[john and helen]

without trying to disrespect anyone's answers,

I sort of look at it from coming from a total novice's view, I wouldn't know what was difficult from easy,
I can imagine if you have a calm herd/flock of any animal , then get a different breed ,that play up, you instantly know 

when i learnt my trade as a floor layer, they told me i had picked the short straw  I was put with a great guy called barry, the lad is sadly no longer with us , barry had this way of training,that..this is how you do it…now get on with it, if you made a mistake, he would then show you where you went wrong, but he liked you to work out things 1st on your own

I will always put the animals health and condition 1st, and i know i will more than likely be chasing the sheep around a field looking like a complete fool  but i have this feeling inside saying, if others can do it, so can I

this may sound weird, but i hope we don't get a 100% smooth ride, i want to learn from the mistakes i make, i want to be the best Smallholder i can be…we have waited so long for this, and to be honest, we are the sort of people to crack up with laughter at our own mistakes,

saying all that, i do listen to what folk suggest, it would be silly not to, you guys are the one's with experience,
we are so excited about keeping a few sheep and pigs etc etc , and having you guys in the background is priceless 

[SallyintNorth]

Don't worry, there will be plenty of mistakes your sheep will help you to make, even if you manage to follow every piece of advice the good folks on here give you!

What is it they say? 

A wise man learns from the mistakes of others.  A fool not even from his own.

[in the hills]

I know an elderly couple with small flock of Black Welsh Mountains. They rent little pockets of land and have to move the flock on a regular basis. Sheep handle well to the bucket (no dog) and kept in by normal stock fence. Think a lot of it is to do with the way you handle. They seem to have few problems. Lovely sheep. 

[Marches Farmer]

I take your point about hands-on being the best way to learn but you have to remember that sheep aren't flooring.  If you get it wrong a sentient animal could suffer.  Get Tim Tyne's book, go on a course, ask a local sheep farmer if you can help out or rent out your grazing to him and hang around while he checks his stock and does sheep tasks.

[Anke]

Get Tim Tyne's book and get yourself (and your other half if possible) onto his lambing course. He has a good management system in place and you can also see how his small farm (with pigs/milking cows and some poultry) works. Food is good too...

[in the hills]

We had our neighbours sheep on our land for a while before we took the plunge. We kept an eye on them and told him if there was a problem. He sorted the problem eg. feet and we watched. He also told us when he was doing any sheep related work up at his farm and we went along to watch this eg. drenching, ringing lambs, bottle feeding, vaccinating. Built up a good relationship with him and his wife and when we got our few sheep, he was there to help.


Another way of learning and then having someone there to give advice in the future.

[Bionic]

John, You might want to go to the Royal Welsh Spring Festival at Builth Wells on 17th and 18th May. It used to be called the Smallholders Festival so you will find plenty there that is appropriate for you. Lots of sheep to see too and you can talk to the breeders and breed societies. Tim Tyne is always there doing demos too.

[john and helen]

yes sal, we thought about this..thats going to be on out to do list..I have been to the devon County show, and i have heard the RWSF is good 

[Herdygirl]

Get Tim Tyne's book and get yourself (and your other half if possible) onto his lambing course. He has a good management system in place and you can also see how his small farm (with pigs/milking cows and some poultry) works. Food is good too...

 You are sooo right Anke,the duck pie was stupendous! 

[john and helen]

just ordered the book Anke