Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Provide appropriate living conditions
• Method 2 of 3: Feed your sheep
• Method 3 of 3: Keep your sheep healthy
• Tips
• Warnings

Sheep are grazing mammals that are regularly kept on farms. They can be used for their meat, wool and milk and can live for 6 to 14 years. Sheep adapt easily to different climates and are found all over the world. There are more than 200 sheep breeds, each of which has to be kept and cared for in a different way. If you plan to buy sheep, you will need to purchase the correct breed that suits the climate and environment in which you live. You will also need to learn how to take the best care of sheep.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Provide appropriate living conditions

1. Provide shelter all year round. Your sheep need shelter that protects them from the elements. These elements include wind and rain, but also sun. A shed or stable would be ideal, but not necessary. A three-wall construction is also well suited.
   • An advantage of a barn or stables is that you can keep sick or pregnant sheep separate from the herd.
   • A shady outside area is good for sheep because they can be outside without having to be in the blazing sun. For example, they can graze in the shade instead of the heat. You can provide shade in all kinds of ways, for example by placing trees or a shelter.
2. Cover the soil of the sheltered area with straw. How much straw you need depends on the number of sheep you keep and how much time your sheep spend in the sheltered area. At low temperatures it is wise to lay a thick layer of hay. This way your sheep stay clean and warm.
   • Do not use sawdust to cover the floor. This damages the wool of the sheep.
   • Some people prefer to use sawdust over hay as it is more absorbent than hay. However, this can cause problems if you are going to shear the sheep and their wool is full of pieces of wood.
   • You can use a deodorizing product once a month to neutralize urine.
3. Make sure your pasture is big enough for the number of sheep you keep. Sheep spend about 7 hours a day grazing. For 6 sheep you therefore quickly need about 8000 square meters of pasture. The exact correct size of the pasture depends on the climate and condition of the pasture.
   • A good rule is that you can keep about six to seven sheep on a meadow for one large grazer (such as a cow).
   • The size of the meadow depends on the climate, the condition of the grass and the rainfall in the area. For example, in a dry area you need a larger meadow because the grass will grow less quickly here.
4. Keep the air moving. Use a fan for this or ensure that the sheltered area is well ventilated from time to time. This is very important, especially at high temperatures.
   • By running a fan and opening the shed doors, you ensure that the shelter stays cool and your sheep do not suffer from flies.
5. Put fences around the meadow. Fences are very important to keep your sheep in the pasture, but also to keep unwanted guests from entering. A fence of 1.5 meters is enough for this. However, if you live in an area with wild animals, it is better to choose a higher fence.
   • Make sure that you can separate sick sheep from the herd, for example by screening off a part of the pasture with separate panels.
   • You can also fence the meadow with electric fence. This will deter wild animals, but does not necessarily prevent your sheep from breaking out. They will barely feel the electricity due to their thick coats.

Method 2 of 3: Feed your sheep

1. Make sure your sheep have plenty of grass or hay to eat. In nature, sheep eat grass and clovers. If your pasture is large enough and blooms all year round, you do not need to provide additional nutrition.
   • The size of your pasture depends on the climate and how fertile the pasture is. In general, you can keep to the rule that you need about 8000 square meters for 6 sheep. If you live in an area where it is extremely hot in the summer or extremely cold in the winter, you will need to provide replacement food during those periods. Grass dies under extreme conditions.
   • The amount of hay you need will depend on the quality and quantity of your grass. Sheep eat about half a kilogram of grass or hay for every 45 kilograms of their own weight.
   • Hay is basically dried, cut grass or plant. The later it is cut, the better the quality of the hay will generally be.
   • Alfalfa and clover are also found in hay and are generally more nutritious than normal grass. However, hay containing these plants is slightly more expensive and it is not necessary for sheep to eat this hay variety.
   • Keep in mind that some clovers contain a substance that resembles estrogen. This can act as contraception, which of course is not helpful if you're trying to breed a new generation of lambs.
2. Avoid feeding your sheep too much grain. Cereal products contain too much copper for sheep, which is not good for their health. You can occasionally feed your sheep with grain, but don't make it a habit. If you supplement them, make sure you choose a mix that is specifically formulated for sheep.
   • Too much grain can cause your sheep to swell and, in severe cases, can kill animals. So be careful with grain.
   • If your sheep need a little extra nutrition, it is best to buy a mix specifically for sheep. Sheep that need extra nutrition are, for example, young, lactating or older sheep.
   • If you cannot find food for sheep, you can use food for goats or cows as a substitute. Check in the shop or wholesaler whether a specific product is also suitable for sheep.
3. Do not keep food for more than a month. This applies to both hay and grain food. Storing food for too long can cause it to mold and become toxic. So make sure you always have fresh food, if the grass in the pasture is not enough for them.
4. Make sure your sheep get enough salt. Sheep need the minerals that are found in salt. To ensure that they do not lack salt, you can buy mineral blocks, for example. Please note that these are specially made for sheep.
   • Salt blocks can be good, but unfortunately they won't last that long and your sheep may not get enough minerals just by licking the blocks.
   • Loose mineral salt is cheaper than salt blocks and can easily be poured into a feeder.
5. Make sure your sheep always have fresh, clean water. Sheep quickly drink about 5 to 10 liters of water per day. The warmer it is, the more they will drink. Make sure that the water is clean.
   • If you don't feel like carrying buckets every day, you can opt for a water supply that is automatically topped up. You will have to clean these once a week.

