The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: The sheep whisperer on January 21, 2021, 08:06:50 pm
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Hi all new to the forum and to keeping sheep. I’m based Hampshire Berkshire Surrey borders and wondered if there’s anybody out there in these areas that would /could help me get some hands on lambing experience? Plus any other relevant things.
As I’m hoping to expand my small flock in the future. I started out with 6 and have just had my first experience of taking them to the abattoir, done some dagging and foot trimming etc.
Thanks
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I'm way too far away (in North Cornwall) but just wanted to say I hope you connect with someone more local to you. You've started exactly the way we always advise, and your next step is a good one too :thumbsup:
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Hello and welcome [member=210079]The sheep whisperer[/member] . Have you chosen a particular breed of sheep, or are you doing your learning on whatever you could find? We are not lambing this coming spring because of the uncertainties and you wouldn't get much experience with lambing problems with our Hebrideans, as they so rarely have any (problems)! :hugsheep:
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Started with what was fairly local and available, crossbreeds ,it’s all worked out well so far.
Like the idea of Hampshire’s, rye lands , and Wiltshire but not sure about horns .!!!!
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Totally sensible, and as you gain in confidence you will perhaps learn to love a particular breed enough to keep them.
Horns can have their downside definitely. The pic by my name is a long gone lad called 'Laughing Boy' and you can see what amazing horns he had, all four of them. But he was so gentle with them and was very non-scary. Polled sheep ie no horns, were bred for a very good reason though so don't feel you're chickening out by not having horned sheep :D
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i can advocate for Wiltshire Horns,
good native sheep, very hardy, clean shedding, Good feet and raise some good lambs, and the meat has a wonderful flavour.
They really are an easy care option even with the horns
In fact i spent all day yesterday building an extra field shelter in the freezing conditionsonly to turn up this morning and they was sat under the hedge.
Ive not had flystrike since ive had them, where as the Ryelands seemed to get it at the drop of a hat.
but thats not giving ryelands a bad name you just need to be on top of it in the warm weather.
This year i bought a Hampshire Tup to cover some of the Wiltshire Horns so looking forward to see how they turn out.
good luck and hope you get some Lambing sorted.
any questions around the the Wilts feel free to message me
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Like the idea of Hampshire’s, rye lands , and Wiltshire but not sure about horns .!!!!
Can recommend Hampshire’s, very tasty meat and lambs generally do well. Very good social side to the Society which was something I’d not appreciated prior to getting the breed.............well, maybe not in the current climate but hopefully to get back to some normality soon :fc: