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greentree · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject: Starting with sheep

Quick Question! - We have a field thats about an acre in size and are thinking of getting some sheep for it.

What would be the best to start with? 3 or 4 lambs just weaned? How may weeks old would that be? All males/females or a mixture? Do they need feed as well as the grass?

Sorry for the newbie questions!!

Mick

Camile · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:10 pm Post subject:

Hello,

I'm not an expert because we have just the one ewe ...

then it all depends on wether you just want them for the freezer, or laming ...

we got her when she was weaned .. she was about 3 months old ... but I think they are weaned earlier than that ...

they won't need extra feed but I would let them access to brambles and edges if possible .. and they will thrive with that ..

Mine is in lactating right so she gets a bit of extras .. but just a handfull or two ..

1 acre will keep 3/4 lams for a few months .. or 2 ewes ...

if it's only for eating, a mixture is fine as they will be 2 young to reproduce ... and normally off season anyway .. but ideally they would be the same sex to avoid anything at all ...

it's easy to have someone lend you a ram usually, as they don't want them all the time with their ewes ... so you can have their ram before or after them .. depending on how late you want to lamb ...

but of course you would have to shear them ... it's time consuming but fun to do ... not so hard if there is 2 of you ...

Good luck,
Camile

greentree · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 10:21 am Post subject:

Thanks Camile. I'll let you know how we get on.

Just need to source a few lambs now.

Maybe 3 female lambs would suit us. We could breed from 2 of them and slaughter one for the table.

I assume there is loads of rules and regs around this - even if for small numbers?!

Mick

Camile · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 11:31 am Post subject:

It should be easy to source some ewe lambs .... and a good lot would be weaned by now ...

You will need a flock number for that though.

As for regulations, I think there is a recent post about that here ...

Camile

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Campile. Wexford

This is a nice idea but for the sake of your mental health and pocket. I would not get just weaned lambs but older Yews. Some full mouthed older girls would be quite self sufficient and less trouble to keep. They could be run with a local Tup later in the year to give you early spring lambs next. It depends on the state of your pasture as sheep will not thrive on long grass. It may be necessary to top the field before putting your sheep/lambs out. This is more important with lambs especially with no mum to show them the ropes. Good Luck and let us know how you are getting on.
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greentree · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject:

Thanks - This is something that we will do very slowly and gain experience as we go along. Am going to top the field this week as already the grass is starting to get long...

Mick