The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: sheepnewbies on November 15, 2008, 04:16:19 pm

Title: New to Sheep
Post by: sheepnewbies on November 15, 2008, 04:16:19 pm

Hello

We have had our 4 ewes and ewe lamb for 2 weeks now - Suffolks.  They are currently grazing on about half an acre and we are just about to fence off another acre divided into two - so we can rotate three paddocks.  Does anyone know whether sheep eat daffodils as in one of the areas there are many wild ones.  If they do eat them, are they harmful to them - I know they are not good for humans!

Title: Re: New to Sheep
Post by: rustyme on November 15, 2008, 04:27:26 pm

hello SN,
            daffs are poisonous to all animals, thats all parts of the plant although the bulb is the most poisonous. They can cause abortion if taken even in relatively small amounts , and death if the bulb is eaten or, enough of the other parts of the plant . Will sheep eat them ? ..I don't know ...I have never seen them do so , but others who keep sheep will soon tell you .  Hope that helps a bit ....

cheers

Russ

Title: Re: New to Sheep
Post by: sheepnewbies on November 17, 2008, 04:39:36 pm

Thanks Russ - you rather confirmed what I had thought.......

Title: Re: New to Sheep
Post by: ballingall on November 19, 2008, 12:45:17 pm

Indeed they are poisonious, but I've never really seen sheep eating them. When we used to have orphan lambs running around the garden they never used to bother them, whereas the goat kids would try and nibble, so maybe you'd be ok.


Beth

Title: Re: New to Sheep
Post by: sheepnewbies on November 21, 2008, 02:15:16 pm

Thanks Beth - probably ought to fence that area off rather than risk it.  Bit of a pain though!
Isobel