- Thread starter
- #11
Thinking about sheep
- Thread starter GLENMAR
- Start date
RemudaOne
Ridin' The Range
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2012
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Hi Glenmar, aren't I cute?? I want to go to your house so we can play 
I can even bring my friends if you'd like.
And if I HAVE to, I'll bring my stinky brother, lol!
See you soon!!!
I can even bring my friends if you'd like
.
And if I HAVE to, I'll bring my stinky brother, lol!
See you soon!!!
- Thread starter
- #13
GLENMAR
True BYH Addict
Stop it. I had lamb the other day. It was great. With mashed potatoes and asparagus. They are cute. I would love to have them.I am sure I would be a crying baby all the way to the processors. I need to work on some more fence this spring. Then THEY ARE MINE.
bonbean01
Herd Master
Kristi you devil....they are so cute I am ready to make a trip to Texas now 
And yup Glenmar...you cry all the way to the processor...you cry all the way back...you cry when you put them in your freezer...you cover those packages with a towel because you can't bear to see them...then...a few months later...delicious
Just never name the wethers destined for freezer camp...never hold them while transporting them to the processor...and you'll do great!
And yup Glenmar...you cry all the way to the processor...you cry all the way back...you cry when you put them in your freezer...you cover those packages with a towel because you can't bear to see them...then...a few months later...delicious
Just never name the wethers destined for freezer camp...never hold them while transporting them to the processor...and you'll do great!
- Thread starter
- #15
Something tells me I will have some Dorpers by this time next year. You guys are great.
bonbean01
Herd Master
Glenmar...you will love sheep...I truly can't believe how much of my life did not have sheep in it!!!! Now I can't imagine my life without sheep 
- Thread starter
- #17
GLENMAR
True BYH Addict
The main thing that I worry about is how easy it it to catch them to do hooves and things like that.
Will I need to build a pen to herd them into? I am not sure I could get them in a pen by myself. I have a 2 acre pasture for a few ewes. I can build a
separate ram pen. Everything on TV I have seen with sheep they are skiddish herd bound critters.
Will I need to build a pen to herd them into? I am not sure I could get them in a pen by myself. I have a 2 acre pasture for a few ewes. I can build a
separate ram pen. Everything on TV I have seen with sheep they are skiddish herd bound critters.
bonbean01
Herd Master
Catch them? My sheep come running when I call for them...no catching, just deciding who goes first with the hoof trimming and drenching. But then I am known around here as "woman who hugs her sheep too much"
And yep...a separate ram pen with a friend is a good idea.
And yep...a separate ram pen with a friend is a good idea.
EllieMay
Loving the herd life
Catch them???!
It's keeping them from mobbing you that will be the issue! lol
From the very beginning after you get your new sheep, feed them some treats so they'll know you have the goodies.
While I'm feeding my sheep I use the word "Cookie" so they become familiar with the word and associate it with goodies.
Now I can be anywhere in the field and just call "COOKIE" and they'll all come running!
As far as breeds go, if you want meat, the Dorper/Kat crosses are a good choice.
Dorpers will have a bit more meat and the Kats will be more docile and shed a bit better.
Also, I think a lot of folks dock the Dorpers' tails; Katahdins keep their tails.
You will enjoy your sheep no matter which you get!
Welcome to the wonderful world of SHEEP!
It's keeping them from mobbing you that will be the issue! lol
From the very beginning after you get your new sheep, feed them some treats so they'll know you have the goodies.
While I'm feeding my sheep I use the word "Cookie" so they become familiar with the word and associate it with goodies.
Now I can be anywhere in the field and just call "COOKIE" and they'll all come running!
As far as breeds go, if you want meat, the Dorper/Kat crosses are a good choice.
Dorpers will have a bit more meat and the Kats will be more docile and shed a bit better.
Also, I think a lot of folks dock the Dorpers' tails; Katahdins keep their tails.
You will enjoy your sheep no matter which you get!
Welcome to the wonderful world of SHEEP!
If you have a large flock (30-40+ ewes), it is very easy to herd them. My neighbor always made me in charge of bringing the sheep in when we had to do stuff with them. We didn't have a herding dog and I never used my neighbor's ATV to round em up so I always had to go out on foot to herd them into the barn. They knew something was up, so they wouldn't come to "come on, girls!" so I would always have to go out in the pasture and round them up and go to the barn. I was able to bring them all in over an 18 acre pasture just by walking (I didn't have to run at all) in 20 min or less. It helps a lot when you put your arm out and snap your fingers. That's the only noise I would make, too.
Smaller flocks, now, they are a lot more difficult because they tend to branch out into smaller groups and then you have the random nutheads who decide to go off by themselves Are they not listening to their instincts? They'd be the prime target for a hungry coyote! lol
Lol, anyway. Always have a catch pen, too. Oh and a shepherd's crook. Herd the sheep in there and then you have a smaller area to work in to easily catch sheep with your crook. Make it no more than 8' wide, because then it just gets too hard to get one going past you. Yes, even friendly, in-your-pocket sheep will act wild when you're trying to catch them. At least that's been my experience.
OH. And if your sheep are halter trained, NEVER let them see the halter when you're about to catch them. It makes it almost impossible!! I always have to put the halter in my back pocket or my jacket/carharrt coverall pocket and then get a small bucket of grain, let the sheep come close, grab the wool on their face or grab their leg and then quickly put the halter on. I'm never able to catch them if they see the halter first!
Smaller flocks, now, they are a lot more difficult because they tend to branch out into smaller groups and then you have the random nutheads who decide to go off by themselves
Are they not listening to their instincts? They'd be the prime target for a hungry coyote! lolLol, anyway. Always have a catch pen, too. Oh and a shepherd's crook. Herd the sheep in there and then you have a smaller area to work in to easily catch sheep with your crook. Make it no more than 8' wide, because then it just gets too hard to get one going past you. Yes, even friendly, in-your-pocket sheep will act wild when you're trying to catch them. At least that's been my experience.
OH. And if your sheep are halter trained, NEVER let them see the halter when you're about to catch them. It makes it almost impossible!! I always have to put the halter in my back pocket or my jacket/carharrt coverall pocket and then get a small bucket of grain, let the sheep come close, grab the wool on their face or grab their leg and then quickly put the halter on. I'm never able to catch them if they see the halter first!
