDA extension office, and the person I spoke to seemed confused by my questions about having someone out to check our pasture. But she was able to tell me that the carrying capacity for my region is 7 AU/acre?? Which seems insane to me, but I guess it...
Yes! This is actually how I had drawn out my initial plans to rotate around the shelter, but thought it might be a little silly. Looks perfect for us to keep the shelter in there 24/7 :) Thank you!
Thank you for the info! I agree a chicken tractor would be easier in some ways, but I have concerns about predator-proofing it, and still getting the weed control we need from them. We'll have a ton of grass growth as soon as it starts raining and I figured sheep would be better for eating it...
I've had a hard time finding information on rotationally grazing very small areas. We're planning to get some sheep as pets/lawnmowers for our 1.5 acre pasture. My questions are:
1. What's the easiest way to figure out the carrying capacity of pastures in my region? I've searched to the ends of...
Sorry this update is so late. I wanted to come back here and close this loop... there was a pretty terrible incident back in April that prompted us to pull the plug on any attempts to negotiate with the owner. One of the lambs (that had been declining for some time) was allowed to suffer for far...
UPDATE for everyone who has been helping with this: the landlord says the herd can be removed sometime in the next week. I have mixed feelings about it, as I said before, because I know they're not going to be cared for any better wherever he's taking them. And, of course, we will miss them...
Ohh now we're talking! (I'm a bird lady, heh). Plus I feel like chickens would be easier to rehome if we ever had to move back to the city... This is a capital idea...
100%, it's all about respect! Hunting, fishing, or farming. We are what we eat. Glad to have found a kindred spirit ❤️
Just wanted to add, also, that we are pragmatic about food animals... husband and I come from families full of farmers and hunters. We plan to raise our own meat birds. If anything, though, I believe they should be raised with the utmost care, respect, and most importantly hygiene, which is...
We'll see! I'd be pretty hesitant to commit to raising my own livestock on rented land, if we ever had to move it could put us in a tough spot. But perhaps we could help the landlord find a more responsible person willing to graze their animals here. I'll have to research how long to let the...
I definitely know about the dangers of sheep & copper toxicity (I spent a couple hours researching, more than the owner has done surely) so I am always sure to only give it to the goats! But I appreciate the information nonetheless and I do agree 100% that the hands-off approach is best...
Thankfully the landlord was really nice about our letter, and seems to be more than willing to have the owner move the animals elsewhere. It won't help them, but it will prevent the mistreatment from happening under our noses...
Now I guess we have to figure out what to do with all that space...
I bought a bag of Goat Mineral and have been giving that to the goats a few times a week for the last couple of months... I roll it up in lettuce leaves like a cigar and they love it 😂 At least trying to combat what I suspect is major mineral deficiencies in the doe. But it's a losing battle...
Thank you all for your input. Your validation is helpful, even if it's not exactly easy to hear.
We've lived here for about a year now, so considering the situation is as bad as I feared (and getting worse) I'm surprised none of the animals have died yet besides the stillborn lamb.
We have...
Hi all! Came here from BackyardChickens, as I know very little about sheep & goats and I have some questions I'm hoping some of you might be willing to help with.
My partner and I rent a house with a 1.5 acre pasture. The landlord allows a neighbor to graze his flock on our pasture (mixed...