What to expect as a new shepherd?

[ThoughtfulFox]

Thank you all for your insight.

It seems that I've spoken poorly and made myself unclear in the previous post.
I had mentioned sheep-sitting not as a remedy for a rambunctious ram, but to demonstrate just how little knowledge I have at this point. Aggie's mention of the "steer wrestling" technique was somewhere along the lines of what I was looking for, but she said that it wasn't as effective as one would hope for. Clearly overpowering is going to be necessary if this situation ever occurs again, but I'm a pretty big guy. Our ram is quite tough, but I don't know enough about sheep to know how, and how roughly, I can handle them without causing them serious injury.

SheepGirl, I really like your mention of putting your foot out to give them pause. That's really all I should need to get my hands on him without letting him get his head into me, so I'll give that a try if and when the situation arises. Also, thank you for the information about sitting causing them pain and injury when shearing. We plan to shear ours about a week from now, so that's very useful information. at a perfect time. That's precisely the sort of teaching I need right now. I assume this is true of all of our sheep, including the milk-producing mothers. They're certainly not going to be happy about being milked without having food in front of them. Just how long of a fast would you recommend?

 

[SheepGirl]

Also, thank you for the information about sitting causing them pain and injury when shearing.

Only when their stomach is full...if they're sheared on an empty stomach, there is no issue and they are completely fine.

 

[boykin2010]

May I ask where in rural Georgia you are from? I am in Valdosta about 12 miles from the Fl line. I raise katahdins and have never seen a milking sheep. If you are close by, I'd love to buy some soap to try it out.

 

[ThoughtfulFox]

Sorry to say one can't get much further from you and still be in Georgia.
I'm up near the Northwestern corner.

 

[boykin2010]

Dang-it....

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I really wouldn't recommend sticking your foot in front of a ram that is intent on butting. I know for a fact it will not stop a ram that's really being a jerk. SheepGirl must have a pretty mellow ram, because I know if I'd done that with the butthead Montadale I would've still been hit. He hit hard.

Tipping sheep for short periods of time on a full stomach isn't that dangerous, and is usually just a little more uncomfortable. Being laid flat out on their left side is more dangerous, because the rumen compresses bloodflow and the sudden rush of blood when the sheep is righted is enough to cause a blow-out in the vein or artery, and can lead to death. We lost a ewe this way, as she was trapped on her side under the wall of the shelter (somehow she laid down and her leg got stuck). We found her, righted her, and she dropped dead.

 

[ThoughtfulFox]

*blink blink* Wow. I would never have expected that. Good to know.

Just a little update from the M&H farm: Our flock is now shorn. Wow did they have a ton of wool. We had a lady with 25 years of experience in shearing come to take care of the job. She taught me quite a bit in the process, and even let me shear my first sheep. (The poor girl is sporting a bit of a mohawk down her back, now. But at least the job is done and she stays cooler. )
For the shearing we actually put all of the sheep on their sides and held them there, so had I known about the blood flow issue I would have been even more worried than I already was. But all nine of the sheep are doing fine. The lady said she has never had a problem in using this method. Aggie, what sort of sheep did you lose? Any idea how long it might have been in that position?
Our ram is looking at me in a completely different way after I wrestled him to the ground and held him there, yesterday. I don't think he was expecting that outcome.

We've made 24 lbs of soap so far, this week. Before long we'll have a website up to sell it. What are the policies here regarding advertising? May I link to the site in my signature? Mention it in relevant threads?

The advice I was given regarding the ram and how to handle him charging me: Thump him in the head with a 2x4. O_O
I don't know how comfortable I would be with that. I know they're thick-skulled, and very tough, but that just seems wrong. What are the thoughts of the herd regarding that tidbit?

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I don't have anything useful to add, but I wanted to say I enjoy reading your story!

 

[aggieterpkatie]

For the shearing we actually put all of the sheep on their sides and held them there, so had I known about the blood flow issue I would have been even more worried than I already was. But all nine of the sheep are doing fine. The lady said she has never had a problem in using this method. Aggie, what sort of sheep did you lose? Any idea how long it might have been in that position?
Our ram is looking at me in a completely different way after I wrestled him to the ground and held him there, yesterday. I don't think he was expecting that outcome.

It isn't a risk while shearing, because shearing takes a relatively short amount of time. Our ewe was down for a while I'd guess...could have been a couple of hours. She was a Suffolk.