More sheep coming next week! (was: need encouragement)

[big brown horse]

Well Pat, honestly, if I were in your shoes, I would do the same thing you are doing.

Start with good stock.

 

[dragonlaurel]

Actually it's very smart to start with healthy stock.

The "bargain animals" at auctions should be left for people who know how to tell if they are in good condition, or not.

 

[miss_thenorth]

In allhonesty, if given another chance to do it, I would probably have gotten ewe lambs too, but hubby had to rush into it. We were totally unprepared to bring home two pregnant ewes, with not having a place set up for them. and then rushing to provide adequate houseing that now needs to be rethought out. this way, the ewes will get a chance to know you first, meaning-m they will be less skttish around you, and know you as a source of food instead of a predator, you can see how the housing works out, get a 'feel' for them and then when breeding time comes around, you will be better prepared to 'know' what they will need in terms of lambing jugs, and how hard or easy they are in your pastures etc. I think it is a good choice.

I am excited for ewe !!!!!

 

[patandchickens]

I dunno, I think you seem to have gone about it in quite an effective way, miss_thenorth -- I am duly jealous of your knowing people to advise you on buying auction sheep, and frankly I would much rather buy something grown so's to have a year less of potential mortality and expenses before being able to milk the darn things!

It's just that, while I would *rather* be able to do what you did, I just don't seem to be in a good position to. (Plus, it would seem that right before Easter is NOT the cheapest time to buy lambs, doh!)

The one good thing is that this way I will basically be able to use existing facilities for a reasonable while. I can put them in the already-totally-5'-chainlink-fenced paddock attached to the chicken building, and either lead them back to the barn for overnite storage or maybe windproof one of the unused outside dog runs there (give the adjacent turkeys and chickens something to think about!). Then I can fence and build a larger pen in the barn at more leisure and with more actual knowledge of what sheep are like.

I can see this will be a topic best avoided next time I talk with my parents on the phone, though. "You spend HOW MUCH on two baby WHAT?"

Pat, shaking head in amazement at self for actually wanting to do this, given that sheep have historically been the one thing I have no particular attraction to

 

[miss_thenorth]

Not having anything ready for them was my biggest concern. It is still alot of work to get them to the milking stand in the shop, moving the electric netting around for them. Might I suggest as real shepherds crook? I really want one!!!! Premier sells them

Hubby's next days off teh permanent fence goes up, then a permanent house for them, right now it is portable too. (and much smaller than 8x10 for all 8 of them)

I really should learn how to get pics of the camera and onto the computer, then I could hsow you our pathetic set up.

 

[lupinfarm]

Pat, I hate to tell you, but hardly anyone tests for *anything* because its just so darn expensive in Canada. For a bit of perspective, I paid $150 to have my two Pygmy Does tested for CAE. A small breeder may test, but IME with talking to goat breeders (and yes, even small ones with high quality closed herds) in my area they don't test, but just tell people their herd is closed. It's unfortunate, but its also understandable considering the cost of testing. You may get lucky and find a breeder who does test, but I can tell you your costs are going to be astronomical. I looked into doelings from a dairy that tested and they were selling at around the $500 mark.

I know goats are not really the same as sheep, but the costs are not going to be any less. Jus' Sayin'.

 

[lupinfarm]

Not having anything ready for them was my biggest concern. It is still alot of work to get them to the milking stand in the shop, moving the electric netting around for them. Might I suggest as real shepherds crook? I really want one!!!! Premier sells them

Hubby's next days off teh permanent fence goes up, then a permanent house for them, right now it is portable too. (and much smaller than 8x10 for all 8 of them)

I really should learn how to get pics of the camera and onto the computer, then I could hsow you our pathetic set up.

Don't worry, I'm in the same boat LOL they were just so *available* so I had to get the goats. With no fencing. So for their first 2 months here they lived in a 10x10 dog run lol.

 

[patandchickens]

Pat, I hate to tell you, but hardly anyone tests for *anything* because its just so darn expensive

Uh, we seem to be talking about different things, lupinfarm.

Sheep do not, AFAIK, even *get* CAE.

And I am not looking for a herd where every animal is tested for everything annually ; I would just prefer to buy from a serious breeder who has had their stock tested for various Sheep Bad Things before they bought them, and maintained a totally closed herd with good biosecurity since then.

I really doubt that all these sheep breeders I've been talking to are *lying* to me about their health programs, lupinfarm

Pat

 

[Blackbird]

Now now, settle down ladies

Thankfully sheep do not get CAE, but, they can get CL and Johnes, as well as other diseases.

I think Lupin was just concerned that you might have a harder time finding animals that have been tested, as you had previously said "a lot of testing and vaccinating and suchlike"

I do agree that buying from herds that are healthy and have proven progeny is going to save you a lot of trouble in the future. Not only will you have an ideal breed for what you want, but any offspring will bring a higher amount of money, versus, say, an unknown animal at a random sal.

- Merle; who admittedly visited the salebarn today in hopes of seeing dairy goats. (I did see five big, fat, and CUTE woolly sheeples, several of which did not have their tails docked, which made them look even cuter!)

 

[lupinfarm]

Um, I didn't say that sheep could get CAE, which they can't but they CAN get other diseases which AREN'T regularly tested for. IME from ASKING around and meeting herds people don't test for things because of the incredible cost. My CAE tests for my goats cost $150, none of that changes just because the animal is not a goat. We can't get away with the $4 blood test here, it just doesn't happen, so you aren't going to find a herd or even a breeder who tests for much at all. There are very few small herd breeders, and it just seems to me you have this fanciful idea that everyone is super honest about everything to do with their animals. This is NOT the case. You need to be extremely skeptical, and in some cases its harder to judge than horses.

I'm not trying to attack you, I just saying there are very few breeders who test. They can say closed herd, but it doesn't mean their animals don't have any diseases. Its entirely possible they do.