The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: AlexInLincs on April 20, 2010, 06:01:44 am

Title: Keeping Different Breeds of Sheep Together - Horned and Non-Horned
Post by: AlexInLincs on April 20, 2010, 06:01:44 am

Hi

We are considering getting a few sheep just to keep our paddock down.  There are a few breeds that we liked some horned, some not.  A couple of questions:

1. Can you keep horned and non-horned together?

2. Is it ok to mix breeds and are there any combinations that do not get on?

3. Which breeds would you recommend?

Thanks

Title: Re: Keeping Different Breeds of Sheep Together - Horned and Non-Horned
Post by: Rosemary on April 20, 2010, 09:07:24 am

I think the general feeling is that horned and non-horned shouldn't be mixed.

I'd recommend Ryelands but I suspect we all have our favourites.

Title: Re: Keeping Different Breeds of Sheep Together - Horned and Non-Horned
Post by: dixie on April 20, 2010, 09:34:08 am

I have mule ewes and a jacob, they all live happily together!

Title: Re: Keeping Different Breeds of Sheep Together - Horned and Non-Horned
Post by: Freddiesfarm on April 20, 2010, 05:24:58 pm

I have mules, jacobs, southdowns, dorset downs, risingtons, suffolks, romneys, lleyns and finally a couple of portlands that I got becuase I wanted the dog that came with them!

I find the lleyns the easiest sheep to manage from lambing to shearing and worming etc.  My husband demands we keep some dorsets as he says they taste the best and the other sheep we had to make up the numbers and to ensure our dogs get to meet allsorts of breeds of sheep.

The only ones I dislike and I mean really dislike - are the portlands; they are small sheep and therefore easy to handle - if you can catch them!  The breed are kept with long tails which can get manky in the summer and they only ever have one lamb at a time - plus they don't flock they scatter! 

As for horned with non horned - I think the only regulations are that they should not travel together but I might be talking about cattle!  I have 150 ewes of all the breeds and they are all in together.

Title: Re: Keeping Different Breeds of Sheep Together - Horned and Non-Horned
Post by: Padge on April 21, 2010, 09:37:18 pm

we quite happily keep horned and non horned sheep together      tho we have found they divide into their own little groups and do their own thing :D

Title: Re: Keeping Different Breeds of Sheep Together - Horned and Non-Horned
Post by: AlexInLincs on April 22, 2010, 07:50:29 am

Thanks for your comments, there seems to be more of you  saying they will get along so I think we will give it a go.  Just need to decide on what to go with....

Any definitely to avoid?

What about rams? Avoid?

Title: Re: Keeping Different Breeds of Sheep Together - Horned and Non-Horned
Post by: Freddiesfarm on April 22, 2010, 10:45:37 am

If you are just starting out buy some lambs to fatten up.  That way you can learn the ropes and get the feel of sheep and what you do and don't like.  Then you can start looking at specific breeds for the foundation of your new flock

Title: Re: Keeping Different Breeds of Sheep Together - Horned and Non-Horned
Post by: shetlandpaul on April 22, 2010, 11:50:04 am

the only problem i can see is if you have rams of each type. ours spent most of yesterday headbutting a neighbours ram through the fence. quite funny really he would take a big run up stop just short and but heads.

Title: Re: Keeping Different Breeds of Sheep Together - Horned and Non-Horned
Post by: Moleskins on April 23, 2010, 08:02:01 pm

I have Badger Faced and Ryelands, they don't mix and this can be a problem at times. I'm told this is normally the case with a mixed flock, I thought they would all get together in the end but 12 months on they're still not mixing.
The thing which is often said on here and I totally agree with is that it doesn't matter what you have the - the most important thing is that you like that breed of sheep.