Sheep VS. Goats...how hard are they?

[EggsForIHOP]

So...I'm just really thinking on this at this point - no set plans, no good ideas even...BUT...

For those that have both or have had both...could you give me a comparison in how hard or easy sheep are when you are already used to goats?

I mean, the goats keep me on my toes There's kids, and milking, and medical stuff...I actually love the goats! But in the next few years, if we took on a small little bit of "sheep responsibility", how would that compare to what i put in with the goats? Easier? Harder?

For now I lurk and learn...it's just a thought...but I'd love some ideas on how they compare so I can have a grip on what I would be adding to my typical day/week/month etc....

Just wondering what other's thoughts are on the 2 when you line them up side by side and compare dietary needs, medical needs, time spent, etc...

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Sheep are so easy! Unless you get a very flighty breed, they're easy to contain. Some people think they're "boring' compared to goats, but I prefer my sheep over my goats. I love them both, but if I could only keep one I'd definitely keep the sheep!

 

[20kidsonhill]

As far as meat goats compared to meat sheep, Sheep are overall easier, except for shearing. That is a big job. Sheep don't have nearly the personality as goats, which can be a good thing, when it comes to trying to keep them fenced in. However there are certain breeds of sheep that are very flighty. I don't care to ever work with cheviots again. We really enjoy our hampshire suffolk crosses that our kids show.

My husband tended to a herd of 40 ewe lambs when he was a kid for several years. And he hates sheep. And he doesn't want anything to do with them as an adult. He prefers the goats.

 

[Erins Little Farm]

Sheep! They are so sweet and they aren't too much work!

 

[Roll farms]

Goats over sheep any day here....but I like the goat's personalities....and I hate shearing.

 

[Bossroo]

Hands down... hair sheep ( sheds wool) such as the Dorper, are far easier to keep than any goat. They also tend to browse similar to goats for better utilisation of pasture grases, forbs, shrubs, weeds, etc. for increased meat production over wool breeds. Their lambs take care of the milking. Also, since they are out of season breeders, they will produce 3 lamb crops in 2 years, which means more profit to you.

 

[EggsForIHOP]

So...sheep are easier to fence in?

They don't keep you up at night for weeks on end waiting for babies?

No personality huh? Really? Even the "meat" type critters here have some personality...No much with sheep eh?

There are flighty and non-flighty breeds?

Does anyone know any good breeders in Texas - specifically closer to Houston or Waco? (I'm kinda in an odd spot)...

I'm hoping to find a good "mentor" somewhere along the way...I HAD a REALLY good mentor on the goat side of things, but she passed away a while back...so I've been "winging it" and reading more and researching as time goes on...I'd like to find some one like her...but with sheep...before I ever get started...without her I wouldn't have the goats...

Sorry...I have a MILLION questions....just wondering...

 

[SheepGirl]

So...sheep are easier to fence in?

They don't keep you up at night for weeks on end waiting for babies?

No personality huh? Really? Even the "meat" type critters here have some personality...No much with sheep eh?

There are flighty and non-flighty breeds?

Does anyone know any good breeders in Texas - specifically closer to Houston or Waco? (I'm kinda in an odd spot)...

I'm hoping to find a good "mentor" somewhere along the way...I HAD a REALLY good mentor on the goat side of things, but she passed away a while back...so I've been "winging it" and reading more and researching as time goes on...I'd like to find some one like her...but with sheep...before I ever get started...without her I wouldn't have the goats...

Sorry...I have a MILLION questions....just wondering...

Our fence is woven wire with one barbed wire strand at the top. It keeps the sheep in. My ram on the other hand...we have a fence gate for the ram pasture, and I guess the gate wasn't tied tightly enough one day so he went through/under the bottom of it and bred his mother. We also have five-board fencing near where the barns are and they seem to be contained by that. (But lambs sometimes go through it to get the fresh grass outside the "sheep area.")

I wouldn't really say they have a personality. For me, they're friendly or they're not; shy or outgoing (kind of goes with friendly-ness); passive or aggressive; gentle/calm or high strung; etc. I mean, I love my sheep, but I wouldn't say they have "defined" personalities, at least, not like a dog or a cat.

There ARE flighty and non-flighty breeds. I have heard that (but have no experience with) Blackbellies are notoriously flighty and don't like much human contact. Usually wooled breeds are more "domesticated" and not as flighty. But my wooled sheep, they are pretty wild right now because they aren't getting any grain (except for my ewe who I think is now bred). My wether, though, he always comes up to me in the pasture to see what I have for him. After he sees I either don't have anything or he ate all of what I had for him, he walks away and doesn't want to be near me anymore. (He was supplemented with a bottle as a lamb.)

Don't know anyone in Texas, sorry. As for mentors, the best one you can get is the one where you get your sheep from, because they are familiar with their genetics, potential health problems, etc.

 

[bonbean01]

I totally love my hair sheep...Dorper/Kahtadin crosses, and I protest!!! Each and every one of them has their own personality, own call...and they are a total delight I know who is calling before I even see them. Very friendly and the lamb babies bouncing around out there are so much fun to watch.

I've never had goats, but our neighbour does and as cute as they are...I'm happy we went with these sheep

 

[Beekissed]

I totally love my hair sheep...Dorper/Kahtadin crosses, and I protest!!! Each and every one of them has their own personality, own call...and they are a total delight I know who is calling before I even see them. Very friendly and the lamb babies bouncing around out there are so much fun to watch.

I've never had goats, but our neighbour does and as cute as they are...I'm happy we went with these sheep

X 10. My sisters had goats while I was growing up and I used to help with them...give me hair sheep over goats any day of the week and twice on Sundays!

Sweet, quirky, loyal to the shepherd and not necessarily to just the "food bringer", stay fenced easily, thrive on very little intervention or special diets, supplements or feed rations...pasture, hay, monitoring for worms and a yearly hoof check and trim was all mine needed. Lambed like a dream, mothered up well, healthy as horses.

The issue of wool is easily overcome by having hair breeds. Katahdins(the lovers of the hair breeds) are docile, sweet and easy to manage, St. Croix are a little more independent but also have more mischievous personalities than the Kats. They stay fat on hay and grass, so feed is cheaper.

If you have to worry about the minerals, just give sea kelp meal and coarse salt. My gals thrived on it and loved it but didn't eat it in one gulp like they did with a goat/sheep block.

And...if you want, you can milk them also. My Kat would stand and let me milk her as a young, first time mother and didn't seem to care. She was milky and didn't need extra grains to maintain good milk production.