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Barnyard Buddies:  Caring for Lambs  |
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Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 07 2009 : 5:34:31 PM
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Can someone tell me what is needed to care for lambs? I have a good size fenced in backyard. We have someone that is giving away a ffew lambs. Not sure what kind or how old they are. I just need to know if they are like goats? Do they eat anything? What do they eat? What kind of shelter do they need? Any help would be great.
Thank you
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 07 2009 : 6:15:49 PM
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Hey Deborah. I have had sheep before and know for sure they cannot have copper. So they need the plain white salt block. They are not as bad as a goat when it comes to rain so a 3 sided shelter would be good where you are. They will need shade for sure way down there. They pretty much eat pasture grass and some browse when it's available. Hay is good. I never fed mine too much grain because they were all so darn greedy they'd eat as fast as they could then choke and start gagging. I thought a few times they were actually dying. It's an awful sight when they do that. So I quit giving them grain. Grass and hay is plenty.
You need to know if they will need to be sheared or if they are hair sheep. The hair type sheep have more like a fur that sheds and they don't need to be sheared. They need their feet trimmed and they will need to be checked for worms regularly.
There are plenty of gals here that raise sheep. Hopefully they'll jump in here soon with more info for you. Good luck and have fun.
Oh. I sure hope they aren't rams. If they are I would not keep them. Or if they're young enuf have them castrated asap. Rams are BAD creatures. I had one and will NEVER have one ever again. It really hurts bad when they ram into you.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - Jul 07 2009 : 6:31:58 PM
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Kris, Thanks for the help. I will find out what kind they are this weekend. I live near Rome Ga. NW GA...are you down south?
Thanks again
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 07 2009 : 6:45:50 PM
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You are not far from me. I thought you lived farther in S. GA. No, I am up about 25 miles N. of Chattanooga. I have been to Rome plenty of times. You just get on 27 N. and get to Lafayette and turn W and there I am. Maybe about 50 miles or so. You should come to my farm gathering I think July 28. I'll know more later about it. But Cherry and Nikki from Ala. and Kelly from Tn. are all coming with their girls. I would love for you to come up, too. There's someone in Summerville, too, now. That would be great if you could come too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
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Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2009 : 4:43:58 PM
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Kris, That would be great..I would love to, but I work on Tuesdays. If it was a Monday I could come. But you have to do it on a day when all can come...I might be able to come another time. I have been to Summerville to the swap meet..(flea market) it was great.
Jami, I havent gotten the lambs yet. I was jut wondering how to care for them and to see if I would have the patience to care for them.
deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2009 : 5:06:36 PM
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I agree with the above..if they are ram lambs...get them castrated right away. It takes just a minute and will save you a world of trouble. I have had sheep (not many) for years and they are much easier in my opinion than goats. They don't "try" fences as much, don't mess with gate latches like goats do and are generally more docile. That being said..I have had smallish breeds..I don't know about big old meat breeds..they may be more difficult.
I agree..only the white salt block. The cobalt blue block is okay too..and one we use in our area... that and hay...maybe some grain for treats..but not regular feed. NO Calf manna for sure (it has copper..cows and goats, chickens and rabbits can eat it..sheep can't)
Sheep graze grass more and browse on branches less, but will still strip a fruit tree bare as far as they can reach...so protect any trees they will have contact with. I love having sheep..minimal time to care for them...and if you hang out with them quite a bit they become very friendly and sweet. Good luck! Let us know how it goes!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2009 : 6:48:16 PM
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Jenny, Thanks for the information. I will let you know what happens..I am still waiting on what has happend to the man that has them. I also am waiting on the guineas I am suppose to get in August. They are at a friends until they get big enough. Cant wait...
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 08:14:32 AM
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Deborah - instead of reinventing the wheel here, you might opt to take a look at a simple book like Storey's Guide To Raising Sheep. Library?
It would give you a nice overview of what equipment and nutrition needs sheep have. Not sure if you're thinking of just raising lambs for meat or keeping them to adults but either way a book like this would be a general guideline.
You might pop into the All Things Sheep and Goats forum topic. We've talked about a lot of stuff in the last 45 pages including lambs. All of us enjoy talking sheep. Pop in.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://cookecreeksheep.blogspot.com
http://cookecreekwool.etsy.com |
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Barnyard Buddies: Caring for Lambs |
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Caring for Lambs
