Post by Dog Moved On on May 27, 2010 18:17:07 GMT -5
There are rules for sheep.
A lot of them are obvious. They need food (alfalfa and alfalfa mixes are good, go for something stemmier if they're bloat prone, corn is good during late pregnancy and early lactation), water (clean please!), company (at least three to a flock), protection, regular shearing.
Some are finer. For example, not giving them copper. Copper kills them. Make sure the mineral block has no copper. And know your poisonous plants - lupine and sheep's laurel and oak and any other number of plants will kill them. Fencing! Barbed wire fencing isn't as dangerous for them as it is for other animals, thick wool and all, but it can badly injured recently sheared sheep or lambs; not to mention cut up wool-free areas like the face and legs.
And some should be obvious but for whatever reason aren't. Don't pet a sheep between the eyes or on top of the head - that's like letting a dog hump your leg, it encourages butting and aggressive behavior. Likewise don't let a lamb butt you, no matter how cute it is now it won't be cute when the lamb becomes a 150-300 lb sheep.
Today I re-learned for the 100th time one of the "should be obvious but isn't" rules. Unless you are a border collie, it never makes sense to try to outrun, outmaneuver or overpower sheep on pasture. A bucket of grain will always work better than running around like a daft fool, and your sheep will like you more for it. This is especially true if your sheep are already prone to following you around for chin rubs.
-_- I am worthlessly sweaty right now, and feeling very dense.
A lot of them are obvious. They need food (alfalfa and alfalfa mixes are good, go for something stemmier if they're bloat prone, corn is good during late pregnancy and early lactation), water (clean please!), company (at least three to a flock), protection, regular shearing.
Some are finer. For example, not giving them copper. Copper kills them. Make sure the mineral block has no copper. And know your poisonous plants - lupine and sheep's laurel and oak and any other number of plants will kill them. Fencing! Barbed wire fencing isn't as dangerous for them as it is for other animals, thick wool and all, but it can badly injured recently sheared sheep or lambs; not to mention cut up wool-free areas like the face and legs.
And some should be obvious but for whatever reason aren't. Don't pet a sheep between the eyes or on top of the head - that's like letting a dog hump your leg, it encourages butting and aggressive behavior. Likewise don't let a lamb butt you, no matter how cute it is now it won't be cute when the lamb becomes a 150-300 lb sheep.
Today I re-learned for the 100th time one of the "should be obvious but isn't" rules. Unless you are a border collie, it never makes sense to try to outrun, outmaneuver or overpower sheep on pasture. A bucket of grain will always work better than running around like a daft fool, and your sheep will like you more for it. This is especially true if your sheep are already prone to following you around for chin rubs.
-_- I am worthlessly sweaty right now, and feeling very dense.
