[Fleecewife]

Now is the time to be feeding your sheep a few willow branches, for an extra sweet treat and some vitamins.   We spent a happy hour this afternoon - in SUNSHINE    and snow - starting our willow pruning and feeding the chopped off branches to the sheep.  First one to the bred ewes, which caused a stampede followed by some happy munching.
 
We have plenty more pruning to do, so will give them all fresh branches every few days.  In return they will give us sticks to use around the place neatly stripped of bark, and smaller twigs for kindling.

[goosepimple]

Oh nice, fleecewife, thanks for that, will do that tomorrow.  Do you know if you can use dogwoods too, or won't they have the same desired effect willow has?  It's just once I get going with those snippers nothing is safe.

[Dogwalker]

One of my hedges has just been laid and it's a competition between my goats and my neighbours sheep who gets to the brash pile first - hazel and willow.

Snow better melt soon so he can get on and fence the hedge before the sheep eat too much off that too.

[Blinkers]

Now is the time to be feeding your sheep a few willow branches, for an extra sweet treat and some vitamins.   We spent a happy hour this afternoon - in SUNSHINE    and snow - starting our willow pruning and feeding the chopped off branches to the sheep.  First one to the bred ewes, which caused a stampede followed by some happy munching.
 
We have plenty more pruning to do, so will give them all fresh branches every few days.  In return they will give us sticks to use around the place neatly stripped of bark, and smaller twigs for kindling.

Well I never knew that, thanks Fleecewife.    I always chop them in the Spring and summer for the goats but never thought to offer them to the sheep - will make a start tomorrow......weather permitting 

[Brucklay]

Cut half of our willow already and it's been eaten by the goats but really think in these conditions the sheep deserve it more so they will get the other half - thanks for standing up for the sheep Fleecewife 

[Richard Underwood]

Goosepimple, our sheep loved Dogwood so much thay ate the whole bush and now we don't have any left where they can get at it!

[goosepimple]

Thanks Richard, we have more of that than willow 

[smee2012]

Do they like it? We have loads of willow around our oil tank and have just been advised by building control that it all needs to come down. We are building an extension at present that comes within a few metres of the willow and he is worried about our soil composition and the fact that so much willow will suck all the moisture out of the ground and make our lovely new building fall down. Was just going to compost and/or burn it - will gladly give it to my girls!

[Fleecewife]

They will love it     Before you chop down the trees, take some cuttings and start new saplings somewhere away from buildings, then your sheep can have more in years to come 

[kumquat]

Just before the snow started we pruned a load of Hazel, Alder and Ash. Girls have been devouring the brashings like crazy.


Not sure if its just mine but they seem to have a fondness for Rowan, seems to be the first thing they head for, i've had to cover a couple it was getting so bad.....bless 'em

[Fleecewife]

Our sheep's favourite is apple - but you can see why we don't indulge them voluntarily    It's hard enough to grow apples up here without pruning help from the sheep.
 
There are lots of trees sheep love to eat - willow tends to be the quickest growing.  Just check that what they are eating is not toxic to them.

[JMB]

Before I rush out and buy some willow cuttings, or poplar, are there certain types they like? Or any to be avoided?
 Thank you
J xxx

[smee2012]

I gave a huge pile of willow to my sheep last month - they completely ignored it!  Perhaps next year they'll be a bit keener.

Having said that, when I bring them up to the garden to have some grass (as there's very little in the field due to all the rain and snow and it's a nice change from hay!), they always head straight to the bird feeders and scoff up all the bread and apples. Luckily they don't like any of the seed or suet shreds!

[goosepimple]

I give everyone a slice of wholemeal once a week as a treat, we all need a bit of stodge in Jan/Feb time. 

[mab]

I've been giving mine green ivy - they love that.

I'll try a bit of willow tomorrow though for variety.