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Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9424
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Ok, so no 'Welsh & sheep' jokes please 
I've been toying with the idea of keeping sheep, but have no idea on costs of keeping and what's involved.
I have 1 field, just under 1 acre in size, so was wandering if I could keep 10? Not decided for sure, hence needing some advice 
- how much to buy? £
- how much to get a ram in?
- costs of keeping (feed, vets bills, worming etc?
- could I expect 10+ lambs & what would I get at market?
- amount of work involved? Many weekly hours, or can they generally be left to their own devices? Field is next door to garden
I'm sure there are many more things to consider Iggy/Ieuan
Current LR =
2015 RR Sport Autobiography
&
1992 Land Rover Defender Camper
- Gone but not forgotten:
MY10 D4 GS
MY05 Disco 3 'S'
MY14 FL2 HSE manual in Blue
MY15 Disco 4 HSE Lux in Santorini Black
MY08 Disco 3 SE manual in Buck Blue
1960 Series 2 88" (No idea why I sold it!)
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 24th Feb 2019 7:05 pm |
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Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
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I’d message Slug he farms sheep. In my limited experience, they want to die from day one, feet need regular attention, shearing once a year, when I kept them you had to dip them not sure if you still have to. How dry is your land although not as bad as horses or cattle they will poach wet ground. If I was wanting to keep something on that size paddock to turn a profit and keep the grass down I’d get geese and raise them for Christmas. As a kid I did a dozen turkeys every Christmas and always did alright. DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
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| 24th Feb 2019 7:19 pm |
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Hardware
Member Since: 28 Jun 2016
Location: Hiding under the M60
Posts: 13024
  
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Llamas/Alpacas … you need at least 2 as they like company. And a big BBQ, naturally.
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| 24th Feb 2019 7:37 pm |
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highlands
Member Since: 10 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5103
 
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We had 3 sheep on about 1/2 acre of our paddock and they weren't much bother (didn't try to escape all the time, unlike our pigs) keeping them until a bit over 2yrs old.
Our paddock is fairly well drained. Friends with poorly drained land seem to get a lot more problems with sheep.
The admin side wasn't too onerous, although Highland Council are probably more used to providing support to people with a couple of animals than most councils.
We didn't breed our sheep - they were somewhat for interest but mostly meat - and had we looked to do so we would likely have done one of the short crofting courses that cover it...or got more help from friends and family who have experience in doing so. Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
Grey 05 TDV6 HSE Auto (Gone)
54 TDV6 SE Man (killed by me  )
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| 25th Feb 2019 8:46 am |
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NJSS
Member Since: 06 May 2009
Location: Catherington, Hampshire.
Posts: 10808
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Don't overlook pigs, if you really want to become tied to the ground.
I'd let the land to someone who wants to graze sheep; be careful to get the licence drawn properly, you don't want to get stuck with an agricultural tenant!
Good luck.
NJSS Am I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.
2016 Discovery 4 Landmark
2011 Mercedes Benz SL350 (R230)
1973 MG B GT V8 - 3.9L John Eales engine, 5 speed R380 gearbox, since 1975.
1959 MGA roadster - 1.9L Peter Burgess Engine - 5 speed gearbox
Past LRs - Multiple FFRs, Discos & a Series I - some petrol, some diesel,
none Electric or H2 fuel cell - yet.
There are 10 types of people in this world: Those who understand binary, and those who don’t.
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| 25th Feb 2019 8:50 am |
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sputnixb51
Member Since: 23 Apr 2013
Location: Morayshire
Posts: 833
 
