The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: The Chicken Lady on June 02, 2008, 07:40:30 pm
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Well I got my five girls yesterday from Bewdley - quite a trek but worth it. They have settled in well. I think that they will need shearing soon. Anyway now I am looking for a male to breed with them. Anyone any suggestions where to go - something not too expensive. ;D :sheep:
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Why don't you try the Flock Book Society and see if you can borrow a ram locally. That's what I'm going to do.
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Thanks for the advice. I contacted the society and they have put me in touch with someone who wants to rehome an older ram which would be suitable for afew sheep. This will give me some time to souch and afford something younger and then the older one could be his companion.
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Excellent. Don't know how two rams will live together though - those with more sheep knowledge than me might have more information...
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I thought you could keep males together. When I pass farms around us they always seem to have two or three males together but apart from the females. Maybe I need advice on this as well :(
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keeping males together is ok... introducing new males to your existing boys is the difficult part!! most tups will try to assert dominance with any newbie in the flock and it can be dangerous -even fatal- (and its always the biggest and best that dies) We try to cut down the damage by putting all the tups into a small shed/loosebox for two-three days to let them settle down somewhat. That way they can't take ten paces and charge at each other
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Thanks for the advice Rosemary. I have the ram that the society let me know about. His name is Archie and he is beautiful. He is so friendly especially if food is involved. Excellent for a novice like me ::) I will let you know how he performs :-[ later :o
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I would love to hear how you get on with your Ryelands. They have been recommended to us (absolute beginners). We are fencing the field over the winter and hope to have lambs in the spring - The field is about 3 1/2 acres, how many do you think it would take to keep the grass down?
Many thanks
Sal
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We have three on about 3/4 acre and we had to cut it, so we could check the sheep were still there! I think the problem is balancing winter needs with the summer abundance of grass. If you stock tightly enough to keep the grass bowling green length in summer (or at least not needing mown), you'll have to feed a of of hay in the winter.
I know thsi isn't realy an answer to your question but we have the same issues.
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Hi
I have a few ryelands and would say that the normal stocking rate is 3 per acre being a downs breed, but ensure that you have some clean pasture to move them on to to ensure that the parasite burden is kept to a minimum.
Kaz