The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: nick_sub on September 18, 2010, 12:43:43 pm
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Hi. I'm thinking of getting some sheep but was concerned about what I'd do with them when we're on holiday. Those of you who keep sheep - what do you do? Is it safe to leave them for a week or 2 in the summer if they have sufficient food and water available? I would be a bit worried about them getting caught in fences etc. Thanks.
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Hi,
You really need someone to check on them at least once a day.
Thanks
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The once a day check is a legal requirement. It can be very difficult to get away, but it is important to do so - usually a helpful neighbour will check for you and you can return the favour when they want to go away.
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Although 'the planners' will say that sheep are not a valid excuse to build a home in a field cos they dont require daily attention - I would never leave my lot for a week without looking out for them. Infact I cant imagine a holiday being a holiday if I was worrying about the poor little blighter's being safe.
Even when you do find someone to look after them, that someone you get will have to look over them with knowledge and will have to check that your water supply is still on and they still have feed and are not stuck or having problems.
When you buy into livestock that depends on you for survival its much like a owning a domestic dog or a cat - you wouldn't leave them in a house with a weeks worth of food and water in a big bowl would you? (thats not meant to be patronising just a analogy)
The thing I have found with this game is, if you want a holiday you have to plan it around your animals and friends who have time and can take over your role, its why most smallholders and farmers dont have holidays. You would never get away with leaving them for a week cos guaranteed that would be the week that old 'florence' decides to stick her head through a fence and gets stuck and starves to death and it would just be too heartbreaking for you.
Domesticated animals need humans to survive, that is unless your willing to let darwins theory take over your mindset.
Ta
Baz
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where abouts are you nic_sub? Maybe someone here would be willing to look in on them on a reciprocal basis?
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Thanks everyone for your very quick and helpful replies. I think this could be a big problem for us as we go away for weekends regularly and usually have 2 or 3 weeks away in a year. I think that would be too much to ask of a neighbour so we may have to re-think the sheep idea. I'm really pleased I asked though - thanks again.
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Hi
you could try "Animal Aunts" they are an organisation who offer animal care using local staff. You can get people to live in your home for the duration of your hol and care for all your animals or just pop by to feed the gold fish or excercise your horse. I dont know what they charge but they might just meet your needs.
Buffy
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...was going to suggest this also. It's what I do for a living but chances are you don't live anywhere near me! If you google house sitters/animal minders etc you may find someone in your local area. Unfortunately a lot only do housepets, but you may find someone who will do sheep.
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Hi Nick. Best to find out now that sheep might not work for you, than get them then end up with a welfare problem. Having recently rescued some ewes from just this situation where the owner had not done his research, it's close to my heart. So good for you that you have looked into it first. Maybe one day you will find a way :)
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I think the main issue here is finding someone who can look after sheep and who has enough experience - especially in the summer months when flystrike is rife. If someone is just checking them to make sure they are all in the field then they are not going to spot an attack of strike - the sheep will be dead before they know there's anything wrong with it. A neighbouring farmer is the best option. We ourselves only ever go on holiday for a couple of days at a time when my parents stay here to look after the stock, even then its constantly on our minds that something might happen whilst we are away. Not easy!!
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where are you located im in swindon wiltshire if you was in that area id be happy to help
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I think an older school child that is capable of babysitting should be able to observe your sheep for you. You need to spend some time training him/her so that by the time you go away they are comfortable with your sheep. If you are prepared to pay for the service you will find good carers, a vet call out fee is pretty small compared to the cost of a holiday.
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make sure they know all the signs of a ill sheep also as it can take less than an hour for a sheep to die from a poisonous plant as we found out unfortunately but maybe give them a book to read up on about welfare maybe an option
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Having checked and feed my sheep last night around 9 with all being well this morning around 7 one was caught in the fence.
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one of my girls was caught in a bramble bush the other day, i could hear her when i parked up to go and check them which is about half a mile away, i thought she had got out and seperated from the flock, but she was probably eating the blackberries, pushed in too far and got tangled up, took me a few mins to cut the thick bramble that was wrapped around her. then she was good as gold. hate to think if no one was checking each day....
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one of my girls was caught in a bramble bush the other day, i could hear her when i parked up to go and check them which is about half a mile away, i thought she had got out and seperated from the flock, but she was probably eating the blackberries, pushed in too far and got tangled up, took me a few mins to cut the thick bramble that was wrapped around her. then she was good as gold. hate to think if no one was checking each day....
that is such a common problem i got thick leather glove i grab the bramble and then cut the wool with my knife that its attached to ok may give a bold spot but who would like wounds from brambles
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They can't be left for a day - read the fly strike posts to see that.
We have a deal with a friend who will come to visit every day if we have to be away and also helps with the routine stuff. It was key in taking them on - where we are everyone knows horses but not sheep