Method 3 of 3: Keep your sheep healthy

1. Keep track of their hooves. Keep the sheep sheltered area dry to avoid rotting hooves. If this is difficult or impossible, you will have to keep track of the hooves and plan or trim them.
   • Be careful not to cut too deep when keeping the hooves. This can cause bleeding or infections.
   • When it rains little, it is best to trim the hooves once every six weeks. This is necessary more often during a rainy period. Keep track of the hooves by cleaning them thoroughly first. Then remove the protruding edges from the nails. Do this on both sides of the hoof and use a wood rasp to flatten the hooves.
   • Both sheep and goats regularly suffer from rotting hooves. The more an animal walks on a wet surface, the more the problem occurs. The moisture softens the hoof, making it easier for bacteria to penetrate. This can cause a lot of pain, which often lasts for about 12 days. If you notice that one of your sheep is suffering from rotting hooves, do not separate him from the flock. Give the sheep the necessary medicine and keep the hooves well-groomed.
2. Shear your sheep at least once a year. Sheep with a thicker coat will need to be shaved twice a year. A good time to do this is just before the weather gets warmer, such as in the spring.
   • To make sure your sheep feel comfortable shearing, it is best to get them off the pasture about ten hours before shearing. For example, they have an empty stomach when shaving.
   • Make sure your sheep are dry before shearing to avoid health problems. If you don't shave sheep, their fur can absorb moisture, which makes them attract a lot of flies.
3. Prevent health problems. While you can't prevent everything, there are a number of things you can do to prevent illness or disease. Consider, for example, the following precautionary measures:
   • Trim the fur around the croup and hind legs of the sheep. This will prevent urine and feces from getting stuck in the coat, which can have unpleasant consequences.
   • Remove tangles and dirt clumps. When sheep are deep in mud, tangles or lumps of dirt can form on their bellies. This is not pleasant for the sheep and moreover the dirt clogs attract flies. Cut these tangles or clumps away regularly.
4. Monitor the health of your sheep. If a sheep is sick, it will behave strangely. Make sure to observe your animals regularly so that you immediately notice if something is wrong. Keep sick animals separate from the rest of the herd so that disease does not spread.
   • A runny nose can be a sign of a respiratory infection.
   • Diarrhea can be caused by many things. It is therefore wise to have a vet take a look at your animals if your sheep are affected.
   • Check the coat regularly for lice, fleas or mites. If your sheep suffer from this, it should be treated immediately.
5. Deworm your sheep. Get regular vet checks for worms and worm your sheep based on his or her advice.
   • Medicines (worming products) come in various forms, including pills, creams and injections. The effect is the same for each variant.
   • Creams or other liquid forms of the drug are easy to use and work just as well as other drugs.

Tips

• Don't worry too much about plants growing in the meadow. Sheep usually knows for themselves which plants are edible and which are not. However, if there is not enough grass available, they can still try to satisfy their hunger with these plants. Make sure you always make enough food available.
• Consider purchasing a protective dog, llama, or donkey animal. These can scare away unwanted guests such as wild animals.
• Have a bucket of baking soda in the sheep's sheltered area. This can really help sheep with stomach problems.

Warnings

• The more sheep you have, the more protective animals you will need. Wild animals can be very smart and decide to distract the dog with part of the herd, while another part of the herd throws itself on the sheep.