Hello From Louisiana

[HomeOnTheRange]

Welcome @Sheepfarmer22 from the dust bowel of New Mexico!

 

[SageHill]

Welcome from So Cal.

 

[Baymule]

Never had foot rot. It’s a wonder, get lots of rain and have puddles between the crawdads mounds. When I trim feet, I spray with a Clorox solution. Trimming feet is hard on me. Going to the TexKats sheep field day in May. There is going to be a Hoof Boss demonstration. I hope they bring some to sell, I’m gonna buy one.

If you can come, there will be lots of speakers and things going on.

 

[farmerjan]

A trick for hoof rot... get them trimmed and cleaned... then you can use LA200 or LA300... take a syringe without the needle on the end. and squirt it on the bottom of their foot, where the foot rot is. We use it on cattle for foot rot and for strawberry warts and one time usually will take care of it... You don't need alot... I will use 5-10 cc on a big cow's hoof.... so 1-2 cc's would be plenty on a sheep hoof. No injections needed. We also use kopertox on feet problems...

 

[Ridgetop]

Like @FrmerJn said - I useCoppertox for any hoof problems. Seldom have any but had two lame ewes. One had a small infection in the sole of her foot. Not sure if she got a thorn or had hoof rot. Did a heavy trim job on both and used Coppertox. Both doing fine now.

I will remember the LA200-LA300 trick though.

 

[Sheepfarmer22]

I have also been using Coppertox when I notice it. Again, I will check the hoof soon and update y'all on that. If it is still bad, I will try the LA200-LA300.

 

[fuzzi]

Hello everyone. I'm the Sheep Farmer here just chilling in the bayou of Southern Louisiana. I joined to keep up with the community and learn all that I can about hair sheep. As of this posting I have one Barbados Blackbelly ram, one Katahdin ram, four Katahdin ewes, and had the first lamb Barbados/Katahdin ewe born March 12, 2025! I am excited to be imformed by the community and will post when I have any questions. If any of you have Barbados Blackbelly or Katahdin sheep, let me know and I would like to learn more from you as I am just getting started with these sheep.

My first sheep was given to me as a pet in 2022. More recently, I made a deal with a friend for a ewe and was able to obtain three others over time, one being a bottle fed. My Katahdin ram (which was given to me) is eating with the newborn ewe, but still needs a bottle sometimes. I hope to go far with these sheep. I'm willing to read large paragraphs to understand how to better manage my flock. So please give me your opinions on matters with sheep and keep in touch!

Welcome to BYH! You will learn SO MUCH here.

I am in eastern NC.

I don't have sheep, but am planning on getting a couple goats.

I have chickens. And gardens.

And I love pictures, too.

This is Martha.

 

[Blue Sky]

Awesome! Nice to meey somebody with Painted Deserts. I never see many people with them. May I ask about how much pasture land you offer to that many sheep? Do they always stay in one herd or do they sometimes scatter out? How much do you feed them if any? I'm just trying to get ideas for my growing flock. Thanks!

My sheep have access to about 30 acres, much of it floodplain. They can have excursions to another dozen acres if need be. They also have round bales. When the grass is sparse they scatter but generally they stay in a group. I’m going through about 90lbs of feed a week right now. 2 parts Allstock, 1 part sweet feed and a bit of whole corn. This feed recipe isn’t written in stone. Also my sheep average about 90 lbs, not big animals.
They are guarded by an elderly Anatolian cross and his young trainee Maremma. My main health concerns are internal parasites and coccidiosis.

 

[Ridgetop]

And if the sheep are not lasctatingI’m going through about 90lbs of feed a week right now. 2 parts Allstock, 1 part sweet feed and a bit of whole corn.

That is way too much feed for 7 sheep! They don't need any more than 1 lb per day for lactating ewes, half a lb for rams. If your ewes are not feeding lambs, not being flushed for breeding, and not in the last cuple weeks before lambing, they don't need any additional grain supplements. They do need salt and minerals for health.

Since they are on pasture and have access to hay bales you should cut the grain supplements back. Katahdins, Blackbellies and Dorpers are considered "easy keepers" needing little to no additional suppement feed unless they are lactating. Too much grain feeding can cause health problems.

For our 40+ head of ewes that were feeding lambs we only fed 40 lbs. (1 bag) of 13% Allstock daily. In the creep for the 40 lambs I only fed 5 lbs. of blended 13% Allstock, cracked corn, and 10% sweet feed for all of them. The lambs only came into the creep at night. During the day they were on grass pasture with their mothers but had access to a hay bale. The hay is Bermuda/Bahia.

The rams were on grass pasture with access to a hay bale (same type). Since we are getting them ready to breed again I give the rams 1/2 lb. of 10% sweet feed blended with corn daily. Everyone has free choice minerals and salt, and to make sure they get enough we feed a supplement tub in each pasture.

 

[Blue Sky]

That is way too much feed for 7 sheep!

Yes it is. I have 70. A zero got lost somewhere.