Raising Sheep

**starbkjrus** · 2nd February 11, 12:54 PM

Point this thread out to Jock Scot and I'm sure you'll get an ear er....eye full.

**Burly Brute** · 2nd February 11, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by starbkjrus

Point this thread out to Jock Scot and I'm sure you'll get an ear er....eye full.

Is he the resident shepherd?

**Burly Brute** · 2nd February 11, 08:29 PM

And how do I point it out to him? lol

**BoldHighlander** · 2nd February 11, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Burly Brute

And how do I point it out to him? lol

I did so for you mate!

**Jock Scot** · 3rd February 11, 02:02 AM

Originally Posted by starbkjrus

Point this thread out to Jock Scot and I'm sure you'll get an ear er....eye full.

In spite of my best efforts to ignore this thread it seems that my low profile was, well not low enough!

Well alright there was a time when I had several thousand of the wretched beasts wandering about the place looking for places to die. I fortunately had people to look after them so I had as little to do with the damn things as possible and the wee bit that I did have to do with them----the accounts----did not add to any enthusiasm that I might have had for them!

Having said that, what do you want to know?

**auld argonian** · 3rd February 11, 06:42 AM

I'm laughing quietly over Jock's comments. Bear in mind that my limited experience is with pigs, but some general principles apply to all.

It's work and takes up a lot more of your time and resources than you expect. It's never a part-time job.

I once met a fella who had a place in Michigan and had a small herd of some kind of black faced sheep and they were more of a conversation piece than anything else...he had the neighboring farmer, who had experience, on the payroll taking care of them. It got old fast and I heard that the guy sold 'em off a year into the project.

Best

AA

**Spartan Tartan** · 3rd February 11, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Well alright there was a time when I had several thousand of the wretched beasts wandering about the place looking for places to die.

Quote of the day!

**BoldHighlander** · 3rd February 11, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Well alright there was a time when I had several thousand of the wretched beasts wandering about the place looking for places to die.

Originally Posted by Spartan Tartan

Quote of the day!

Oh Lordy.....what a great chuckle to start my day off with!

Thanks! :mrgreen:

**Topsailjon** · 9th February 11, 11:37 AM

Bugbear, In my experience it is the other way round, the cattle and horses churn up the ground and sour it with their dung, encouraging weeds. Sheep on the other hand, sometimes know as "Golden hoof", crop the grass nice and short, their feet don't churn up the ground even when wet and they eat the weeds. Their dung fertilises the grass which grows lush and green. Just my experince some years ago with about 20 sheep in the back field in Hampshire, UK.

**Old Hippie** · 3rd February 11, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I had several thousand of the wretched beasts wandering about the place looking for places to die.

A good sheep'll do that.

For the OP: What do you want the sheep to do? Provide wool? Meat? Milk? Trim yer lawn? Wash yer car? Make more sheep? (Generally that takes at least one each of the requisite genders, but you'll hear a lot of people say, "I started with one sheep a few years ago.' That means something.)

If you're looking for stupid and ill-tempered animals to keep the kids on their toes, I'd suggest roosters. Hens are OK but roosters are only around for one purpose, and it ain't to get yer lazy self outta bed in the morning. OTOH sheep don't crow, but gettin' knocked on yer butt by a ram will sure enough wake you up. You learn how to deal with it. Without leaving dents in the ram.

True story from last year: We had a smallish flock eating the foliage off an acre that we have since turned into terraced gardens. The ram was a pushy little bugger who thought I was his personal bouncy toy. But he'd only charge until he hit something, so touching him on top of the head stopped him. But it got annoying.

We moved the flock in with some others after the ram had done that for which his existence was justified, and he decided to head-butt the other flock's ram. KRAK. Down and out, dead with a broken skull. The other ram shook his head at the impetuousness of youth and walked away, now in control of twice as many ewes.

You ready for that?

:ootd: