The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Stanlamb on May 04, 2013, 08:55:00 am

Title: Ewes, Lambs and Young Trees
Post by: Stanlamb on May 04, 2013, 08:55:00 am
A quick question.  We have a small orchard at the bottom of our garden.  The trees are very young, only 3 years old, and not fenced around but there's plenty of grass in there.  It can either be mowed or grazed.  Obviously would prefer to put some ewes and lambs on it as we have little grass in the fields and it would give them a break but will they eat the trees, some of which are really tiny, with branches close to the ground?  Not going to risk the trees over it but would love to let them at the grass .... will they tuck into the trees?

Thanks
Title: Re: Ewes, Lambs and Young Trees
Post by: SallyintNorth on May 04, 2013, 08:57:17 am
One word - yes . :yum:
Title: Re: Ewes, Lambs and Young Trees
Post by: Stanlamb on May 04, 2013, 09:18:49 am
That's that plan supported then  ::).  Thanks Sally.
Title: Re: Ewes, Lambs and Young Trees
Post by: JMB on May 04, 2013, 09:35:16 am
Ours eat the bark off the big trees too, so it'll mean long term protection
J xxx
Title: Re: Ewes, Lambs and Young Trees
Post by: Stanlamb on May 04, 2013, 10:16:34 am
I hate autocorrect!

I had typed *squppered* not supported!!  Lambs are now going to be put on recently fertilised 4 acre field - sigh.  Would like to have given the field another week at least but there's not enough grass where they are and I still have 8 ewes and 15'lambs in!  Can't wait to put them out today!
Title: Re: Ewes, Lambs and Young Trees
Post by: zarzar on May 04, 2013, 11:06:51 am
if it helps we put chicken wire around the bases of ours so that we can graze it now and again instaed of cutting labour saving  :innocent:, it works a treat to
Title: Re: Ewes, Lambs and Young Trees
Post by: Bramblecot on May 04, 2013, 09:55:08 pm
Mine have destroyed several young fruit trees.  If they do not chew the bark, they head butt them until the trees snap ::) .  And the Shetlands climb up the trunks to get at the higher branches.
Title: Re: Ewes, Lambs and Young Trees
Post by: Pedwardine on May 04, 2013, 11:18:05 pm
I wish they'd appreciate that trees could be nice shelter if they didn't eat and throttle them to death  ::)