Feeding sheep

[purplequeenvt]

Another side though of this kind of land is that I ask them to patiently wait each day while I pick 2 inch to 2 foot pcs of sticker bush from their wool...but they do, they just chew their cud and let me do my thing. ( I have been told I will put them in coats next year after I spend the whole of next summer picking debris out of their sheared wool and I believe it! ).

I had to smile at this part! My land sounds quite similar to yours, and my sheep love the forbs and briars and brushy stuff, too. And I've also spent lots of time picking stuff out of their wool. Here is an example:

http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/uploads/8771_elding1a.jpg

I've used both a stiff bristle brush and a wire slicker brush (the kind for dogs) on the sheep. IMHO the slicker brush works better. I am fortunate that Icelandics don't have a lot of lanolin, as I think this helps the vegetable matter fall out more easily when brushing. I was told 'nobody brushes sheep', but I decided I'd rather do that, than spend hours picking stuff out after they were sheared. And some of the sheep really seemed to love it!

And yes, my sheep are great at clearing out the brush, too - and as they and I keep clearing and turning this brushy semi-woods into nice pasture, I'll eventually have less to pick out of their wool. I will be glad of that, but a little sad too, because I know they love eating that stuff, and I think the variety is good for them.

The reason no one brushes sheep is because brushing the fleece destroys the natural lock structure allowing the fleece to potentially collect more debris as well as felt. Neither of which is desirable in a sheep being used for wool production.

That being said, Icelandics are probably one of the only breeds that you could brush and not damage the fleece. This is because of the long outer guard hairs. As long as you are only brushing the outer coat, you shouldn't bother the nice undercoat.

 

[norseofcourse]

The reason no one brushes sheep is because brushing the fleece destroys the natural lock structure allowing the fleece to potentially collect more debris as well as felt. Neither of which is desirable in a sheep being used for wool production.

That being said, Icelandics are probably one of the only breeds that you could brush and not damage the fleece. This is because of the long outer guard hairs. As long as you are only brushing the outer coat, you shouldn't bother the nice undercoat.

Thank you - no one ever explained the 'why' of why no one brushes sheep. I guess I'm just lucky that mine are double-coated - I will limit my brushing and be careful not to damage the undercoat.

 

[Singing Shepherd]

Well that picture of your Icelandic definitely looked familiar! And thanks for info about brushing, useful to me because I have considered trying to brush them too, thinking it would help, but I definitely won't now. Wow, what things you can learn in a helpful community!

 

[brianbeth84]

I love reading all the responses! We have limited pasture so I go through a lot of hay. We have dry lots because we have ponies that cannot be on grass so a good mix of grass/alfalfa and I feed DuMor grain with Black Oil Sunflower Feeds and some minerals.

 

[Singing Shepherd]

Norseofcourse-I was just re-reading this thread and grinning T our sheep and I had to tell you: my guys are STILL visiting the briars everyday! 6 inches of snow still on the ground, and definitely no leaves on anything but they still get down in that stuff and bring me back thorn branches to untangle from their wool! I wonder what the attraction is?