Crash Course in Sheep Please; I'M A SHEEP OWNER!!!

[Roving Jacobs]

Do sheep get the same CD&T vaccine as the goats? Same schedule?

Yep I do my sheep and goats at the same time with the same vaccine when I shear the whole lot of them in the spring.

 

[BHOBCFarms]

My sheep pick through and waste Alfalfa hay, eating only the leaves. I prefer to feed a grass hay because they eat almost all of it, and that saves me money. I feed COB (Corn, Oats, Barley to my pregnant & lactating ewes). I have tried to order a sheep only mineral mix from my local feedstore, if they are able to do so, I can put you in touch with the feed store if you also want to order through them. I know tractor supply carries a sheep mineral supplement, but there are none around where we live.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

This is the brand of minerals my feedstore has, will this work for the sheep? I'll have to check while I am there as I'm not sure of the exact formula.

 

[BHOBCFarms]

You don't want to use a supplement with copper in it, so minerals for goats and cattle usually are not safe for sheep. Too much copper will kill them, that's why I had my feed store order sheep minerals for my flock.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

You don't want to use a supplement with copper in it, so minerals for goats and cattle usually are not safe for sheep. Too much copper will kill them, that's why I had my feed store order sheep minerals for my flock.

What are the "Parts Per Million" I should be looking for, i.e. <35ppm, or <25ppm?

Thank you!

 

[Roving Jacobs]

You don't want to use a supplement with copper in it, so minerals for goats and cattle usually are not safe for sheep. Too much copper will kill them, that's why I had my feed store order sheep minerals for my flock.

What are the "Parts Per Million" I should be looking for, i.e. <35ppm, or <25ppm?

Thank you!

You want something that specifies "no copper added" or something that says its sheep specific. Sheep only need 7-10 ppm and that is usually provided in hay and feed. I've heard barbados sheep are less prone to copper toxicity but I'm not sure I would risk putting them on non-sheep minerals without being ready to butcher some and get liver samples tested for copper levels on occasion to be sure they're doing ok. Can you ask the current owner what minerals they're on?

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

You don't want to use a supplement with copper in it, so minerals for goats and cattle usually are not safe for sheep. Too much copper will kill them, that's why I had my feed store order sheep minerals for my flock.

What are the "Parts Per Million" I should be looking for, i.e. <35ppm, or <25ppm?

Thank you!

You want something that specifies "no copper added" or something that says its sheep specific. Sheep only need 7-10 ppm and that is usually provided in hay and feed. I've heard barbados sheep are less prone to copper toxicity but I'm not sure I would risk putting them on non-sheep minerals without being ready to butcher some and get liver samples tested for copper levels on occasion to be sure they're doing ok. Can you ask the current owner what minerals they're on?

Thanks I will check the label next time I go there. The problem is that when I was there they said they don't carry ANYTHING for sheep. I'll have to go back and ask the owner if they can special order them.

Oh also, is horse grain ok? I got a senior winter pellet for them.

I did ask the previous owner; no minerals, vaccines were a couple years ago, and their hooves are horrible. Worst part is is that they are wilder than a rabid buffalo. It was a nightmare getting them INTO the trailer at her place, and then even worse getting them OUT of the trailer and into our pen here. We did it though, finally done. We left to go get them at 10 am and finished at 11:30 last night. I feel like I got run over by a train. At least no one got hurt and I think the sheep are OK.

And at least they are here now and I can start taking care of them!

 

[purplequeenvt]

Horse grain will almost certainly contain copper. Ask if they have a no copper added stock feed. If they don't, get some cracked corn. The sheep may not need grain right now, but I think that it would help with the taming. I would think that they could order some sheep minerals.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

And here they are!!! Man, I never thought I'd be a sheep owner!!!

So far they are COMPLETELY different than my goats. Like polar opposites.

 

[promiseacres]

btw I gave my sheep small ants of horse feed for treats initially wo any issues

They look good.