The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: in the hills on March 14, 2012, 09:46:02 pm

Title: can I .....?
Post by: in the hills on March 14, 2012, 09:46:02 pm

Hi

Been digging the veg patch today. Was wondering .... can I give kale and a few remaining swedes to my sheep?

Seems a shame to waste them!!

Title: Re: can I .....?
Post by: robert waddell on March 14, 2012, 10:07:57 pm

yes :farmer:

Title: Re: can I .....?
Post by: PetiteGalette on March 14, 2012, 10:08:29 pm

I do! And they love them! Plus carrots, parsnips, swedes...........................

Title: Re: can I .....?
Post by: Bramblecot on March 15, 2012, 11:30:12 am

What's wrong with my lot then?  They won't eat any titbits, even apples, but they will browse the hedges.

Title: Re: can I .....?
Post by: HamishMcMurray on March 15, 2012, 03:52:06 pm

I tried my lot on carrots the other day but they weren't interested.

Title: Re: can I .....?
Post by: in the hills on March 15, 2012, 04:31:50 pm

Gave it a go but  they had a look and walked off in disgust!!!

Caught one in the act of nibbling a swede a bit later on but only a little nibble. Read somewhere that soay loved courgettes and considered them a treat so I tried those last year but they wouldnt even help me out with those!! Fussy things. Mind , they did steal most of the damsons.

Title: Re: can I .....?
Post by: Brucklay on March 15, 2012, 09:50:23 pm

My sheep will eat turnip - but when I put it out they give me a look of 'this isn't feed' but give it a day and it's all gone - and another one not for sheep section but discover 2 of my goats love strawberries - please don't tell me they are bad for them

Title: Re: can I .....?
Post by: SallyintNorth on March 15, 2012, 11:27:01 pm

Swedes / turnips are traditional winter sheep feed - and many in these parts are being fed them right now.  Some farmers run sheep directly on the turnip crop, some pick the turnips and feed them, some chop, some halve, some leave whole.

Ours are getting chopped fodder beet this year, and loving it.  Fodder beet is too hard for them to chomp into - in fact, even my porkers struggle with the big ones.  (Meg-pig the sow has no bother with any size of beet, and prefers them whole.)