The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Sandyknox on August 12, 2013, 06:40:13 pm
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Since I first for my sheep in 2011 I have been feeding them bread occasionally when it is too off for us to eat it , I was just wondering if this is a good thing to do or if it is a bad idea to feed them bread
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I cant see any problems if its in small amounts now and then.
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Ours get the odd oatcake as a treat. I don't think it will do them any harm occasionally.
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Mine love bread but they only get it occasionally and in very small pieces otherwise I think they would gorge themselves on it.
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Not a fan of feeding any class of livestock "treats" nor any "unnatural" feeds. If it's recommended to start introducing specifically formulated and manufactured hard feed at the end of pregnancy at 50g a day so as not to cause problems in the rumen I think it gives an indication of what's desirable.
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I only use oatcakes or other manufactured human food if I have a sheep that is poorly and has already stopped eating, as sometimes stuff like that may be the only thing they will eat and that can be vital. But otherwise I avoid it and just pick dock leaves as treats which they love.
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Ach it's only wheat and yeast. Same stuff as in the bags of feed you buy down the feed merchants. Saves the bread being wasted as well!
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My Shetlands like a wee ginger nut yummy yummy.
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Two old Shetland ewes I picked up a few years ago as part of my first bunch of lambs/hogs had been fed a slice of dry toast every day as a treat by their previous owner... I gave it to them occasionally, but the toast had to come out of a rustling plastic bag, otherwise would be ignored... they used to dash across the field when I rattled the bag - good hearing when they wanted to hear! They were over 10 when I got them, both produced a couple of lovely lamb crops (and I still have their daughters) and then had to be dispatched because of old age (not many sheep have a stroke I guess....)
But in general toast with Marmite or honey is reserved for any one sick and not eating as a last resort. Has been known to work!
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Sheep and treats ..... :o ::) (http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae26/thomsett_bucket/cake002.jpg) (http://s954.photobucket.com/user/thomsett_bucket/media/cake002.jpg.html)...lucky to get away without losing my fingers :relief: ,my scone certainly meeting with approval ;D