Hello, I was just a lurker, now made it official and joined

[Baymule]

That sounds good about the chickens. Don’t stay away so long!

 

[Sheepshape]

Crikey.....just do it. I thought about sheep 15 years ago....and about an hour later I had 3 pregnant ewes. Now I don't recommend this as a strategy. I aged 10 years in that first lambing. Steep learning curve and all that.

So now I have about 80 adult sheep and over 100 lambs from this year's lambing. Never regretted it.

Sheep are not the easiest animals to care for. They require a lot of input in order to remain fit, fat and fertile. Most have lovely personalities, though, and are a joy to keep. When compared to chickens (of which I have had about 30 for the last 15 years), they take up at least 10 times more of my day on average. I keep 'fancy' chickens, too, mainly Brahmas, which are more 'demanding' on time than brown hybrid egg layers (However, they are wonderful 'eye candy'). So..... sheep take up a lot of your time.

I've kept goats, and they took up almost as much time as the sheep. Again,I can't really fault them as farm animals.

Cows take up less time to look after.....but, given their size and strength, you need to have stronger fencing, housing and muscles.

Try a few placid, tame old ewes if you can get your hands on them. If they appeal.....then go on from there. I HATE ram lambs.....not because they are nasty, but because I'm going to have to send them to meat market....and that is something I'll never get happy with.

 

[thistlebloom]

Crikey.....just do it. I thought about sheep 15 years ago....and about an hour later I had 3 pregnant ewes. Now I don't recommend this as a strategy. I aged 10 years in that first lambing. Steep learning curve and all that.

This made me laugh!

 

[WyoLiving]

I will have fences all up and pastures laid out by the time I retire - which is only 8 years so I better get going. At retirement, I will have time to take care of more animals and enjoy them.

 

[JimLad]

Glad you came out of lurking @WyoLiving ! Welcome to the forum!

I have been lurking on Backyard Herds for a while, but have finally decided to join.
My husband and I have recently purchased a farmstead with 20+ acres and I am sure I will need your advice as we try to decide what to do with our little slice of paradise.

The former owner left 5 rabbit hutches, 2 really nice horse box stalls, and a bunch of buildings with a lot of potential. I have been thinking of meat rabbits, dual purpose chickens, a steer, possibly some sheep, and now, with the box stalls, a couple of horses. I have been thinking off and on about getting a milk cow, not sure if I want to be tied down that much.

We will need to clear an area for a garden and compost bins. Also talking about digging a pond on the property, we will need to do some research on that one before we decide to do it or not.

A huge welcome from Vancouver Island, BC.
Sounds like really exciting times around your place.

 

[Sheepshape]

which is only 8 years so I better get going

I admire your forethought. Unfortunately i don't operate like that....the thought often comes after the action. On moving to my current address and taking on the 3 pregnant and one not-pregnant ewe, I realised my sad lack of knowledge on animal husbandry. 3 weeks from lambing and not even seen a lamb born. YouTube was a life saver. I read, Googled, researched the internet,spoke to neighbours and held my breath. All went off well, and so the love affair with sheep blossomed.

I've always thought that many a good plan is crushed in the inception by over-thinking. Had I thought about what may be to come, then I probably wouldn't be living out in the sticks, hard-grafting for 20/24 hours during lambing season and fretting myself stupid about their every little 'wobble'. However.....no regrets.

I would do things sooner rather than later. If you find that sheep aren't for you,then go for plan B with plenty of time to still plan it. Sheep are not everyone's cup of tea.....time consuming, born with a death wish, and flock behaviour can be perverse and stupid (though each sheep as an individual is an intelligent animal).

Still, that's the way I would do it....but my way is not necessarily the one to be recommended.