The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: juliem on September 13, 2015, 11:22:30 pm
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This time I have so many apples which have fallen that it is most convenient to lob them into my fields for the sheep to eat.I rent the grazing out .
Could the apples be making them a bit loose....is it a case of all things in moderation.
What about plums pears and damsons?
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Yes they could
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Any difference between cooking or eating apples..I do notice they seem to sniff them first and sometime reject them.
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Yup a few get mine loose, primitives seem to take them better - perhaps as they are adapted to browsing, but mules and texel x in my exp turn to water if getting regular access.
cooking apples tend to be rejected, abit tart.
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Some of mine love them, others not so fussed but they dont get enough to get a runny bottom from them. Runny bottoms could also be a flush of wet grass.
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too many apples = acidosis.... not a good idea.
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Watch out for choking if they try to gobble them up in one go.
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Fed the sheepies a bucketful of apples every day for several years during the apple season. Not had a problem with the runs or acidosis but they get bored of them relatively quickly.
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Are they your sheep? Just thinking I probably wouldn't be all that thrilled about someone feeding mine more than the very occassional apple, and definitely not something with stones, but of course if they are yours that's up to you.
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no they are not my sheep...I just rent the field to a local character..he's 80 and he just keeps them for something to do. There's about 60 lambs and ewes...plenty of grass..they have about 8 acres and another 4 set aside for the winter.He come's occasionally to see them...I just get on the phone if I think there's a problem.
We've both rubbed along for 3 years...he likes my fencing and I want the fields kept tidy.
Regarding the apples...opinion seem to be sharply divided. Whenever the sheep hear my front door go..they
make a noise wanting apples..this carries on till the Winter.It's a though they have conditioned me...like a baby crying to be fed
I use to throw over garden cuttings but I've stopped doing that....it's a bit awkward though when I want to get a bonfire going..