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Pelyma wrote:I’d message Slug he farms sheep. In my limited experience, they want to die from day one, feet need regular attention, shearing once a year, when I kept them you had to dip them not sure if you still have to. How dry is your land although not as bad as horses or cattle they will poach wet ground. If I was wanting to keep something on that size paddock to turn a profit and keep the grass down I’d get geese and raise them for Christmas. As a kid I did a dozen turkeys every Christmas and always did alright.
I'm from a farming background I second Pelyma the only thing a sheep wants to do is die, in fact woolly maggots is a phrase often used. Pigs are a better bet much more docile providing you are with them. Also no more than six to an acre but that needs to be on rotation so really only two and third your acre for that rotation otherwise they will kill your land.
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| 25th Feb 2019 10:17 am |
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NJSS
Member Since: 06 May 2009
Location: Catherington, Hampshire.
Posts: 10808
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As a young teenager I had a couple of sows, and enjoyed owning them
You really must have at least two pigs, they like to socialise. They can certainly be easy to handle and docile as long as you have regular contact with them. You must have suitable housing, a water supply and excellent fencing
To find pigs, try the British Pig Association (BPA) via their website: www.britishpigs.org.uk
Consider joining a local Pig Club before you commit to actually buying pigs.
http://www.britishpigs.org.uk/clubs.htm
NJSS Am I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.
2016 Discovery 4 Landmark
2011 Mercedes Benz SL350 (R230)
1973 MG B GT V8 - 3.9L John Eales engine, 5 speed R380 gearbox, since 1975.
1959 MGA roadster - 1.9L Peter Burgess Engine - 5 speed gearbox
Past LRs - Multiple FFRs, Discos & a Series I - some petrol, some diesel,
none Electric or H2 fuel cell - yet.
There are 10 types of people in this world: Those who understand binary, and those who don’t.
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| 25th Feb 2019 10:50 am |
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comedyharvey
Member Since: 03 Jul 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1727
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Never kept sheep myself but the farmer who owns the field adjacent to our paddock puts them in there every few years as part of his rotation. He’s arable/milk but he plants winter turnips and then lets another farmers sheep graze it. They certainly clear out all the weeds.
They were in over last winter and they do seem to look for trouble. At least one died, I rang him to let him know, several developed limps and he’d come and sort them out, a couple got their heads stuck in the stock fencing on our side and I released them.
Fun to watch though.
. Arthur.
Comedy was a horse, Harvey a dog, both sadly gone. Thought I was choosing a password!
Currently;
Discovery 3 HSE 2009
101" Fwd. Control 1976
Nuffield 10/90 Tractor (10/60 with 6 cylinder conversion) 1964
Previously;
Series III Lightweight. 1976.
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| 25th Feb 2019 11:33 am |
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RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13557
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If you want sheep, consider the "primitive" breeds. They are less "developed" than modern commercial breeds and are often more robust and less hassle. They often taste better than the commercial animals too. Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
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| 25th Feb 2019 12:18 pm |
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Net_fisher2
Member Since: 23 May 2017
Location: Isle of Wight
Posts: 99
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This is an impossible Question to answer....for anybody accept you..
it depends very much on your land.
No one can tell you, unless they know your land.
If the grass grows well one year, you maybe able to keep 10...but they will eat the hell out of it,
become fat and then moan when the grass is gone....
Agree with primitive are easier....I have Castlemilk Moorits...see link
http://castlemilkmooritsociety.co.uk/
They just get on with it....and there is always someone local relative to you to exchange rams etc..
But you should go to your local agricultural college for a sheep husbandry course,
it will also help you understand what you can do with your land...
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| 25th Feb 2019 12:35 pm |
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Sheepy
Member Since: 20 Feb 2013
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 630
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Can I just add that I don't think that the sheep want to die, it's just that they are so stupid that they have little or no sense of their own mortality.
For example, sheep like to sunbathe. Some will do this just by lying on one side or other and sleeping. Others will roll onto their backs with all four legs in the air. Unfortunately once on their backs, they are completely incapable of rolling back over and are stuck there until a) the farmer or a passerby notices and rights them, or b) they die. And sheep do not learn from their mistakes, so having got stuck before will not dissuade a sheep from doing it again.
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| 25th Feb 2019 2:43 pm |
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Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9424
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Cheers chaps 
Having a chat with a local farm hand next week over a pint, he has 100 sheep split up in many fields
We're on the levels, but the field gas very good drainage though.
I've not thought of pigs, worried that they will just dig up the field?
Watch this space Iggy/Ieuan
Current LR =
2015 RR Sport Autobiography
&
1992 Land Rover Defender Camper
- Gone but not forgotten:
MY10 D4 GS
MY05 Disco 3 'S'
MY14 FL2 HSE manual in Blue
MY15 Disco 4 HSE Lux in Santorini Black
MY08 Disco 3 SE manual in Buck Blue
1960 Series 2 88" (No idea why I sold it!)
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| 25th Feb 2019 5:23 pm |
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