The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: rockstar on February 13, 2012, 07:43:02 pm

Title: what do you suggest?
Post by: rockstar on February 13, 2012, 07:43:02 pm: i have just over a acre and iwant some sheep to keep grass down through the summer.i dont think im ready for full on approach with lambing, shearing this year ,any suggestions please :thumbsup:
Title: Re: what do you suggest?
Post by: jaykay on February 13, 2012, 07:48:54 pm: Well, if you got some tup or wether lambs, they wouldn't need shearing this year, they could go to the butchers in autumn and you'd get some experience of keeping sheep and decide if you like it or not.

You would need to divide up your acre, so that you could rotate the sheep around, moving them every week helps avoid worms. 4 sections. 2-6 lambs would be enough, depends a bit on breed and therefore size, and also what your grass is like.
Title: Re: what do you suggest?
Post by: bazzais on February 14, 2012, 02:12:48 am: If you divide your land your may have enough for 4 sheep or so as jaykay said :)

You cant really use sheep as a 'lawnmower' for your whole acre all year.

Baz
Title: Re: what do you suggest?
Post by: bazzais on February 14, 2012, 02:13:28 am: Lawnmowers are cheaper ;)
Title: Re: what do you suggest?
Post by: Bangbang on February 14, 2012, 05:37:47 am: We tried a ride on mower for one of our paddocks - first time its fun - after that it became a pain - as we found
our time could be better spent on other things

We now have a small flock of shetlands and never looked back.
Note - pygmy goats are useless! my german shepherd eats more grass

:) :goat:
Title: Re: what do you suggest?
Post by: jaykay on February 14, 2012, 05:44:15 am: Yeh, goats are no good, they eat trees, washing and gates but not grass :D
Title: Re: what do you suggest?
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on February 14, 2012, 07:26:28 am: If you dont have moany neighbours and dont mind a bit of honking then the best lawnmowers are a couple of geese (dont overstock cos then you get the mess with their droppings but at the right stocking level they do a perfect job). Do need shutting up at night tho.
Title: Re: what do you suggest?
Post by: Remy on February 14, 2012, 09:07:46 am: Do you have any farmer neighbours who could lend you some sheep for the summer? that way you won't have the responsibility of all the sheep maintenance and you could then decide whether or not you wanted your own. It's what I intended to do until a friend asked me if I wanted any cade lambs ..... ::)
Title: Re: what do you suggest?
Post by: SteveHants on February 14, 2012, 03:33:41 pm: Get someone to chuck a few sheep on and see how it goes. I would suggest with one acre they would have to be pretty close, or owe you a favour....