But believe it or not, a stray dog with the wrong idea can seriously wound or kill an adult sheep. Good one. We bought our Dorpers for pets, and to breed since we had a ram! Mineral supplements designed for horses contain far too much copper for sheep, which can lead to a condition called copper toxicity. When we leave her outside by herself, and we are inside it sounds like bloody murder outside. They are difficult/impossible to House train. Question: I am thinking about buying a lamb for a pet. But with pet sheep, it's not likely that a person would have a large enough flock to ruin all of their grass. When trimming hooves, avoid cutting off large chunks of hoof. It is possible to tether sheep, but this should only be done if someone is nearby to watch the sheep. Your lamb doesn't know she's not a person. If anyone appears to be making a cosy living keeping a handful of sheep spinning the wool, dyeing it in blackberry juice and then knitting it into garments to sell at the local market t… A mule cross and a White Faced Dartmoor with coloured Southdowns behind. If you are going to keep goat kids inside for even a short time, potty training them or cleaning out a litter box you make for them must be done DAILY to prevent the animal from being exposed to harmful bacteria that can lead to severe infection – or death. Housed animals have lower nutritional requirements that those that free range and live out in the elements. Keeping sheep is not as straightforward as some might think. Long wooled sheep may benefit from twice a year shearing. Posted: (2 days ago) Keeping sheep as pets. As fun as shearing may be, you don’t have to learn to do it yourself. I really appreciate it. Stop trimming when you see pink. if so where do i obtain one and can i do it online? The purpose of hoof trimming is to remove excess growth, so the animal will move freely. Would you eat it (if you were a sheep)? See photos images. Orphan, poddy, or bummer lambs -- those raised on a bottle or milk bar -- often make the best pets because they will naturally bond to their care giver. Part of the reason for their aggression is the animal itself. Thank you. The tetanus antitoxin can be given to young lambs whose dams were not vaccinated. Another common parasite that affects sheep is coccidia (Eimeria spp.). An acre is usually enough for a few sheep. The sheep can also be held on its side for hoof trimming. Most pet sheep will never need to see a vet, but you never know what might happen, so it’s a good idea to find one. What About Rams? As with any pet, the decision to keep sheep as pets should not be done on an impulse. Related Articles. Search Terms: keeping pet sheep in your garden, pet sheep in house, miniature lamb, keeping sheep in your garden, miniature sheep pets, pet sheep for sale, pet lamb names, keeping sheep … Its ears may droop. Having your sheep shorn before the daily highs get into the 80’s is best. First of all, you need to make sure your zoning regulations or housing covenants allow you to keep farm livestock. Increasingly, zoning regulations are being revised to allow people to keep small livestock. Unlike other pets, miniature goats don’t bite, kick, or scratch. I loved reading this keep writing! Sheep kept as pets should be females or neutered males. Lambs. She would instead hang out with the goats, and act like a pet instead of a scared animal. High tensile, electric fences are commonly used on commercial sheep farms, but less practical for small enclosures. The best way to trim a sheep's hooves is while the sheep is tipped onto its rump. by Sue Weaver | 14 Jun 2013. Goats are absolutely awesome as pets. Directory. Securely hung flat-back buckets are good choices for providing water. Lambs should be vaccinated twice, followed by annual boosters. What kind of sheep? Can they have sprays, etc.? Peter. They should be administered with an oral dosing syringe that has a long metal nozzle. It is also important that sheep consume enough salt and drink enough water. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Proper hoof trimming will also prevent hoof disease. They won't enjoy a diet of only hay all year long - it's the difference between what will keep them alive and what they will really thrive on. He's by himself and I've never raised lambs before him so I'm a bit of a newbie and I read online that its better to wean abruptly? So you shouldn't need to worry. People don't usually raise sheep for pets and to some the idea is sort of " around." They are herd animals and find it very stressfull to be away from their flock which would be your family. When you are done, the nail, sole, and heel should be parallel with the growth bands around the outside of the hoof. Raise a flock of sheep in your backyard. Raising one by bottle-feeding forms an even stronger bon… Keeping sheep in Pets & Animals - discussions forum on Brittany, Angloinfo. Keeping hooves properly trimmed will help to prevent entry of harmful bacteria. Sheep are social animals and should live in pairs, though a dog or goat can also be a good companion. With all the fascinating breeds of sheep, it’s tempting to think about bringing one home. All mammals can get coccidia, but the strains are host-specific. The animal really wasn’t meant to pack on a lot of fat, and a sheep can experience health problems if allowed to become overweight. Ideally, you should have an acre or two for your pet sheep to graze. Krissy and Fargo. 1616. They are newly found best buddies! Hair sheep are probably the best good choice because they do not require shearing or docking. If caring for lambs, buckets are suggested and should be hung high enough that the little lambs can't climb in! Keeping Pygmy Goats As Pets. Specifying a time frame for foot trimming is difficult, as it really depends on several factors including the individual animal and what it walks on. Aside from this, careful observation of body condition will tell you everything else that you need to know. Despite what you may have read in magazines or seen on TV, no one is going to move out of the city, buy a piece of land a fraction of the size of a commercial farm and live off it. Potty Training; Goats go potty a lot – a whole lot, even as babies. Sheep have a low tolerance for excess copper in their diets and should generally not be fed formulations with added copper. Heritage or other landrace breeds are another good choice for pets, especially if you plan to breed