You are reading this article right now because you some spare space on your farm or ranch and want to fill it up with some miniature sheep. This is a first for you, so before you do go out and buy some from the nearest miniature sheep Cotopaxi Colorado dealer, you will need to have some information. Do read on in this article to find out if these herd and flock animals are up your alley and you are fit for it.
This decision is not by any means simple or small, and you are well aware of this also. Thus you will need simple checklist to aid you to make an informed choice. Having such a checklist will aid you in making a confident decision, particularly when it comes to this decision facing you now. When you make decisions that will involve some form of money spent, always use a checklist to guide you.
Having a good to honest assessment of yourself is something that should be the first item on your checklist. See if you are really able and willing to be able to check up on these animals at least twice a day to provided them with fresh water and food, and also if you are able to carry out the much needed shearing, deworming and hoof trimming also regularly from time to time.
Should you think of getting around five ewes to start out with then you will need at least an acre of land for your new flock. This is because they gestate pretty fast and can give birth twice a year under the right conditions, usually after every five months. The ewes of this breed will give birth to twin and and triplets on a regular basis so you can expect to have a flock of almost twenty or more by the end of one year.
Due to their size and vulnerability, the land that they should be kept on should also be fenced off to ward off predators and other animals which may compete with them or hurt them unwittingly. A good livestock guardian dog is also something that you should be thinking of getting, and most recommended for this task is the Komondor, the Kazakh Shepherd or even the Maremma Sheepdog.
You should also build a good shelter in the form of a three sided shed. The shed will be to protect the sheep and lambs from wind, snow, sleet and rain. Remember also that this is a breed that likes its comfort so do build accordingly to its needs.
Feeding this breed is fairly straightforward and will need clean grass to feed on in the summer and hay in the winter. However, you should have adequate hay storage facilities, and ones that will not produce or induce moldy hay. Be prepared to spend a bit more in getting fresh hay during the winter as this sheep cannot be fed old hay either. Once in a while they can be given a treat of nuts and grains by way of hand feeding.
And most importantly do take note that these are flock animals and should not be kept separated from others of their own kind. They should be kept together as much as possible.
This decision is not by any means simple or small, and you are well aware of this also. Thus you will need simple checklist to aid you to make an informed choice. Having such a checklist will aid you in making a confident decision, particularly when it comes to this decision facing you now. When you make decisions that will involve some form of money spent, always use a checklist to guide you.
Having a good to honest assessment of yourself is something that should be the first item on your checklist. See if you are really able and willing to be able to check up on these animals at least twice a day to provided them with fresh water and food, and also if you are able to carry out the much needed shearing, deworming and hoof trimming also regularly from time to time.
Should you think of getting around five ewes to start out with then you will need at least an acre of land for your new flock. This is because they gestate pretty fast and can give birth twice a year under the right conditions, usually after every five months. The ewes of this breed will give birth to twin and and triplets on a regular basis so you can expect to have a flock of almost twenty or more by the end of one year.
Due to their size and vulnerability, the land that they should be kept on should also be fenced off to ward off predators and other animals which may compete with them or hurt them unwittingly. A good livestock guardian dog is also something that you should be thinking of getting, and most recommended for this task is the Komondor, the Kazakh Shepherd or even the Maremma Sheepdog.
You should also build a good shelter in the form of a three sided shed. The shed will be to protect the sheep and lambs from wind, snow, sleet and rain. Remember also that this is a breed that likes its comfort so do build accordingly to its needs.
Feeding this breed is fairly straightforward and will need clean grass to feed on in the summer and hay in the winter. However, you should have adequate hay storage facilities, and ones that will not produce or induce moldy hay. Be prepared to spend a bit more in getting fresh hay during the winter as this sheep cannot be fed old hay either. Once in a while they can be given a treat of nuts and grains by way of hand feeding.
And most importantly do take note that these are flock animals and should not be kept separated from others of their own kind. They should be kept together as much as possible.
About the Author:
You can get valuable tips on how to pick a miniature sheep Cotopaxi Colorado breeder and more information about an experienced breeder at http://www.lilburrheadranch.com/about now.
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