Acquiring a flock pics added page 2 don't laugh

[jenjscott]

OK, now don't you all laugh at me. Here are some poor pics, but pics none the less. The first one shows the unrelated half dorper with the hoof rot. Then there's twin black ewe and ram and another white ram, lambs

The next two are two older brown ewes.

Then an older white ewe, the friendliest of the bunch, and two younger ewes, and "one-nut" who hangs out with "hoof-rot" and is one of two out of a different ram no longer in the group.

Then another ram and wether ages unknown but young, last year's maybe, and a set of twins, ewe and ram. Last but not least is One-nut's brother, a wether I think. The two of them are quite large.

So unless anyone has a differing opinion, Hoof-rot will be slaughtered this weekend One of the wethers and the ewes will be kept. All the others will be sold or slaughtered. I think his pasture was pretty much overgrazed. He said when they started getting dirty butts he would worm them, No mention of vaccinations, and all were running together in the same pasture. He said one-nut is probably the daddy of this year's crop. He is a failed banding.

Note that several still have very heavy pads of wool on their backs. Should I do anything about it? Only a few of them are tagged. I told my DH I'm sure there is something we did right, I'm just not sure what it is! I guess we'll call this our practice herd.

 

[jhm47]

From what I can see, none of them are show quality, but with some TLC, they might turn out OK for you. Be aware that foot rot is extremely contagious, and it's likely that they are all infected.

 

[jenjscott]

Be aware that foot rot is extremely contagious, and it's likely that they are all infected.

Yep, that's one of the things we found out after moving them to out place. Out little barnyard has a chute and we plan on a zinc foot bath for them to walk through (I forget the indicated interval) and will be doing a good hoof trim on everybody within the next couple of weeks, as soon as we can both get the time at the same time to do so.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I think with the right management they'll work out fine. I wouldn't bother with the wool, it should come out on its own. I'd definitely separate the hoof rot boy right away! Foot baths definitely are a good idea, and I'd go ahead and give CD/T to everyone. It would be good to do a few fecals (or at least check eyelids using the FAMACHA method) to see if anyone is wormy.


Congrats on being a sheep owner.

 

[ksalvagno]

Sounds like a rescue more than anything. Congratulations on your new sheep!

 

[Bossroo]

Why keep a wether at all ??? ... they can't reproduce, it will compete with the producing ewes for feed, and at this stage will be much better eating than a ram would be. It has no other/ further economic value other than it's meat.

 

[jenjscott]

Why keep a wether at all ??? ... they can't reproduce, it will compete with the producing ewes for feed, and at this stage will be much better eating than a ram would be. It has no other/ further economic value other than it's meat.

Actually, its kind of a sacrificial wether, per se. He can stay with a ram off season if we decide to separate him, or he can stay with a sick ewe if we have to isolate, as it is my understanding that one sheep doesn't do well by him/herself. At this point, I don't think there will be too much competition for the food, we are not going to push capacity at this time. Am I making any any sense?

 

[Beekissed]

Yep, I'll keep my wether this year to keep my ram company while he is separate from the gals. Probably butcher him before he gets too big, though.

The sheep don't look all that bad, really. They seem fat enough except for a couple of the older ewes.

The twins may have bred with each other and the ram of this set may have also bred other ewes, so I wouldn't count on One Nut being the father of any offspring. I like their colors!

They will eventually rub off any left over wool except maybe the yearlings, seems like they don't lose their wool as well the first year.

I think you have a start, anyway, and you can cull for any problems that you see in production, conformation, illness, etc.

Good luck!!!

 

[jenjscott]

I went out today to try and get some better pictures. One of the ones I have never been able to get a good look at to see if it was a ram or wether is a ewe! I have two smaller whitish rams I was counting as one I guess. Anyway, I was looking at here and she appears to be developing a bag!

Also Mr. Hoof Rot (who is vastly improved by the way, but still in the pasture) was staying very close to a certain ewe, wrinkling his nose, and running off all the other rams. They ewe was not acting interested at that point in time. I guess I need to start keeping a calendar. I thought it was odd that he wasn't hanging with OneNut today, because they are usually together, side by side, all the time.

I'm going to try to get a better look at the possible momma to be to see if I can tell anything more about her condition. Guess I better watch that ram a little closer too, huh?

 

[ksalvagno]

Well, it sounds like you may have more sheep in the near future! Good luck!