Icelandic Sheep Newbie

[TiinManAcres]

Hello all,
Excited to find some friends that know something about Icelandic sheep!
Decided to get three sweet rams for pets instead of horses for the first time to mow the lawn because my teenagers won’t. Now I feel like a little bo peep. I have had these guys for five months. I need to know if I can still castrate them. Also looking for best nutrition for winter time feeding. I was not able to get quality hay from my 40 acres. I saved 1 round bale from local farmer that salvages our fields for bedding hay.
I had the sheep sheared at Thanksgiving but I want to learn to do it myself.
I invested in premieres sheep fence 4×100 feet with solar electric charger. And I built a small sheep shed out of an old bunk bed. I attached skis to the bottom of the shed so I can pull it when I rotate the field weekly. I visit them daily with freshwater and “scrithes” to get my exercise and feel adoration from their loving eyes and happy wagging tails.
Currently they are housed in an old 20’x20’ chicken coop with sheep size door to small yard with access to round bale hay. I put a carpet over door that they can push through but keeps wind/rain out. I added pallets to the floor with small spacing or poops. My daily feeding regime is 1lb sheep mash, 1lb whole corn and 1cup Oates. They have free access to minerals salt and kelp. I never hear them Baaaa so I hope they’re happy. I occasionally hear them cough, but I hope this is from inhaling grain from the excitement of being fed. I clean stall and give them new bedding hey once a week. I have not dewormed them since October.
I hope I’m on the right track. Please send me some comments on Icelandic sheep and wool harvesting, if you have the time.
Thanks

 

[Baymule]

A vet can advise you on what method of castration would work best, banding or cutting. Be sure they get a tetanus TOXIOD shot, whichever method the vet uses.

Congratulations on your lovely sheep. I raise Katahdin hair sheep.

 

[Alaskan]

It is never too late to castrate. And I think they would live together more harmoniously if castrated.

It is easy to castrate lambs... but since they are so old... having the vet do it would be easier and safer.

You said you had them sheared at Thanksgiving... does that mean you are in the southern hemisphere?

How cold does it get where you are at? And is there much ventilation in their coop/stall?

They might cough from dust... ventilation is very important.

Keeping them warm isn't that important. But you do want them to stay dry, if it is cold and nasty... and they were recently sheared.