[andywalt]

Hi all

Ive got some new arrivals for another pocket of land I have been able to obtain, but until ive done some fencing they are in my garden tempararily and they are eating the dried leaves of our laurel tree....is that ok? is there any plants that are bad for sheep? appreciate any comments

thanks

[kanisha]

laurel is toxic and sheep love it!

[andywalt]

kanisha

toxic to them? should I remove them or are they ok to eat it?

[woollyval]

Laurel  is TOXIC!!!!!! It will poison them

[daddymatty82]

rhodadendron is a killer so say from a vet he said that 11 leaves is enough to kill a cow and our shetlands ate half a bush load and killed off half the flock  in no time. just be ready for the hunt on speed dial if they get that.

[andywalt]

s**t !!

well good job I checked, they have been here 8 hours and we put there shelter under a laurel tree, Ive just run out in the rain and dark and moved them out and put them in a penned area until the morning, so how toxic is it??? they might have eaten alot of the old leaves that are under the tree.....

[doganjo]

I think it will make them sick - this gives a fairly comprehensive list - http://www.ttlntl.co.uk/2/Health/poisonplants.htm

[andywalt]

so far so good, all look ok so far,

thats a bastard lesson to learn, hopefully they havnt eaten much of it, keep you posted

[Anke]

Anything with evergreen leaves is suspicious and most likley toxic, only exception (that I know) is ivy, which I used for both goats and sheep during the heavy snow last winter. But again not the berries.

[kanisha]

andy mine have eaten some laurel ( ask me how I know sheep love it.) despite being behind a fence at a distance the buggers will still nibble the stuff if they can so far after five years no problems but they only have very limited access I would think yours should be ok; so far i've never had problems with any of mine but i wouldn't leave them in an area where there is fallen leaves or access to browsing on the bushes. .

[andywalt]

Kanisha

We have a massive tree at least 10m high, and I put a small shelter underneath it for them, how dumb am I, anyway I will get the whole tree removed now I know....... glad I checked and thanks for answering so quickly, I just hope there not all dead tomorrow morning!!!

[kanisha]

and how are they all this morning?

[andywalt]

Kanisha

All is well, but penned up in a small area, the local tree guy is coming this afternoon to see if he can remove it quickly, its been a real pain but no deaths thankfully, sigh of relieffffffffffffffffffffff

Im also going to look at some oussants on sunday, you keep them dont you kanisha? anything I should look out for? any tips?

[kanisha]

Hi andy if you are looking for ouessants take a measure with you (I'm not kidding!)

as adults the rams should be no more than 49cm maximum height when fully grown( over three years old). my rams are all between 44cm and 46cm as adults this is because if you buy rams at the maximum height you will get a fair selection of over height lambs. my ewes average between 40 cm and ideally no more than  44cms ( ewes max height 46cms) but with a small ram i am less fussed over the ewes. .

over and above their height don't pay over the odds; many of the uk ouessants are overpriced and overrated.
they are too fine boned, fine faced and googly eyed ( no idea why the dutch favour this style. )
if you are being asked for alot of money then send me the details and I'd be happy to look over the pedigree. I've been showing at the french national shows the last four years and have also travelled to holland to see some of the dutch breeders there are some very good sheep out there but buyer beware.

[andywalt]

thanks Kanisha

I will take a measure on sunday, they are asking  £150 each for them, I dont think that is alot for the breed so maybe they are not up to scratch, her name is Jan from margate, kent if you know her at all?