[SallyintNorth]

But we're not talking about Swaledale, we are talking about Texels which will easily fatten and be away in under 6 months.

Texels which don't go lame, get struck, or otherwise ail, will fatten, yes - and that's the point.  They won't all, so sooner or later you'll get a sexually active entire you can't get away - or more than one - and have some logisitical problems.  If that would be a real problem to you, then castrate.  If you could cope, then fine, don't castrate and cross your fingers instead!   

And as for the casualty with broken leg, whatever, well he will go nicely in the freezer.

It won't need to be broken to stop him fittening sufficiently to get him away - or even to be fit to travel.  But generally they can be fittened and made sound, it just may take longer than is convenient, given his testicles...
Plus, if he's a good Texel he's worth £80-£100 fit, so in my case, I'm not allowed to put them in our freezer if we can get them away at all!     

[landroverroy]

Texels which don't go lame, get struck, or otherwise ail, will fatten, yes - and that's the point.  They won't all, so sooner or later you'll get a sexually active entire you can't get away - or more than one - and have some logisitical problems.  If that would be a real problem to you, then castrate.  If you could cope, then fine, don't castrate and cross your fingers instead!   

 
[/quote]
 I think it's fair to assume that Lee. Arron is not a complete numpty and can treat his sheep's feet and look out for fly strike
 If you are always looking for the bleakest outlook and worse case scenario, then you are in the wrong job, keeping sheep.  

[SallyintNorth]

I think it's fair to assume that Lee. Arron is not a complete numpty and can treat his sheep's feet and look out for fly strike

Hmmm... well, you either think I did assume that Lee is a numpty (Lee    I didn't and don't!  ) or you think I am a complete numpty since I clearly do get lame and strucken Texels! 

I will defend, if not to the death then certainly to the point of quite a bit of discomfort, your right to hold and express your opinion, whether or not I agree with it, so I shall just have to take that one on the chin!

If you are always looking for the bleakest outlook and worse case scenario, then you are in the wrong job, keeping sheep.  

Well, a lot of sheep farmers would agree with you there; most of them bemoan the fact that they have to farm these wilfully self-destructive woolly creatures    But then no farmer is happy unless s/he's got something to grumble about ... and many of these same sheep farmers retire to a little bungalow... with a few acres... on which they keep a few sheep ... 

[OhLaLa]

I love Sallyintnorth and her words of wisdom. I wish I knew a quarter of what she knows about sheepies.

In my 20+ years of 'smallholding' i have never known of any other breed of animal which requires as much attention and looking after as sheep. Guess that's part of the reason why it took me so long to actually get everything ready for them. And even then there is still plenty more to do, Stuff that only experience (and preference) could tell me.

Everything is a potential hazard when it comes to sheep; for example, our ram put his head into a bucket, picked it up on his head then ran around the field with it on there. I got it off, no harm done.

If there is a pickle they can get into, they will. But i still lurrrv 'em........

    

PS: i should add i was right next to the ram when he put his head into the bucket (it was one of those wide buckets) and i had put it down by my feet whilst I opened the gate.

[SallyintNorth]

I love Sallyintnorth and her words of wisdom. I wish I knew a quarter of what she knows about sheepies.

Oh, bless you OhLaLa    I still get it spectacularly wrong sometimes, mind...

Everything is a potential hazard when it comes to sheep; for example, our ram put his head into a bucket, picked it up on his head then ran around the field with it on there. I got it off, no harm done.

Yep, been there, done that one ... will try to find pic of Swaledale ewe with 'nosebag' (bucket stuck on horns) running blindly around her little paddock... 

You are quite right, OhLaLa, if they can find a way of getting into trouble, causing their owner some grief or, better yet, some embarrassment, they surely will ... and yet, we love 'em.  Well, some of 'em anyway.  The rest we eat.