your sheep. Jules Moore offers some basic tips. Add grain to a sheep’s diet slowly. Keep Sheep As Pets. Don’t grain sheep that already have good body condition! A mule cross and a White Faced Dartmoor with coloured Southdowns behind. and Olde English Babydoll Southdown (18-24 inches tall) are two of the smallest breedsThe Shetland is another small breed. Yet, for the right owner, sheep can make good pets. So What’s a Sheep? If you are starting a smallholding, sheep are very useful. Rachel Koski Nielsen (author) from Pennsylvania, now farming in Minnesota on July 17, 2012: Thanks, Dirt Farmer! Krissy and her new baby, Fargo. And for most people its just not possible, sheep aren’t something you can keep in your back yard in a built up area. Lambs (1-6 months of age) are most vulnerable, especially around the time of weaning. First, lambs will poop and pee wherever — and whenever — they need. Many taught wires would need to be installed in order to contain lambs and deter predators. You must also consider who can look after the goats when you are away. Small amounts of grain can be fed as a treat. Keeping goats as pets and for milk production is absolutely a good idea. Keeping Sheep as four-legged lawnmowers in Pets & Animals - discussions forum on Brittany, Angloinfo A proper pair of hoof trimmers or shears is needed for hoof trimming. Furthermore, sheep are an ongoing commitment. Keeping Sheep as Pets Information and Pictures. And don’t let them run away! Pet sheep Increasingly, sheep and other farm livestock are being kept as pets or companions. Save with MyShopping.com.au! When a sheep is not feeling well, it may isolate itself and stop eating. As with worms, lambs eventually develop immunity to coccidia; in fact, early than they develop immunity to worms. Make sure your sheep are crotched. You need to consider if you have enough time to care for sheep. It is a single celled protozoan parasite. It takes about five sheep for sheep to display their natural flocking instinct. They can be playful and comical animals that form close bonds with their people. As with any pet, the decision to keep sheep as pets should not be done on an impulse. Rachel Koski Nielsen (author) from Pennsylvania, now farming in Minnesota on September 30, 2012: Eiddwen from Wales on September 29, 2012: Oh how I loved this gem;I can relate to your feelings and this hub will be so useful. This will depend mostly on you and your circumstances; for example, if you live in an apartment and are certainly not interested in watching over three sheep, then they might not be for you. Titia Geertman from Waterlandkerkje - The Netherlands on June 19, 2018: You wrote that copper is bad for sheep and that's true for most commercial breeds, but there are in fact quite some sheep breeds that actually need copper in their minerals because without copper they will get sick and die. The other issue is that rams that have been handled a lot and given no reason to fear, and therefore respect, humans, simply won’t see anything wrong with butting you in the knees or knocking down someone’s children. 0 shares; Facebook; Twitter; Have you ever watched a gorgeous little fluffy cloud of a sheep prancing around the fields in the spring and thought that they would make a great pet? Can we then wash them with insect repellent shampoo like we do our other pets? The Backyard Sheep: An Introductory Guide to Keeping Productive Pet Sheep - Kindle edition by Weaver, Sue. This is a urine acidifier that helps to prevent urinary calculi. The law concerning keeping pet goats There are strict laws covering the keeping, identification and transport of farm animal species, including those kept as pets. Sheep actually make wonderful pets! Health care This medication is generally administered orally and, again, make sure the product you purchase is labeled for sheep and not horses. Sometimes, it can be difficult to get people to adopt pet sheep, especially in a timely fashion. 0 shares; Facebook; Twitter; Have you ever watched a gorgeous little fluffy cloud of a sheep prancing around the fields in the spring and thought that they would make a great pet? If you’ve purchased lambs that have basically just been weaned, they should have started on grain and pasture (and hopefully hay) already. We did lots of research on keeping sheep. Occasionally, pet sheep get sick. Shearing Please help! If you’re not sure about hay quality, the cheaper of the available products is probably what you want for your pet sheep. Sheep kept as pets may never be expected to act like “farm sheep” and produce quality wool or large lamb crops, but a sheep is still a sheep and needs to be cared for as such. Hope that helps answer your question! Pet sheep should be sheared in the spring before the onset of warm weather. Intact males (rams) are not recommended as pets. To check the body condition of a sheep, feel along the spine and the hips. If you don’t want to go the route of electric fence, that’s fine. We have more goats than sheep in my home state of Texas. With the exception of livestock guardian dog breeds, domestic dogs have a natural predatory instinct: there's a "wolf" lurking under the skin of every dog. Rotational grazing is important, i.e., keeping an eye on the available forage and if you see that it is all below three inches, moving the animals off of it. Sheep are sometimes kept as pets or companion animals, as they are easy to handle and valued for their docile nature. Most sheep need their hooves trimmed at least annually. On the other hand, overzealous hoof trimming could give the bacteria an entry point. To preserve the dairy quality of the Friesian while side-stepping the animal's lack of hardiness, I would probably cross it with a hardier breed such as the Lacaune or Cheviot. Clostridial vaccines can be purchased from farm supply stores and over the internet. Keeping Pygmy Goats As Pets. Brian Leekley from Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA on July 18, 2012: Up, Useful, Interesting, and shared with followers and on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Cold, wet weather will increase an animal's critical temperature, the temperature below which they must expend calories to maintain their body temperature. Other worms cause digestive disturbances and may cause diarrhea (scours). Humans in the Middle East domesticated sheep approximately 10,000 years ago. 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