SHEEP COATS

[Farmfresh]

Most of the sheep coats I have seen in use were for show sheep.

After their people get them washed cleaner than clean and clipped to perfection they put their coats on to keep them that way until after the show.

I allow my animals to pick where they want to be no matter the weather. I too like a run in shelter, no matter the animal.

Our ponies (POA) always stayed out in almost all weather EXCEPT freezing rain then they were in their barn. Of course Cayenne, our old pony, did not let our sheep Malcolm even get damp for his first several months with us. Any sign of rain and THAT sheep was hurried into the barn and not allowed to leave!

 

[Wildsky]

The lady I got some wool from for felting made little coats for her sheep - they sheered (sp?) them early in the spring, and now and then there were snow flurries and things like that, then all the naked sheep got a little coat to keep them warm.

 

[Wifezilla]

I will never make fun of people who buy coats for their dogs ever again.

 

[TanksHill]

My niece had sweaters she would put on her 4 h sheep. Something about keeping them clean until the wool dried.

g

 

[patandchickens]

The only reason I'd want to try coats is to keep the fleece cleaner for handspinning purposes.

Pat

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I was just looking into coats the other day. I have some that were used for club lambs, but they're too small for my adult ewes. I was interested in getting one to keep the fleece of my Romney ewe cleaner for spinning.

I've read that you don't want waterproof coats because you can have dampness issues with the fleece and it can mold. My sheep have a shelter as well, but they sometimes prefer to be out in the rain. Icelandics are very hardy and I'd find it odd that they'd need protecting from the rain. :/

 

[patandchickens]

I have read that some of the longwool breeds do have problems with the full-grown fleece parting along the back and letting in rain and causing chilling and skin problems... but I do not think Icelandics were one of those breeds.

Given my m-i-l's loooooong dissertations on the subject of how much she is not happy to be picking loads of itsy-bitsy crud out of the shetland fleeces (which is not even my FAULT, it's from when they lived with the seller, plus which nobody is MAKING her deal with the fleece, she voluntarily *wanted* it ) I am interested in exploring the sheep-coat thing to keep fleeces less contaminated. But it is too late for this year.

Pat

 

[Mick]

For sheep coats there is a useful Welsh woman who makes almost anything for livestock and pets, look up Llugwy Farm.