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mystang89
True BYH Addict
Yep, that's the plan anyway. Kinda a tri fold reason anyway. Milk primary, cheese, butter if possible, and meat from the rams I don't keep. The future will tell how successful this plan is.
Sheep don't understand the concept of shade
- Thread starter mystang89
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Baymule
Herd Master
Maybe because they originate from a desert country, where there isn't a lot of shade, is why they don't fully appreciate your efforts. I am sure they will acclimate to your care, shade and all, and will quickly adjust to being spoiled. 
still waiting on pictures........
still waiting on pictures........- Thread starter
- #14
mystang89
True BYH Addict
Does that 2" of wool keep them cool by keeping the heart away or make them hot by trapping the heat inside?
Sheepshape
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British sheep tend to get into the shade at the first sign of sun......there again it does come as a bit of a shock to them!
You have hit the nail on the head. Sheep fleece is clever stuff.....a great insulator and preventer of overheating. Notice how sheep have a layer of unmelted snow on the top of them after a snowstorm.....the fleece insulates against the cold. When it is hot the fleece opens up, trapping even more air which is a poor conductor of heat. This layer of air entrapped in the fleece prevents excessive heat gain. (This info. came from a Government vet). Sheep fleeces from certain types of sheep (over here, the LLeyn sheep )have ideal fleeces for making duvets. Warm in winter, cool(ish) in summer....I have one....best material I know for the purpose.
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mystang89
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That's pretty awesome to know! But that being the case - why do people shear their sheep in the spring?
misfitmorgan
Herd Master
If your sheep were sheared i wouldnt worry about them laying out in the sun, if they get to hot they will move.
Most people shear because the sheep breeds we have today dont naturally shed their fleece and have been bred for the most part to have longer, thicker fleece then "normal" merino is a good example of this. Chris and Shrek the sheep are a good example of why shearing is important to the highly engineered breeds.
Awassi is a "natural" breed so you may not have to shear them but i think that would be dependent on if they are 100% awassi and where they came from, if they are the direct offspring of a few shipped from south west asia and lived say down south or in a very hot climate while here i dont think you should need to shear. If they have been bred in the US for several generations and came from a cold state like say montana they would probably require shearing.
If they are laying in the sun and seem content no worries, if they are laying in the sun breathing fast and open mouth panting...look into shearing and or making them stay in shade during the hottest part of the day.
Most people shear because the sheep breeds we have today dont naturally shed their fleece and have been bred for the most part to have longer, thicker fleece then "normal" merino is a good example of this. Chris and Shrek the sheep are a good example of why shearing is important to the highly engineered breeds.
Awassi is a "natural" breed so you may not have to shear them but i think that would be dependent on if they are 100% awassi and where they came from, if they are the direct offspring of a few shipped from south west asia and lived say down south or in a very hot climate while here i dont think you should need to shear. If they have been bred in the US for several generations and came from a cold state like say montana they would probably require shearing.
If they are laying in the sun and seem content no worries, if they are laying in the sun breathing fast and open mouth panting...look into shearing and or making them stay in shade during the hottest part of the day.
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mystang89
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Thanks everyone.
secuono
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At that high price point, I would be putting up several shade shelters. Feed them in the shelters until they get used to them.
Put shade over the water tank, too.
Or block the barn, move food & water under the tree line.
My rams are smarter than my ewes, they quickly discovered the over hanging weeds & trees by the fence made a great spot to hang out. They hid so well I didn't even see them until they came out to graze.
I just moved my ewes back to their original pasture and they are back to being stupid. It'll take a few weeks for enough of the ewes to use the shade shelters before the rest join them.
I don't believe wool protects from the heat at all. Even my lambs get hot and pant on some bad days. All my sheep are visibly happier after shearing. The trapped air will eventually heat up.
Put shade over the water tank, too.
Or block the barn, move food & water under the tree line.
My rams are smarter than my ewes, they quickly discovered the over hanging weeds & trees by the fence made a great spot to hang out. They hid so well I didn't even see them until they came out to graze.
I just moved my ewes back to their original pasture and they are back to being stupid. It'll take a few weeks for enough of the ewes to use the shade shelters before the rest join them.
I don't believe wool protects from the heat at all. Even my lambs get hot and pant on some bad days. All my sheep are visibly happier after shearing. The trapped air will eventually heat up.
misfitmorgan
Herd Master
As i mentioned i don't think wool does anything to help with heat on the engineered sheep we have but maybe it does on natural sheep 
@Sheepshape do you have a link or something to that info on the fleece, it would be interesting to read.
@Sheepshape do you have a link or something to that info on the fleece, it would be interesting to read.
