The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: firemansam on August 01, 2012, 04:48:50 pm

Title: Hello from staffordshire
Post by: firemansam on August 01, 2012, 04:48:50 pm: Hi,
just aquired a 3 acre (extremely overgrown ) paddock.
I have cleared all the way around and should start fencing next week.

I would like to start simple and was thinking of getting a few easy care sheep. I have been reading up on them on the internet and they seem like a good starter sheep.
what do you think?????
Title: Re: Hello from staffordshire
Post by: plumseverywhere on August 01, 2012, 06:33:22 pm: Hello Fireman Sam :wave:

We were in a similar position to yourself 3 years ago - nearly 4 acres of very overgrown land. We borrowed 30 jacobs (lambs and ewes) and they flattened it for us as well as grazing some ;) It was a nice introduction to sheep as they belonged to someone local but we had access to watching them and getting used to their habits, seeing what care they needed and our first introduction to flystrike.
We now own our own little flock and although they aren't neccessarily 'easy care' they have been easy to care for! ours are texel crosses (some suffolk, some wiltshire) and as they were bottle reared they are incredibly tame.
See if you can gain some experience with a sheep keeper nearby to see all it entails but maybe consider loaning some grazing out first?
Title: Re: Hello from staffordshire
Post by: little blue on August 01, 2012, 07:24:46 pm: hello and welcome from Derbyshire :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from staffordshire
Post by: Lesley Silvester on August 01, 2012, 09:29:41 pm: :wave: Hi and welcome from Shropshire
Title: Re: Hello from staffordshire
Post by: chrismahon on August 02, 2012, 07:53:19 pm: Hello and welcome from Staffordshire as well -for the next 5 weeks anyway.
Title: Re: Hello from staffordshire
Post by: Rosemary on August 02, 2012, 08:35:48 pm: Hello and welcome from Carnoustie :wave:

Don't really know about easy-care sheep.

We have Coloured Ryelands and they've been pretty easy care, I suppose. We bought the first three ewe lambs in 2007; we now have 11 females (including the original 3) to go to the tup in November plus 11 lambs (3 ewes and 8 tups), our tup and the wether that keeps him company.

They do need sheared, but I don't find them hard work, not in these numbers.
Title: Re: Hello from staffordshire
Post by: fairhaven on August 03, 2012, 09:22:12 pm: :wave: Hi

Welcome to a very addictive site ;) We're new to sheep too... Bought an orphan ram lamb a few months ago, Treated him a bit like a puppy & smacked him on the nose when overstepping the mark and so far so good with him. Also have 4 young ewes (All Norfolk horn) and are looking forward to our first lambing experience next spring... Will certainly be asking a few more newbie questions then I'm sure! ;D
Title: Re: Hello from staffordshire
Post by: tizaala on August 04, 2012, 09:36:03 am: Don't know wether to say welcome or ' OR ROIT AR KID WHERES YO BIN ' Another Black Country refugee here now in Powys. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Hello from staffordshire
Post by: SallyintNorth on August 04, 2012, 10:20:57 am: Quote from: tizaala on August 04, 2012, 09:36:03 am
Don't know wether to say welcome or ' OR ROIT AR KID WHERES YO BIN ' Another Black Country refugee here now in Powys. :thumbsup:

"Ay! Yow!"
"Ower yow a-yowin?"
"Ama yowin yow!"

My dad's favourite Black Country saying is, "Yower mum wor borra ower mangle agin." But you have to be of a certain age to get that one...

Welcome from another ex-pat :wave: now in the far north of Cumbria. Still got folks in Staffs, though, (although tptb don't call it that now ::)) so I get down there from time to time.
Title: Re: Hello from staffordshire
Post by: bangbang on August 04, 2012, 02:04:11 pm: Hi! :wave:

Welcome from sunny Aberdeenshire
Good luck :thumbsup:

Shetlands are very manageable and great little characters!
Title: Re: Hello from staffordshire
Post by: Mammyshaz on August 06, 2012, 12:19:10 pm: Hello and welcome from durham :wave: